Shades refused license once again

Shades in Leamington Old Town. (s)

SHADES nightclub in Leamington Old Town has been refused a 'sexual entertainment' license for the second – and perhaps final - time.

Under the Policing and Crime Act 2009 all premises such as Shades, in High Street, were re-classed as 'sexual entertainment venues' and had to apply for a new licence, failure to secure it meaning they can only provide 'adult entertainment' 11 times a year and no more than once per month.

Shades' first push for the license was rejected by Warwick District Council last summer due to the negative effect the authority felt it would have on the area.

And it was refused again at a meeting of the council's regulatory committee, held at Leamington town hall on Thursday morning (March 15), for the same reasons.

A council licensing spokesman told the Observer: “It has nothing to do with the nature of the sexual entertainment industry, or to do with how this club has been run, it is due to its location, which is felt that such activities are inappropriate for.

“There is no right of appeal against this refusal.”

Amara, a second such club in nearby Court Street, is to have its first push for the new license heard by the council on April 18.