A BUSINESSMAN has been refused permission to transform a former restaurant, where Margaret Thatcher once famously dined, into a lap-dancing club.

John Sayers wanted to open The Doll House in the former Septembers restaurant.

The prestigious venue closed its doors in 2011 after blaming dwindling trade, and Mr Sayers hoped to drive more people to Queen Street with his plans for an adult bar.

But his plans have fallen at the first hurdle after Blackpool Council’s public protection committee refused to grant him a licence.

There are already four lapdancing bars in Blackpool – the maximum council policy allows – and council solicitor Sharon Davies said the committee had heard “nothing that would persuade them there is a need to divert from that policy”.

Mr Sayers already owns Promenade lap dancing venue Eden, and the police and council’s licensing department objected to him being allowed to open the second bar, above Kraze.

Mark Marshall, the council’s licensing manager, said: “There are national studies to demonstrate there’s a downturn right across the country in relation to business in lapdancing clubs. I have spoken to all the existing operators (in Blackpool) who all report a huge reduction locally.

“To review a policy in terms of numbers there would have to be a big demand in that area which demonstrates the need for more supply, and that certainly is not the case at the moment.”

And licensing Sgt Caroline Hannon added: “I don’t believe at this time the policy needs to be reviewed and if it was it would open the floodgates for other applications coming through.”

But Mr Sayers’ solicitor, Michael Woosnam, said his client was prepared to “put his money where his mouth is” and believed a new business in the area would be a success.

He told the committee: “This is an existing operator whose existing operation doesn’t appear to have caused any concerns and he brings that knowledge and that expertise to this new venture.

“He doesn’t want to see it fail.

“He is not going into this on a whim and is confident through the operation and the level of success that has he can make a success of this venture.”

Mr Sayers now has the right to ask for a judicial review at court.

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