Totties lap dancing club shut down as licence renewal refused

Trafford Council’s public protection sub-committee refused an application by the owner of Totties, Jonathan Dodd, for the renewal of its sex entertainment licence.

Mr Dodd was told by the chair of the sub-committee Cllr David Jarman that the club on The Causeway where women dance topless was "no longer appropriate".

He said: “We believe Altrincham is a regenerating area.

"It has changed with further residential properties and businesses being built into a more family and business-friendly environment.

“We feel that it’s no longer an appropriate area for this type of establishment.”

Trafford Council's public protection sub committee in full session

Cllr Jarman said there was also concern about the lack of disabled access on the premises.

“Therefore, we are not going to allow the renewal [of the licence] with immediate effect,” he added.

“You can take legal advice on how you move forward, but that is the decision of the sub-committee.”

Mr Dodd had told the hearing that Totties had been in business since 2000, and took ownership of the club three years ago following the death of his father. 

He said Totties employed five full-time staff and more than 30 part-time dancers "making additional income".

“The women are more than qualified to make their own decisions as to what they do with their bodies,” he said.

Mr Dodd said the club had continued to operate since 2000, with only interruption forced by the pandemic.

“We operate as a topless only bar,” he said.

“A lot of [similar] establishments in Manchester have fully nude women [dancing].”

However, Mr Dodd admitted there was an incident outside the premises when a "drunk" man attempting to enter the club had pulled out a machete.

Panel member Cllr Sarah Haughey also asked Mr Dodd about an incident in 2017 in which a man died following a seven-man brawl at the club.

“There was a serious situation when it kicked off between two brothers and five other men,” said Mr Dodd.

He said that during the course of the altercation, a man banged his head on the ground and died as a result.

An objector who did not want to give her name to the sub-committee said she was a resident who lives within 100 yards of the club and also runs a business in the town. 

“Altrincham has changed dramatically since the licence was first granted,” she said. “The town is aiming to attract young families.

"Its whole ethos is that it’s a place where families raise their children. 

“Flats are being built there either side of the property [Totties].”

She said the alley where people gain access to Totties has become "much more gentrified" with young families walking to and fro day and night.

“Having an establishment that is promoting sexual gratification seems very out of date,” she said.

“It’s not a moral issue.”

She said that she was surprised that a planning application for the development of five apartments by the landlord of the building Charlotte Street Estates Ltd, based in Manchester, had been turned down by Trafford’s planners.

“There are lots of local residents and they want to get away from the seedy, slightly dodgy image the place will attract,” she added.

There were also five other objectors who wrote emails to the sub-committee asking it to refuse the application.