Published: 23 March, 2012
by ANDREW JOHNSON

THE regeneration of King’s Cross and the area around Old Street will leave four sex clubs battling to keep their licences on Monday – although one has been boosted after a Labour councillor’s U-turn.

Councillor Paul Convery had written a long letter opposing the application by The Flying Scotsman, in Caledonian Road, to renew its sex entertainment licence, arguing it would be detrimental to the regeneration of the area and reinforce the perception that King’s Cross was an area to find drugs and sex.

He added that he had been contacted by Muslim and Christian constituents, who found the sex club abhorrent to their faith.

But he told the Tribune he was going to withdraw the objection after being assured by the owners that they intended to have sex entertainment for only another year or two before turning the bar into a gastro-type pub.

“There’s not a lot of future in these types of geezer pubs with nude dancing and fizzy beer,” he said.

The government is tightening up on lap dancing clubs and nude dancing bars, which now have to apply for a full sex club licence. The Town Hall’s policy is to eradicate sex clubs altogether.

Several objections to the Platinum Bar, in Paul Street, Bunhill, continuing in business have been lodged by residents, on the grounds that two schools – The Lyceum and Leapfrog – are nearby.

The Horns, in Old Street, has attracted opposition from nearby businesses. A financial company said its women employees felt  intimidated when walking past the club late at night.

For Your Eyes Only, in City Road, is also seeking to have its licence renewed, although no objections have been lodged.

All the clubs maintain they are well run and keep within strict guidelines laid out in previous licence conditions.