Final licence verdict on Blackpool swingers club with 11,145 members, sauna, dungeon, and 19 themed rooms
‘Door staff would “lack a specific skill set”.’
A swingers club in Blackpool has successfully argued that its discreet approach and private members arrangement means it operates differently and doesn’t need door staff like other clubs.
Club Play, based at Back Ribble Road in central Blackpool, has been granted a premises licence despite facing opposition from the police.
Paul Bevon, director of club owner Innuendo Ltd, told Blackpool’s licensing panel that the door staff demanded by police “would lack the specific skill set that a personal licence holder, sensitive to the customer and community’s specific needs, would have.”
The discreet venue welcomes like-minded couples and singles who meet up in designated lounge and bar areas and make use of specialised play spaces including 19 themed rooms. There is also a dungeon and dedicated zones for various alternative lifestyle preferences, including an on-site heated pool, hot tub, sauna facilities and cinema.
The venue applied to Blackpool Council’s licensing panel for its first premises licence, which would allow the club to carry out licensable activities such as live music, recorded music and the sale of alcohol.
The application sought permission for the performance of live music and playing of recorded music from Sundays to Thursdays from 11pm to midnight and Fridays and Saturdays 11pm to 3am, and also the supply of alcohol (on and off the premises) Sundays to Thursdays from noon to midnight and Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 3am.
However, Lancashire Police objected to the application because the club did not agree to conditions to employ SIA (Security Industry Authority) door security at the site.
The club argued that because it is a private members’ amenity, it does not need to use such measures, which would affectively cost the club £10,400 a year for one door person alone, working at weekends.
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What the club told the panel
At the licensing hearing in Blackpool Town Hall, Mr Bevon, the Proposed Designated Premises Supervisor, and director of applicant company Innuendo Ltd, explained that the premises worked as a private members club to a distinct specific group of people and that this created a unique set of circumstances.
A minuted report of the hearing stated: “Mr Bevon confirmed that the applicant accepted the Police’s suggestion of a personal licence holder to be on site at all times. The applicant did not accept the need for a condition requiring SIA licensed door supervisors and explained their view that this was not in line with other (similar) premises.”
Mr Bevon’s representative, Mark Marshall, also spoke in support of the application, highlighting the application for the supply of alcohol. He said that the premises had operated for a number of years with customers bringing their own alcohol and also under various Temporary Event Notices, during which no concerns had been raised by the responsible authorities and no crime linked to the premises.
For Lancashire Constabulary, PC Guy Harrison acknowledged that the premises had not come to attention of the responsible authorities but emphasised his view that with the provision of alcohol that situation may change.
PC Harrison spoke to outline the data submitted by the Police Analyst which showed a significant problem with crime and anti-social behaviour in the wider Revoe area. He concluded by re-emphasising his view that there could be potential conflict at the entry to the premises.
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The report continued: “The Licensing Panel considered carefully the information submitted by both parties. It noted that the premises had operated in a number of different ways without issue.
“It did consider that there was the potential as with any private members’ club for issues with refusal at entry but given that the applicant had accepted a condition regarding a personal licence holder being on the premises at all times, believed that this issue would be addressed.”
The Licensing Panel agreed to grant the licence subject to the condition that “at all times while licensable activity is taking place, a personal licence holder will be on site, except in the case of an emergency.”
The applicants also agreed with five additional conditions relating to the acceptable control of noise at the premises from amplified music and regulated entertainment.