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Stringfellows in Covent Garden is one of London’s most legendary late-night venues. Launched in 1980 by the late ‘King of Clubs’ Peter Stringfellow, the luxury strip club has welcomed a long list of major stars over the decades. Now, Stringfellows wants to enter a new era with a second venue in Mayfair.
It has applied to Westminster City Council for a Sexual Entertainment Venue (SEV) licence and a premises licence for 8-9 Dover Street, a space that has been empty for several years. If the premises licence is approved, the club would be allowed to stay open until 6am seven days a week.
As you might expect, the prospect of a new strip club opening in the area has been more than a little controversial. Some locals have complained that the new site would ‘undermine the character of the neighbourhood’.
A member of the Met Police filed an objection citing ‘concerns around the hours applied for and the potential this has to have an increase in crime in the area at a time that is consistently difficult to police’.
In its objection, the Mayfair Neighbourhood Forum added that ‘this part of Mayfair has been subjected to a significant increase in evening economy activity which is putting a strain on local residents’. It said more visitors to the area late at night disturbs residents along what are otherwise quiet residential streets and that those living in flats adjacent to the venue will be disturbed by the amplified music.
In response to the objections, a barrister representing Stringfellows pointed out the the that the venue doesn’t intend to be a nightclub, rather a Sexual Entertainment Venue (SEV), which would be more ‘discreet’ and have less impact on neighbours. A council decision on the license applications is expected later this week.
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