Strip club to open doors on old casino site

A STRIP club has been given the go-ahead to open in Portsmouth's city centre.

For Your Eyes Only will take over the former Mint Casino in Guildhall Walk.

Portsmouth City Council granted the adult entertainment venue a license despite objections from police.

Licensing officer PC Mike O'Malley said the club, which is set to open until 5am six days a week and until 4am on Sundays, would have a negative impact on the already notorious Guildhall area.

He said another late-night venue would not help police prevent crime and disorder.

He told the council: 'The police are strongly opposed to this application and feel that it should not be granted.'

But councillors said they could find no real reason to refuse it.

Cllr Les Stevens, chairman of the licensing committee, said: 'The sexual aspect is not a licensing concern - that is not a reason to turn down a licence.

'We had to make a decision based on the opening hours and that sort of thing.

'The casino used to be open until 6am, so this will close earlier than that.

'And it's not going to be the sort of place drunk people can just turn up - it costs 10 to even get it and drinks are going to be so expensive - I think a small bottle of beer is going to be about 4 right up to a bottle of champagne for 5,000, so groups of drunk lads aren't going to be able to afford to go in.'

For Your Eyes Only will be the third strip club in Portsmouth, along with Elegance in Granada Road, Southsea, and Heaven Sent, which is already open in Guildhall Walk.

It will provide table dancing and topless and fully nude lap dancing.

Cllr Stevens, Lib Dem, added: 'There is no evidence that this sort of place causes sexual crimes to go up at all.

'We have never had any complaints about the two that are already open.

'And For Your Eyes Only is meant to be a very well run establishment - there were testimonies from cities where it is already open saying how well managed it is.

'They have very strict rules.'

Police object but lapdance venue gets go-ahead to open in Guildhall Walk