Derby adult club saved from closure after crunch meeting

The Attic Experience in Derby could be facing closure. Picture of owner Ron Rothwell. Image by LDRS.

By Nigel Slater – Local Democracy Reporting Service

The owner of a Derby adult club is “over the moon” after a council decision saved it from closure.

Derby City Council has granted The Attic Experience a premises licence for a “sex cinema” at its Ascot Drive home.

Owner Ron Rothwell told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he was delighted with the decision. Previously, he said a refusal by councillors would put the 22-year-old club’s future at risk.

He feared closure of the club would be “a huge loss to Derby”.

The premises – despite not yet being totally refurbished – has around 40 adult-themed rooms.

It includes dungeon rooms, a “silhouette room”, a school room, a disco room and even a Harry Potter-themed space.

But the owner claims its cinema, which shows adult films, is the most popular part of the club. He said without it, interest in the club could fade.

A licensing meeting was held last week in which Mr Rothwell and representatives of the club were quizzed by Derby councillors about how the adult club is staffed and operates.

This followed the club’s licensing application to Derby City Council for a sex cinema, which received an objection based on the ownership of the club, its staff and security levels.

But during the meeting, Derbyshire police officer Daniel Handley-Farrell said thorough checks of the owners of the club had been carried out and no issues were identified. He said the applicant was a responsible person who was open, honest and transparent.

Councillors were also informed there was no evidence of crime, disorder or nuisance at the premises.

Following the meeting the council decided to grant the venue a licence to have a sex cinema.

A cinema has already been part of The Attic Experience – but Mr Rothwell claimed he was told to formally apply for a licence.

After the decision was announced, Mr Rothwell said: “I’m over the moon. We will be safe.

“I was genuinely worried after the meeting as they (the council) would not give us the result (immediately) afterwards.

“It was great for the police to state there were no issues – we’ve always worked well with the emergency services but there has never been any trouble.”

Mr Rothwell said its Ascot Drive home had seen around 20,000 visitors enter through the doors since moving there a few years ago.

Before the meeting, he said: “I love this place. I don’t do it for the money – I do it for the people. They love it here.”