A Leeds strip club has had its license renewed for a year following a council hearing on Tuesday 13 June.
Councillors were told by a representative of Whiskey Down that the Playboy Mansion-inspired gentleman's club operated "safely" and "within the rules."
They were also informed that the club had updated its dancer welfare pack to include details of trade unions, following a request from the council last year.
The strip club, which is reportedly inspired by Hugh Hefner's library, is lined with bookcases and filled with wingback chairs and leather chesterfields.
Advertised on the club's website there is also a 'revenge' room with a large sphere cage, cuffs and whips, and a bedroom in which performers are handcuffed to an oversized four poster bed for an 'extended private show.'
It offers exclusive application-only membership tiers and describes itself on its website as a 'super luxurious playground'.
Whiskey Down also features a Games Room inspired by Bruce Wayne’s Gotham Manor complete with a pool table and retro playboy pinball machine.
The club’s general manager, Marcus Bentley, told the hearing: “To my knowledge we’ve not had any adverse reaction from local neighbours. I think we still get on with our neighbours, the ones we still have.
“The most important thing on our side is the performers.
“Whatever they’d like we do try to appease them. I feel we’ve done that.
“We operate within the rules and I think we operate quite safely.”
The club, which is operated by Tokyo Industries, has had issues getting its license renewed in the past after receiving complaints from neighbours, Leeds Civic Trust and a local charity Support After Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds (SARSVL).
In 2018, Leeds Civic Trust raised concerns that the club could cause 'harm' to the local area, arguing that it was 'inappropriate for this important historic building (25 Crown Point) to be used for this function'.
The same year, SARSVL argued that "It (the council) should have adopted a zero tolerance of sex establishments policy but in the absence of this SARSVL does not believe that LCC should license these sex establishments as it is incompatible with the Equality Act 2010, Violence Against Women Strategy and Child Friendly Leeds policy."
However, this week the council hearing was told that a routine visit by the police and enforcement officers had found no safety or welfare concerns and Whiskey Down has now had its license renewed for another 12 months.
Asked if there had been any criminal activity at the venue that needed to be reported, Mr Bentley said: “We can have the odd person we’ve had to eject.
“I don’t think any of those have been created into a police matter. We have very, very good CCTV capturing the front of the building and round the back of the Corn Exchange and we provide the police with evidence of crimes (in the area) which are not related to us.”
The club's license has been renewed on the promise that Whiskey Down will keep to a number of specified conditions, including advertising restrictions.
Featured image - Whiskey Down
Leeds
The independent Leeds cafe speaking up after massive coffee chain opens opposite
An independent bakery and coffee shop in Leeds has spoken out after a huge chain opened its doors opposite her cafe.
Savannah Roqaa, owner of The Savvy Baker, has said that she's on a mission to overtake the sales of Blank Street, the massive matcha chain that opened just metres away within weeks of her new site.
She said that while her brand is best-known for its baked goods, they also specialise in high-quality matcha - something Sav says wasn't in good supply in Leeds at the time she opened.
And now she's publicly spoken out about her mission to tempt people away from the big chain and into her independent business.
In a video shared online, Sav has been inviting customers leaving Blank Street to swap their matcha for one of hers, free of charge.
She then remakes the white chocolate matcha herself, but using quality Callebaut white chocolate, melting real chocolate into the drink.
The customer in the video says: "You can tell, it's way sweeter and like actually white chocolate tasting. And the matcha is greener, which is better."
Sav from The Savvy Baker has spoken of her mission to overtake Blank StreetMatcha from The Savvy Baker in Leeds
Sav said: "So when we signed the lease on literally the biggest risk ever, which is this huge shop in Leeds city centre, we had absolutely no idea that Blank Street were opening their biggest store in the entire world across the road.
"They are a global brand that is obviously very very popular, and we just wanted to try and at least match their sales."
She said that she's heard Blank Street sells 5,000 drinks every single week and is hoping to increase sales at The Savvy Baker enough to match.
Sav said: "Last week we sold 890 drinks. We've converted one, so that is 4,109 more people to convert...
"But we have a lot more tricks up our sleeve, so follow along to see if we can do it. And we would massively appreciate any support that you can give us."
First look inside Bruncho Leeds, the viral brunch spot serving Yorkshire puddings for breakfast
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s most popular brunch spots, which always has queues down the street, has made its way across to Leeds at last.
Bruncho has opened on The Headrow this week, bringing its hit products like French toasts, Middle Eastern brunches, and iced matchas, to Leeds city centre.
Bruncho has also made a name for itself with its viral creations, including Labubu Dubai pistachio French toast (how many 2025 buzzwords can you get in one menu item?) and its collection of drinks served at -86°C.
We're sure that their weird and wonderful creations will go down just as well here in Leeds.
Bruncho has taken over the old Foley’s site, letting the unit’s huge arched windows and beautiful dark wooden floors do the talking.
The team have added in plenty of plants, seagrass lampshades, and colourful pieces of art to liven the place up.
But it’s really the menu where the colour kicks in with gusto - starting with the raspberry blue matcha made with 100% pure blue spirulina powder.
Turkish eggs in a Yorkshire puddingPistachio and Kinder French toastFresh pastriesBruncho has transformed the old Foley's Leeds siteThe huge windows at Bruncho LeedsNew York-style breakfast rolls with croissant loaf
There’s also the pistachio and Kinder French toast, topped with loads of pistachios, fresh berries, and an upside-down ice cream cone.
If you prefer a savoury brunch, their New York-style breakfast rolls served in a croissant bun are worth your attention.
And new for Leeds is Bruncho’s new Turkish eggs offering, served inside a giant Yorkshire pudding. Obviously.
As for the counter, you’ll find all manner of creative pastries and bakes, like a Malteser cube pastry and Black Forest cruffin.
Georgina Pellant -
14th June 2023 
