A church is outraged after a lap dancing club was given permission to open directly opposite on extra days to entertain rich horseracing fans. Club Eroticat in Cheltenham’s Cambray Place has proven popular with horse racing fans since it first started opening on a temporary basis, but now it will open on the day of every single race meeting.
The venue, which is opposite Cambray Baptist Church, operates as a luxury tea and coffee house during the day before transforming into the cocktail bar and strip club at night. The club had been operating during the four-day Cheltenham Festival in March, but now it has been granted permission to open for six extra meetings including one before Christmas, and on New Year’s Day, The Daily Star reports.
The festival is said to bring huge business into the town, but Club Eroticat’s extended hours have not gone down well with locals who have publicly condemned the club’s location opposite a church and as a result its proximity to children.
Cheltenham’s Tory MP and Minister for Justice Alex Chalk said: “Locating a sexual entertainment venue near to residential properties where children can be expected to come and go would be wholly inappropriate.”
Alwyn Barry, the senior pastor of the church opposite the venue, said he felt councillors “had no idea how deeply hurtful” the club’s close proximity to his place of worship was.
But performers at Club Eroticat praised the club saying it was among the safest places they had worked.
One performer said: “The most organised, safe and enjoyable company to work with.”
While more than 35 people objected to Eroticat’s increased opening times, there were 49 letters in support of it. David Willingham from the council planning team which approved the club’s plans said the activity of the club is legal and safer than alternatives for its staff.
He said: “The activity is lawful and licensing exists to make it safer. The council cannot take a moral stance on the activity.”
