OWNERS of a Maidenhead lap dancing club win their sexual entertainment venue (SEV) license bid.

Last week, representatives of the Honeypot Gentlemen’s Club, on Queen Street and has been in operation for 10 years, made their case to councillors on the licensing sub-committee for their license to be renewed.

Ordinarily, the venue renews its SEV license on an annual basis, however, this year was different as objectors urged members of the sub-committee to revoke its license.

With the major regeneration of Maidenhead town centre, Bijou Dunn, who spoke on behalf of residents living opposite the Honeypot, argued a lap dancing club will longer fit in with the emerging environment and locality once construction is underway and new bars and restaurants move in.

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She also urged members not to renew the license due to its close proximity to the church and residential areas.

Representing the Honeypot, Sarah Taylor urged councillors to consider the evidence put forward now rather than speculate on what could happen in the future as the regeneration will take years to complete.

She said: “This is a large-scale development that is likely to take many, many years and we’ve got to look at the facts of locality now.

“In our mind, there are no changes which would signify there has been a change in circumstances or locality.”

Ms Taylor added the Honeypot has been established for 21 years and is in a designated entertainment zone.

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The owner of the Honeypot, John Sennett, said he was “slightly baffled” as the business and the locality hasn’t changed in the past 12 months due to Covid-19.

He added for the last 10 years, they had no problems with police and with the nearby church as the Honeypot closes on Sundays, therefore not interfering with their services.

After hearing both sides of the argument, members of the sub-committee decided to approve the Honeypot’s license with no new conditions attached.

A council spokesperson said: “The decision of the Licensing and Public Space Protection Order Sub Committee was to grant the license as applied for.

“This means that the existing conditions remain on the license and no new conditions were added.”