Lap dancing pub stripped of licence and slapped with huge fine

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Local Government and also in Communities

Two pub landlords have been fined thousands of pounds for breaching the terms of their licence by allowing lap dancers to perform in the pub, following an investigation by Hillingdon Council.

Mukhtiar Singh Sandhu, the designated premises supervisor, and Mr Richard Whallen, manager at the De Burgh Arms, in Station Approach, West Drayton, pleaded guilty to allowing a licensable activity to be carried on without authorisation at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 16 November.

They were each fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £352 court costs.

Whallen’s licence was also suspended for two months, although the pub will still be able to trade without lapdancing performances under Sandhu's personal licence.

Punch Taverns, the pub’s licence holder, had applied to the council to amend the terms of licence to permit lapdancing in the De Burgh Arms but this was refused in January. A temporary events notice was granted to allow a dozen performances to take place over the course of 12 months but the pub landlords allowed the lapdancing to continue once the quota had been reached.

Councillor Jonathan Bianco, Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services, said: “The council will not stand by and allow premises to so blatantly disregard the restrictions in place. We are currently encouraging residents to have their say on how the council should deal with new applications for sex entertainment premises. This is an opportunity for people to share their views and help shape the way the council works, so I would encourage our residents to take part in the consultation.”

The consultation closes on 7th January 2011. View the consultation document at www.hillingdon.gov.uk.