Appeal by Ayr's Club de Mar is pole-axed

Apr 10 2009 by Edwin Lawrence

A PLEA by a nightclub to have its dancing pole back was turned down by licensing chiefs.

Debbie Cairns made an impassioned case to South Ayrshire Licensing Board.

The Club de Mar boss said: “It’s a bit of fun and should be viewed as such.”

But the board view the pole as part of a wider adult entertainment issue.

And they refused Mrs Cairns’ application to have the pole reinstated.

She pleaded: “We’re not talking about semi-naked ladies being paid to dance round a pole.

“Ours was strictly fun for anyone wishing to strut their stuff, including some quite heavy gentlemen.”

Mrs Cairns told the board her club had been ‘in the vanguard’ in support of measures to discourage binge drinking.

And she argued the Club de Mar, with its stewards and first-aiders, is a safe licensed venue for young people.

She pointed out: “As a mother of sons aged 24, 22 and 16, I can assure you I will do nothing to promote behaviour that could be viewed as offensive.”

And Mrs Cairns said: “I’m looking for the board to appreciate that the Club de Mar will never go too far.”

Board member Councillor Bill Grant asked if there was a danger that someone would start discarding clothing while dancing round the pole.

Mrs Cairns admitted that was a risk. But she said her stewards would react before things got out of hand.

And she insisted: “We know our licence is at stake if something inappropriate happens.”

Mrs Cairns said the licensed trade needed help against a background of recession, cheap supermarket alcohol and internet socialising.

She added: “We as a nation tune into TV programmes like Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing on Ice where both male and female artists have skimpy costumes and dance provocatively.”

And Mrs Cairns said South Ayrshire’s bye-law against ‘erotic and exotic dancing’ should be reconsidered.

After an adjournment for discussion, licensing board chairman Councillor Douglas Campbell told Mrs Cairns her application was refused.

But he told her the board was making progress towards a consultation document on adult entertainment.

And this would probably be ready for the board’s next meeting in May.

He pledged: “We will conclude the whole adult entertainment issue as soon as is practicable.”

Councillor Campbell earlier made it clear why the board had acted on adult entertainment. He pointed to events like S**g Tag, where abusive and defamatory remarks were posted in public view on a notice board in licensed premises in Ayr.

And he said the licensing board could not condone offensive events of that nature, carrying unacceptable risks to customers.