'The performers would be insulted that they had offered sex in the way implied': Manchester city centre lap dancing bar to stay open

A strip club in Manchester city centre will continue operating for another year after refuting that their ‘no touch’ rule is regularly breached.

Baby Platinum, which has been on Princess Street in the city centre for well over a decade, will operate for another 12 months following its annual licence renewal meeting. The lap dancing bar faced two objections at the licensing sub-committee, both of which related to concerns over the ‘commoditisation of women for the sexual pleasure of men’.

Objectors added that research suggested that breaches to existing licence conditions is commonplace in sexual entertainment venues (SEVS), with the ‘no-touching’ rule regularly breached.

But Claire Morris, representing ABA Leisure Ltd, the firm which owns Baby Platinum, told the hearing at Manchester Town Hall the claims were from research that had no direct link to Baby Platinum, which she said was a well-run and established club.

“They are tarring Baby Platinum with a particularly unpleasant brush," she said. "The performers would be insulted that they had offered sex in the way it has been implied.

“If this did happen the premises would have been investigated and we would hear about it today.”

She added that if serious breaches of the club's licence had happened, authorities including the police would have been present at the hearing but they weren’t. Ms Morris pointed out that Baby Platinum has had its SEV licence renewed 12 years in a row and has an unblemished record.

Kay Miller, one of the directors of ABA Leisure Ltd, added that they have seen an increase in women attending Baby Platinum, stressing it was not just for men. She said CCTV is in operation within the venue and that panic buttons are installed in each private booth