Secrets Lap Dance Club Has Operating Hours Slashed

---

Glenthorne Road club can no longer open during the day

Hammersmith lap dancing club Secrets has been told to cut its operating hours after residents objected to the renewal of its sex entertainment licence.

Secrets, on Glenthorne Road, had wanted to retain its existing hours when it made its annual licence reapplication last week – but was forced to accept a reduction by Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s licensing committee, which means it will no longer be open during the day,

Having previously had the option of opening from 10am on Monday to Saturday and noon on Sundays, it must now wait until 6pm to start trading on every day of the week. Its closing hours will remain 4am Monday-Saturdays and midnight on Sundays.

The decision by the council’s licencing committee follows a number of objections from neighbours about noise and disorder outside the club at closing time, while they were also unhappy about daytime trading in view of the proximity of nearby schools.

The Hammersmith Society said the club's presence on Glenthorne Road is "under sufferance".

Other neighbours told of fights and people vomiting in the street. One said in an objection letter: "There is loud shouting and laughing from clients leaving the club between 2.30am-4am and at weekends, as well as higher noise levels, it is not uncommon for fights to break out. In the mornings I have to pick my way through broken glass and vomit."

Other neighbours said the area was getting more and more residential, highlighting a new block of 70 flats nearby, and said Secrets was " inappropriate" in the district.

Cllr Greg Smith, H&F Council Deputy Leader, said: " Local residents made it clear that they did not find it acceptable that they should have to tolerate a table-dancing club and its clientele during the day and the council’s licensing committee agrees."

Last year Secrets, which has been open for 15 years and has branches across London, had 31 conditions slapped on its licence and now has to pay an annual Sex Entertainment Venue licence fee of £8,700 after stricter laws were passed.

 

May 16, 2013