A STRIP club in Bournemouth town centre has had its licence renewed - but proposed window displays have been rejected following a dispute over what they portrayed.

Temptation in Yelverton Road, which previously operated as Spearmint Rhino, faced several objections from councillors and residents.

Applicant Admiral Bars (Hampshire) Ltd took over the premises in October 2021 and renamed the lap dancing club.

The company sought permission to renew the sexual entertainment venue licence, vary the layout of the second-floor and use a new external display, which included large silhouettes.

Members of BCP Council’s licensing sub-committee considered the application at a meeting in late July where they were told no relevant authorities, including police, had submitted objections.

Robert Sutherland, representing Alastair Weatherstone, who is the director of Admiral Bars (Hampshire) Ltd, was questioned over the proposed images for the front of the premises.

He said: “The images which are set out have been approved in different locations but obviously it is for this particular committee.

“I don’t accept that they portray any sexuality at all. I think the persons, they are clearly people, but I don’t accept that they are female. If somebody wishes to interpret it that way than that is for them.

“It is a matter for the committee if they approve those images.”

In relation to the silhouettes, which she said most people recognised as being females, Cllr Beverley Dunlop asked Mr Sutherland: “What is this person on their knees doing if it is not a sexual image?”

Mr Sutherland said: “Certainly the images have been used at other premises around the country.

“There have not been any objections and have been approved by other councils. That is not saying anything other than statement of fact that that is the case.

“I look at the images. I accept that they are of people but I don’t accept that they are automatically female. I think they are gender neutral. I think people are assuming that because of the way that they look that they are women. I would say that is an assumption that is being made.

“They portray I suppose individuals who may be dancing or performing in some way and I would leave it at that.”

Mr Sutherland later confirmed all the club's current performers were women.

Cllr Dunlop said the venue had shown a disregard for the rules, including around the distribution of flyers, which was challenged by the applciant. She questioned the Mr Weatherstone’s suitability to run such a venue.

Cllr Lisa Northover said she had issues with the proposed inclusion of three websites on the front of the premises.

Mr Weatherstone said one of these was the club’s website which gave details on entry requirements and opening hours. He said one of the others was a competitor to Only Fans as a site for content creators and interaction with their fans and the final website was a membership only virtual reality strip club which had an age restriction to access the site.

On having his suitability questioned, Mr Weatherstone said: ”I do get a little bit upset when somebody says that. I have been in the industry for a long time. We have never had a licence revoked. We have never had a major problem. We look after our customers. We look after our employees. We look after the people that work for us.

“This is a business that is not everybody’s cup of tea but it is a business I am in and I have been in for a long time.

“I’m not saying that I don’t occasionally make mistakes. I am not perfect but I would refute my suitable to run these establishments.”

Members of the licensing sub-committee – Cllr David Kelsey, Cllr Duane Farr and Cllr Judes Butt – resolved to grant the renewal of the licence and the variation to the second-floor layout but refused the proposed external display.