Highlands’ first lap dancing club sparks outrage

The first lap dancing club in the Highlands will open tonight – sparking outrage from the Free Church of Scotland.

The opening of a lap dancing club in Inverness has sparked outrage from the Free Church of Scotland. Picture: TSPL

• Highlands’ first lap dancing club to open in Inverness

• Church of Scotland “disappointed and saddened” by move

Hush Nightclub in Inverness was granted a licence to operate an adults licence earlier this year.

The venue is set to open to the public tonight.

However, a Free Church of Scotland spokesman said: “We are hugely disappointed and saddened that the first lap dancing club in the Highlands will be opening.

“Over recent weeks a number of our members have been dismayed at the news – and local ministers have heard particularly from young families who are already deeply concerned about the accessibility of sexually suggestive material to children and young people.

“Bringing a lap dancing club to one of the busiest streets in Inverness will make this worse not better.

“Lap dancing sends out a very clear message that women are to be stared at like animals in a zoo.

“We cannot believe in modern 21st century Scotland that there is not universal opposition to such a demeaning and exploitative form of ‘entertainment’.”

The club set up a Facebook page titled Private Eyes to promote the venture, and has already attracted 1,500 followers.

Licence holder Shane Manning said: “Lap dancing is a recognised form of entertainment in most cities across the country and we are delivering that service to Inverness.”

Around 20 girls have been hired to put on shows during a four-night run in Inverness, where the owners will gauge the popularity.