A STRIP club’s annual licence has been renewed, despite objections over equality. 

Eastbourne Borough Council’s licensing committee approved the sexual entertainment venue licence for Lux, a yet-to-open strip club above the Embassy nightclub in Pevensey Road, Eastbourne.

The renewal was called in to the committee in light of objections from Eastbourne branch of Soroptimists International, which works to “improve the lives of women and girls”.

The group said the club would go against the council’s equality and fairness duty to ensure all individuals feel “valued, safe and protected”.

It said: “Ventures like the proposed strip club do little to promote the town as a desirable place to live, work and visit. 

“Approval of such premises... is a totally unacceptable development in the 21st century in a town seeking regeneration and focuses on financial gain rather than the wellbeing of residents.”

Barrister John Rankin, for owner Gino Forte, also the owner of Embassy, said conditions on the licence would make performers feel “valued, safe and respected”. 

He said: “Because we haven’t been operating much of what is suggested in this representation is speculation about what might happen. 

“What we do know is that the people who will be employed as dancers at this club will be men and women, although not at the same time. We know that the people who will be dancing in these premises will do so willingly.

"We know, because of experience, that some of them will be using this as an opportunity to fund further education in a number of instances.”

He said Mr Forte was in discussions with two potential operators and renewal was necessary for negotiations to proceed.

The club was first granted its licence in 2018 and is required to renew it each year. Its original licence was amended as the owners said its terms made it impossible to find an operator. These included a prohibition on full nudity and a requirement for performers to stay one metre away from customers.