A GENTLEMEN’S club in Southend have applied to renew their annual Sex Establishment Licence for another 12 months.

Pink Papers is a lapdancing venue in Lucy Road, and owner Andros Steven Stavrou has a 10-year lease of the premises. However there is no automatic right to the annual renewal of a Sex Establishment Venue Licence, and the current one expires in March.

The venue, which previously ran as Sunset Bar and Lapdancing Club, has had a troubled history. It first opened its doors in October 2020, but only after an eight-month delay when it was the target of an arson attack one day before its planned opening night.

And there was opposition to the licence being renewed in 2021 after concerns about crime and antisocial behaviour.

However, Southend Council granted the renewal with the promise that the club continue to operate under the rules and stop customers “loitering unnecessarily” when leaving, adding that customers must “vacate immediately… to make the minimum impact upon the neighbourhood in relation to potential nuisance, antisocial behaviour, crime and disorder”.

The council also reminded bosses to operate under the rules and make sure dancers are fully dressed while not performing.

Trading hours are Sunday to Thursday 12pm to 3.30am.

Councillor Martin Terry, cabinet member responsible for public protection, said he has no bias against the business as long as they operate safely.

He said: “I’ve got no particular view either way at the moment as to whether it should be renewed or not, but what I will do is now waiting for the officers’ reporters and the police reports to see if there have been any other incidents, or any other reason for us to object.

“But, at the moment I don’t have a bias against the business as such, providing they operate in a safety and reasonable manner in Southend.”

Pink Papers were contacted for a comment.