Legislation Changes for 2009
The government seem to be persisting with their ‘reclassification’ of strip venues at some point in 2009, the bill was put to MPs earlier in 2008 but it looks like they will have another bash next year. If you did not know this will involve all clubs being classified as ‘sex encounter’ establishments needing draconian licensing which will be even more arbitrary than ever.
The proposals could could also see caps on the number of clubs, but the government have been quiet about how this will work. Will there be a national total, a cap on numbers per capita or just a certain number per town! All of these options have obvious draw backs, they will result in either a even stronger polarisation of the big cities or more clubs opening in smaller towns (was this not the problem in the first place?)
For anyone working in the industry this will be disasterous, it should be noted that strip clubs were one of the few industries bucking the Labour created recession. Strippers criminalised, venues shut, punters having to travel further than ever and less money in the Tax coffers for Gordon Brown.
2008 was also the first year when a venue Club Redd was attacked by arsonists and virtually destroyed. This is the first attack of its kind (feel free to correct me there) on a club which was granted a license by the local council and broke no laws. Whether this a US type religious backlash it remains to be seen, you dont improve your local area by torching a new business in the middle of the night!!! Arson was confirmed by the Fire Services and police after a concerted campaign of hate mail to the club owner.
Reading the UK Strip Club Forum, the profits to be made in the business are right down which will make it even harder to keep venues going in 2009. Does the government think of stuff like peoples wages when they participate in withchunts like the recent lap Dancing Bill? Obviously not, looks like they will not be in power for much of 2009!
However, club numbers are still up on the previous year with 359 listed for the UK and Ireland. Hustler the huge US concern have opened a club in the UK, while the larger UK chains have expanded likewise.