Police are trying to stop a York lap dancing club opening early on race days.
Upstairs VIP, on the first floor of the Mansion nightclub on Micklegate, is applying to renew its sexual entertainment licence and will face a hearing on Monday (May 21).
The existing licence, which was issued in early 2017, allows the club to open from 9pm until 3am Monday to Sunday, and 6pm to 4.30am on race days.
The fresh application seeks to renew those conditions but North Yorkshire Police has stepped in to try and block the special raceday opening rules.
They point out that City of York Council itself introduced a new policy just last year blocking sexual entertainment before 9pm.
In a letter to the licensing board, the force’s PC Deborah Chadwick said:
North Yorkshire Police do not oppose the renewal of the sexual entertainment licence, however they are opposed to the extension of hours on York race days, especially allowing sexual entertainment to begin at 18:00hrs.
Revised policy
The city council revised its licensing policy for sexual entertainment in April last year.
The new rules specify that unless they have written consent from the city council, premises should only be open from 9pm to 3.30am Monday to Thursday, and until 4.30am Friday to Sunday.
A police spokesman said the force’s objection was simply about the club asking the council to deviate from their new policy which was agreed only last year.
In 2015, Upstairs was refused permission to extend its opening until 5am on York race days.
At the time, ward councillors said that with more and more families living on Micklegate it was not appropriate to stretch the venue’s opening later into the morning.
A hearing to decide the licence application will take place at City of York Council’s West Offices on Monday afternoon.