Police object to alcohol and music licence for swingers club

Police are objecting to a premises licence application from a swingers club in Blackpool after it declined to agree to proposed door security conditions.

Club Play has applied for its first long-term premises licence, seeking permission to carry out licensable activities such as live music, recorded music and the sale of alcohol, including until 03:00 at weekends.

Lancashire Constabulary is objecting on the basis it wants door security conditions imposed, but the club's licensing agent estimates one door supervisor working at weekends would cost about £10,400 a year.

The application is due to be considered by Blackpool Council's licensing panel on Thursday.

Club Play, on Back Ribble Road, is a private members' club for couples and singles, with 19 themed rooms as well as a heated pool, hot tub, sauna and cinema.

Its licensing agent Mark Marshall said the premises were "deliberately discreet", with no prominent external signage, and did not seek passing trade.

He said the venue differed from a conventional nightclub or pub and operated mainly for a membership-based clientele.

Marshall estimates one door supervisor working five hours on both Friday and Saturday evenings at £20 an hour would cost about £200 a week, or £10,400 a year.

Police said they had taken crime reports from the wider vicinity into account when considering the application.

Conditions the police force want applied include requirements that a minimum of one SIA (Security Industry Authority) door staff will be on duty from 22:00 until closing time, on each Friday and Saturday night, as well as all other days where nonstandard hours are in operation.

At all other times, the police want the licence holder to determine an appropriate number of door staff, after a risk assessment.

In addition, police want a signing-in sheet to be completed by all members of door staff on duty, including their SIA badge number.

At all times while licensable activity is taking place, police also want a personal licence holder on site, except in the case of emergency.

Lancashire Constabulary's PC Guy Harrison said police believed such conditions were needed "in order to prevent crime and disorder and prevent public nuisance".

He said the objection would be withdrawn if the applicant subsequently agreed to the proposed conditions.

The application has been made on behalf of Innuendo Limited, which owns the club.

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