Edinburgh Strip Clubs Renew Licences Amid Changing Facility Concerns

Three strip clubs in Edinburgh had their licences renewed during a council meeting on Monday, though concerns were raised about the Western Bar’s compliance with required facilities for performers. While the other two venues, Burke and Hare and Baby Dolls, received their licences without objections, the Western Bar’s renewal was conditional due to outstanding renovations.

The council’s licensing department emphasized the importance of providing performers with “secure and private changing facilities” as mandated by the sexual entertainment venue licence requirements. These facilities must be accessible only to performers and not the public. When the Western Bar applied for its licence for 2024, it did not meet this criterion. Nevertheless, it was granted a provisional licence on the condition that it would undertake necessary renovations to comply.

According to representatives of the Western Bar, progress on the renovations has been hindered by difficulties in obtaining the necessary building warrants. Their initial attempt to secure a building warrant in September 2024 was unsuccessful, and revised plans were submitted in June 2024. As of the recent council meeting, no warrant had yet been issued.

The venue’s design firm indicated that delays were primarily due to the retirement of the building officer they were working with. A representative explained that they have since found a replacement and anticipate having the new officer on-site by December.

During the meeting, the design representative held up blueprints of the bar, indicating where renovations would occur. In light of this, councillors granted the Western Bar permission to continue operating for another year, with the understanding that work on the required facilities would commence soon.

Neil Ross, a Liberal Democrat councillor, expressed support for the renewal, stating, “I do not see that we have any guidance to suggest that we shouldn’t proceed on the renewal with the same exemption from that condition, assuming the work is able to go ahead.”

Committee convener and Conservative councillor Joanna Mowat acknowledged the delays but noted the progress being made. “It’s a shame that the work hasn’t been completed,” she remarked, “but it does seem there is some progress being made here.”

The other two strip clubs, Burke and Hare and Baby Dolls, were granted their licences without any issues raised. Licences for strip clubs in Edinburgh are renewed annually. The current renewals come after a previous failed attempt by the city council to ban strip clubs altogether. In 2022, the council sought to limit the number of legally permitted strip clubs to zero, under new powers given by the Scottish Government. However, after an appeal from a trade union representing performers, a court ruled the attempted ban illegal.

Following this ruling, the city opted to maintain a cap of three strip clubs, aligning with the number that were operational at the time, and established a licensing policy for these venues.

As Edinburgh continues to navigate the complexities of licensing for adult entertainment, the situation at the Western Bar highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the industry.