Future of Bournemouth's Spearmint Rhino lap-dancing club to be decided in December

Spearmint Rhino in Yelverton Road was recently investigated by licensing officers who witnessed dancers and customers breaching the club’s strict ‘no touch’ rules.

And now the council has received 15 objections to the club’s application to renew its sexual entertainment licence, meaning it will go before the council’s licensing committee on December 2.

One of the people who has objected is Rev Dr Tim Matthews, of St Swithun’s Church on the East Cliff. He called for the council to place its recent inspection report in the public domain so residents could “judge for themselves” whether the club should be allowed to continue operating.

He said the council should resist the temptation to simply impose extra conditions on Spearmint Rhino’s licence.

“Sexual Entertainment Venue licensing already places very tight restrictions on permitted behaviour,” he said. “The applicant has clearly seen fit to disregard these.

“One might therefore expect that the imposition of yet further conditions will be ineffective. Such an approach would communicate to other operators that breaches of SEV licence conditions are not taken seriously.

“Furthermore, the imposition of further restrictions will require vigilant monitoring and future inspections all at public expense. The only effective way to demonstrate the seriousness of SEV licence breaches is to refuse to renew this SEV licence.”

He also objected on moral grounds stating: “In my pastoral work I constantly deal with the damage caused when impressionable people are lured away from their committed relationship partners.”

Central ward councillor David Smith confirmed he had also raised concerns about the licence being renewed.

Spearmint Rhino were unavailable for comment, but they recently told the Echo they were working with Bournemouth council to ensure any concerns were addressed and that the high standards they expected were maintained.