Strip club invitation for council chiefs as licensing row goes on

The vice-president of Spearmint Rhino UK John Specht travelled to the city to make his case, and was represented barrister Julian Skeens who said the company was “very proud” of its record.

Sheffield Council’s licensing committee is currently considering the future of several so-called sexual entertainment venues under a new policy which requires clubs to apply for new licences.

The process has also allowed those who oppose the presence of such venues in their communities to make objections, and yesterday’s meeting heard vehement opposition to Spearmint Rhino’s business.

Since 2002, the club has operated close to Sheffield railway station, next door to what was once the National Centre for Popular Music - now Sheffield Hallam University Students’ Union building.

The building, in Paternoster Row, is in the centre of what Sheffield Council calls its Cultural Industries Quarter, which was set up in the early 1990s in a bid to revive what were run down streets.

Spearmint Rhino is opposite the Site Gallery, which houses several working artists, and the Workstation building, much of which is also designed to be rented out to “creative” companies.

Representatives from several galleries were present at yesterday’s meeting to make their objections, along with Maureen Storey, the director of Sheffield’s Domestic Abuse Forum.

Ms Storey told the meeting that Spearmint Rhino was “intimidating” to women, and posed a risk to the personal safety of women and children.

She was supported by Steve Elwood, of Sheffield’s Cultural Industries Quarter Agency, which represents artists and firms operating in the area, and Laura Sillars from the Site Gallery.

Miss Sillars said the club’s location, in the centre of what was an area for artists felt inappropriate, and was difficult to explain to potential funders such as the Arts Council.

She also said that an area next to the Spearmint Rhino premises was supposed to be a park for children and young people, but could not be used because of the club.

Mr Skeens rejected arguments that those giving out grants would even consider the club’s presence and added that many of the objectors arguments were “far fetched”.

He added: “We have attempted to find out if there has been any difficulty with the running of the premises at any time but nobody has been able to find any complaint.

“In a similar application in Leicester the local authority said Spearmint Rhino was setting the standard other clubs need to try and reach.

“I have to say I am puzzled when I read objections talking about a park or a children’s play area. The space next door is entirely concreted over and I am told is supposed to be art in itself.

“To represent it as an area in which children can play is a little far fetched. In fact the empty bottles found there show there are vagrants around and it is used by them more than anybody else.”

Mr Skeens said several local businesses had actually supported Spearmint rhinos presence, saying its opening hours, from 10pm until the early hours of the morning meant the area was more secure at night.

He added: “Objectors say the club is not appropriate in the area, frankly we say exactly the opposite. This club is part of the creative industries.

“We have some 30 full-time staff and a great number of girls who are self-employed and their income will be adversely affected if this licence is not granted.”

Sheffield Council’s licensing committee will make a formal announcement on its decision on Spearmint Rhino’s future on Thursday.

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