A furious row has broken out over a strip club’s bid to open during race days at Cheltenham – as it hopes to renew its license in a former pub opposite the town’s Baptist Church.
Eroticats – an event run by Red Apple Associates – is seeking to renew its license at the 500-patron venue between October 2024 and May 2025.
On their website, Eroticat call themselves ‘the home of lap dancing in Cheltenham’, adding that their ‘unforgettable strippers’ know how to ‘make your night in Cheltenham more exciting’.Â
But the exotic entertainment has previously been slammed in the regency spa town as it employed shuttle buses of champagne-fuelled men directly to the door of the strip club. It first opened at the site in Cambray Place last year, but was previously based elsewhere in the town.
Women’s groups have warned of an ‘atmosphere of intimidation’ that descends over the town, as they branded Cheltenham a ‘no-go zone’ during race week.
And Cambray Baptist Church – who opposed the racy venue last year – have said the move could drive people away – although their senior pastor Alwyn Barry admitted there had been no campaigning to stop it from opening up.
Eroticats – an event run by Red Apple Associates – is seeking to renew its license at the 500-patron venue (pictured) between October 2024 and May 2025
On their website, Eroticat call themselves ‘the home of lap dancing in Cheltenham’, adding that their ‘unforgettable strippers’ know how to ‘make your night in Cheltenham more exciting’Â
But the exotic entertainment has previously been slammed in the regency spa town as it employed shuttle buses of champagne-fuelled men directly to the door of the strip club. Pictured: In 2018
Teahupoo ridden by Jack Kennedy jumps the last on their way to winning the BetwayPaddy Power Stayers Hurdle during day three of the Cheltenham Festival on March 14, 2024
The application would allow the club to open from 8am until 5am on some dates, although this would otherwise be 8pm to 5am or 6pm to 5am, the BBC reports.
Mr Barry told the broadcaster : ‘There is no change to make it any more acceptable to women who are in the area or visiting the town.
‘What they hope will happen is by continuing to apply each year people will just get fed up because nothing changes and go away.
‘But more and more people have become more upset about it, even though there has been no campaigning. Nobody is drumming up opposition against it but it’s rising nonetheless.’
It comes a year after it was revealed that petrified women did not feel safe walking through the town amid drunken abuse and misogynistic behaviour during race week.
Some were asking their bosses if they could work from home for the week or for their partner or a friend to pick them up so they don’t have to walk alone through the streets.
An ‘atmosphere of intimidation’ is said to descend over the town, according to a survey carried out by GlosWomen, as more than 250,000 people flock to Cheltenham.Â
Several women complained of feeling ‘intimidated’ by some of the male racegoers who storm the town after a long day at the track.
Women’s groups have warned of an ‘atmosphere of intimidation’ that descends over the town, as they branded Cheltenham a ‘no-go zone’ during race week. Pictured: Men queuing outside the club at its former location in 2018
Eroticats used to have a license to host three nights of nude lap dancing in the town’s 2 Pigs nightclub, which normally hosts indie music nights. Pictured: A woman handing out flyers for its former location in 2018
One woman, named only as Jo, told LBC last year that people don’t go near the town as ‘it’s not worth the stress’.
Justice Secretary and Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk blamed the extra seedy strip clubs that open up during the week for creating a ‘menacing tinge’.
And locals are said to be ‘sick’ of seeing boozy revellers urinating in public after watching the horse racing.
‘People that live here we don’t go near town during the race week – it’s just not worth the worry and the stress of going into town,’ Jo said.
‘It becomes a bit of a no-go zone. The women that I know work in town try and work from home but obviously that’s not possible for all jobs.’
The mother said she didn’t want her daughter growing up thinking it was normal that a town she usually feels safe to walk around suddenly becoming a ‘no-go zone’.
Homeowners, describing the races as being ‘like Peaky Blinders on this week’, said that racegoers launched profanity-strewn verbal assaults on fellow attendees despite young children being within earshot.
While the locals appreciated the ‘massive financial boost’ that the races bring to Cheltenham, many said they couldn’t wait for the racegoers to ‘all just go home’.
And locals are said to be ‘sick’ of seeing boozy revellers urinating in public after watching the horse racing. Pictured: A man urinating next to shops on the walk back to Cheltenham in 2023
They claimed the ‘most sensible people’ have booked a week-long holiday just to ‘avoid the chaos’.
Critics have previously accused club promoters of turning the festival into a hotbed for debauchery, creating an unsafe environment for women after dark.Â
One Christian organisation, Trinity Cheltenham, handed out leaflets to racegoers warning that erotic dancers could be victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking. It encourages punters to report potential victims.
Dancers have previously travelled from across the country to cash in on the races. Some claimed they could earn £5,000 over the week. The races also attracted prostitutes to the town who charged up to £1,000 a night.
Eroticats used to have a license to host three nights of nude lap dancing in the town’s 2 Pigs nightclub, which normally hosts indie music nights.
The decision to grant a licence angered councillors who argued that the club is too close to the town’s St Mary’s Church.
A performer last year took to the licensing hearing to speak up for Eroticats, saying she had worked for more than a decade in the industry and at 30 clubs across the UK.
She said: ‘Eroticats is without a doubt the most organised, safe and well run operation I’ve ever encountered.
‘If I did not wholeheartedly believe this licensed business is safe and fair I would not be sitting here today.’
