Swingers club defeats police bid for bouncers

A "discreet" swingers club has fended off a police attempt to force it to have bouncers on its door after arguing door staff lacked the "specific skill set" needed to deal with its customers.

Lancashire Police had demanded that, in return for being granted an alcohol licence, Club Play in Blackpool should have to have door staff outside.

The club's owners told Blackpool licensing chiefs that such door staff would "lack the specific skill set that a personal licence holder, sensitive to the customer and community's specific needs, would have".

The licensing committee sided with the club, agreeing that as a private members venue it operated differently to other premises.

Based on Back Ribble Road, Club Play has themed rooms, a heated pool, sauna and cinema.

Its premises licence bid included being able to sell alcohol and play music until 03:00 at weekends.

Paul Bevon, director of its owner, Innuendo Ltd, said it would have cost more than £10,000 a year just to have one door supervisor on.

But he said he accepted the need for a personal licence holder to be on site at all times.

Licensing agent Mark Marshall said people had been able to bring their own alcohol for years, and that there had never been any trouble at the club.

But PC Guy Harrison said there were significant crime and disorder problems in the Revoe area, and believed there could be problems with people trying to get into the club.

Club Play agreed to five extra conditions about controlling the volume of the music.

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