The facts about strip clubs in England & the UK

What really happens inside strip clubs? And what if you're not OK with your partner or mates paying people to take their clothes off? Here’s The Mix’s guide to strip clubs in England and the UK.

The number of strip clubs in England

There are currently over 295 lap dancing clubs in England alone, but going to one can throw up all sorts of dilemmas, from rifts in your relationship to the sudden discovery of a feminist conscience.

So how do you navigate these scantily-clad quandaries? The Mix finds out.

How strip clubs in the UK work

‘Gentlemen’s clubs’ make their money by charging you a lot for booze. They reel you in with sexy dancers who dance on stage and offer ‘private dances’ in a vip booth for an extra fee. The more up-market adult entertainment venues operate strict no-touching policies – or at least say they do – and you can get thrown out for groping.

Why go to a strip club?

Why are you going? Do you really want to see a woman take her clothes off? Or is it more that you feel pressure from your mates? And if you have a partner, how will they feel about it?

“You’re going to have to decide what you want most. Is it to be with your friends in a strip club? Or do you want to feel ok about your relationship?” says Paula Hall, a sex therapist for Relate.

Another helpful question to ask yourself is: “Would I be happy if my partner/sister/future daughter was a lap dancer?” Whatever you decide, if you’re in a relationship, don’t be tempted to lie about your choice.

There will be other people who are in the same moral/relationship predicament. So, if you’re not keen on going, get together a sub-group of mates who’ll go to a non-nude drinking establishment whilst the others are in the strip club. Pre-planning is key.

My partner wants to go to a lap dancing club, should I mind?

It depends. Do you care? Some people accept it as standard stag-night behaviour, or even want to go along themselves. Others can’t stand the thought of it. Whichever, your opinion is valid, so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

“My boyfriend was going on a stag do and told me they were going to a strip club,” says Fiona*, 25. “I’m really against them and told him I felt uncomfortable. But he argued if he didn’t go, he would be a killjoy. In the end, I let him, but I felt sick the whole night.”

“If you have a strong moral opinion then you need to tell your partner,” says Paula. “For some people it’s a deal breaker – it comes down to values. But try and steer clear of making it a moral debate. Simply say, ‘I don’t like the thought of you going and it makes me feel differently about you’. If they go anyway, or tell you you’re overreacting, then you have to decide whether you want to continue the relationship or not.”

The reality of being a stripper

Some people believe that lap dancers and strippers are empowered women making the choice to earn a huge wad of cash for swirling round a pole. Easy life, right? Sone strippers also argue that it’s a valid career choice and one they enjoy.

Jennifer Hayashi Danns, now 28, an ex- stripper and author of Stripped: The bare reality of lap dancing has another point of view. “Lap dancing is packaged as harmless fun, but that’s not the reality. How is stripping naked for a fully-clothed man empowering? It just humiliates everyone.”

How much do strippers earn?

Lap dancers don’t actually make the massive money people think. Instead, they have to pay a significant ‘house fee’ (sometimes up to £200) just to be allowed in the club, as well as around 25% commission on every private dance.

If dancers don’t get enough customers they can go home out of pocket. They’re also considered ‘self-employed’, so are not eligible for paid holiday, insurance, or even long-term employability.

Taking your clothes off

People argue it’s the dancer’s choice to decide just how much skin to flash. But competition between dancers, combined with the need to make back the house fee mean they often feel forced to reveal more than they’re comfortable with.

“When the money dropped so did my personal standards,” says Jennifer. “I was frightened of doing a full strip but, when money was tight, I did it. The first time I pulled my knickers down I felt my soul fall out.”

Sexual and verbal abuse against lap dancers

Dancers are supposedly protected by the club bouncers. But when making a profit is so important, it’s hard for dancers to protect their rights. It’s common for strippers to experience verbal abuse and unwanted touching by customers.

“When stags come in they get into an intimidating pack mentality, but they bring in a lot of money,” says Jennifer. “If one gropes you, or calls you ugly to your face and you get him kicked out, then you lose the whole group and possibly the entire night’s income. Many of us turned a blind eye because we needed the money.”

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