Hull strip club must follow rules set out in city council Code of Practice
The rules that The Purple Door strip club in Hull has to follow, including the height of performers’ garters, are set out in a Hull City Council ‘Code of Practice.’
The city centre venue is seeking to renew its sexual entertainment venue licence.
Each year, such venues have to renew their licence. The council’s website states the renewal fee is £2,418.
A sexual entertainment venue is defined as a premises which provides relevant live entertainment designed to sexually stimulate the audience for the financial gain of the organiser. The Policing and Crime Act 2009, which sets out details of such establishments says both sex cinemas and sex shops are not sexual entertainment venues, and are defined differently.
The council’s Statement of Licensing Policy 2025-2029 sets out the ‘Code of Practice for Adult Entertainment Involving Striptease/Nudity’. The document sets out a number of rules that venues and performers must adhere to.
Rules for performers
- Performers shall not engage in prostitution or soliciting
- Performers shall not fraternise with customers who are outside of the premises
- Performers shall not leave the premises until their engagement is fulfilled unless prevented by illness or injury
- Performers who leave the premises during the course of their shift shall not be re-admitted until their next working shift
- Performers shall proceed to the dressing area and get dressed immediately after a performance has been completed
- Performers shall be fully clothed when not actually performing. This should include appropriate outer garments, excluding dressing gowns and bath robes
- No performance shall involve any physical contact between performers
- No performance shall involve the use of any sex article
- Garters worn for the collection of gratuities shall be situated no higher than mid-thigh
- Performers shall not be paid commission on the sale of beverages
Various rules are also set out for the premises themselves. For example, the proposed area for striptease must not be seen from the street. Another rule is that CCTV must be installed to cover all areas where dancing takes place.
The application has been made by Scarlet Lounge Limited, based in Beverley. Anyone seeking to object to the application must give notice in writing to the council’s Licensing Section including the grounds of the objection, not later than 28 days after the application date, which in this case was April 9.