‘Our sleep will be destroyed’

SPEARMINT Rhino – the country’s largest lap-dancing club – has sparked concern by asking for permission to stay open through the night.
The American chain wants to keep the doors of its flagship branch in Tottenham Court Road, Bloomsbury, open for an extra two hours, until 4am from Mondays to Saturdays.
Lap-dance managers, including club chief Graham Melvin, a former top-ranked police detective, have asked Camden Council’s licensing team for the lucrative extra hours.
They are due to put their case before the Town Hall’s licensing committee on Monday.
But neighbours, particularly those living in Paramount Court, a residential block above the club, have written to the Town Hall insisting that the attempt to extend opening hours is thrown out.
They have complained about the noise created by illegal minicab drivers who tout for work near the club’s exit.
Max Neufield, of Charlotte Street Association, said: “The grounds for objection are the activities that take place outside the premises.
“These include touts, parking, minicabs and drivers causing public nuisance and patrons leaving, often engaged in noisy discussion with minicab and cab drivers.”
Rosalind Janssen, of Paramount Court Residents Association, said that residents’ only chance of “restful sleep” was between 12.30am and 6am. She added: “This would be destroyed.”
Bloomsbury ward Labour councillor Peter Brayshaw said: “The proposed variation is likely to exacerbate the problems.”
Spearmint Rhino has come through a series of skirmishes with Camden Council and police since opening in Tottenham Court Road, close to Warren Street Tube station.
Vice squad police applied to the courts in 2003 for the club’s licence to be revoked after an undercover operation in which officers claimed performers’ “no touching” code had been flouted.
A district judge later allowed Spearmint Rhino to keep its licence on the grounds that Mr Melvin would take over the running of the club.
A separate case in which the council threatened to withdraw the club’s licence was dropped.
The club’s management now says it deserves later opening hours.
A Spearmint Rhino statement said: “The style of premises has attracted fierce moral objections, often dressed up in other guises.
“It has been established that moral objection is irrelevant… It is an accepted principle that a lap-dancing venture creates less law and order problems than other forms of licensed premises. Spearmint Rhino has been pro-active in deterring touts.”
Rhino bosses are expected to produce noise reports at Monday’s meeting.