Objections raised over licence renewal for ‘exploitative’ Soho strip joint

By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter

A Soho strip club previously accused of withholding thousands of pounds in performers’ wages has applied to renew its sexual entertainment licence.

SophistiCats, located on Brewer Street, has previously denied the allegations, saying the funds had been frozen by the banks.

The club said it intends paying performers once the funds are unfrozen or after six months, if they remain frozen. The venue, run by John Mckeown Clubs Ltd, has applied to renew its licence with Westminster City council to run partially nude stripteases until 3am most nights.

But a number of objectors want the licence to be refused, claiming dancers are owed thousands of pounds in earnings. One objector said SophistiCats was ‘a very bad place to work’ and forced dancers to sell expensive Champagne.

They wrote: “Rules were changing all the time and [it] was insane. Customers sometimes were inappropriate to staff and managers never took any action.”

Another claimed the pressure on dancers affected their mental health on a daily basis. They wrote: “The club environment is extremely toxic and many have suffered a great deal which has had an impact on them even to this day.

“Please do not give them their license and allow them to continue this unacceptable behaviour. Please think of the girls.”

A customer claimed he experienced the ‘forceful sale’ of Champagne and had ‘uncomfortable encounters’ with the management. They wrote: “The dancers are put under so much pressure to sell Champagne in order for a customer to pay for their time. I am made to feel extremely uncomfortable and exploited.”

He said the pressure exerted on dancers was ‘almost as if it’s a pimp-like situation’. A dancer claimed the club had no sanitary bins and ‘extremely low’ hygiene levels. They also claimed customers are misled about the price of Champagne.

They wrote: “It is not as easy for a dancer to leave that toxic club because of not being paid any previous money they [are] owed and they make sure to warn us that if we leave we will never be welcome again meaning our money could never ever be paid.”

One objector shares what appears to be a legal letter claiming the club owed five dancers more than £20,000. SophistiCats has been approached for comment. Westminster City council will review the application during a licensing meeting tomorrow.

Pictured top: The entrance to SophistiCats strip club on Brewer Street (Picture: Google Street View)