Soho strip membership faces having its licence revoked after police probe

A Soho strip club with celebrity visitors including actor Chris Pratt and supermodel Kate Moss faces having its licence revoked after police found dancers and customers were breaching ‘no touching’ rules in booths.

The Metropolitan Police has lodged objections about Sunset Strip, in the heart of the West End, which dates back to 1960 and is where Pratt reportedly celebrated his engagement and Moss learnt to pole dance.

Officers found footage suggesting dancers were touching clients as well as fellow performers, against the rules of the club’s sex establishment venue (SEV) licence. 

Police also told Westminster Council‘s licensing officials that there was insufficient CCTV coverage of the entire venue and only one qualified bouncer when there should be at least two – and also raised concerns about an alleged spiking incident.

Councillors were due to meet this morning to consider the force’s request – having previously voted last November in favour of keeping the venue open.

Sunset Strip, in Dean Street in London’s Soho, faces having its licence revoked after a request by the Metropolitan Police to Westminster Council

Officers found footage suggesting dancers were touching clients as well as fellow performers, against the rules of the club’s sex establishment venue (SEV) licence

Sunset Strip, which opened in 1960, is one of 13 clubs in the area to have an SEV licence though that status is now under threat.

Officers made several visits in January to collect CCTV footage after a man complained of having his drink spiked and losing his wallet and mobile phone.

While there they noticed several private dances taking place in booths featuring ‘flagrant breaches’ of a ban on touching between dancers and customers.

The club’s manager allegedly shrugged his shoulders and offered no comment when challenged by police.

Sunset Strip management had previously promised to get rid of private dancing booths but these were still in operation, the Met’s application to Westminster Council states.

Only one Security Industry Association-accredited bouncer was on duty while the only other employee on duty with SIA qualification was working behind the bar instead of on the door, according to the council documents. 

CCTV footage eventually retrieved by officers showed several examples of illegal touching including a moment where two strippers performing with each other were seen to ‘intentionally make contact with customers’, police said.

A statement by the Met read: ‘In one instance a customer has to move her hand away to avoid touching the dancer’s bottom.’

Pc Steve Muldoon, one of the officers inspecting the club, said in his report: ‘The dancers were different with each dance for the customers, who were also different each time.

Hollywood star Chris Pratt, seen at a Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 special screening in New York on May 3 last year, reportedly partied into the early hours at Sunset Strip in January 2019

Supermodel Kate Moss, pictured at the 2024 King’s Trust Global Gala in New York on May 2, is said to have used Sunset Strip’s =downstairs theatre to learn pole dancing

‘There was, however, one common factor that was the same – there was some clear graphic touching between the dancers and the customers and the customers and the dancers. This was the same for every dance with every dancer.

‘On occasions it was clear staff were nearby and were completely complacent to the fact this was going on.

‘There was no stopping the dancers and no interjecting when a customer was the one to touch. It was clear and obvious that there was an engrained culture in the club.’

Officers have said similar breaches were previously reported in 2019 and 2022.

MailOnline has approached Sunset Strip for comment. 

Hollywood star Chris Pratt reportedly celebrated his engagement to Katherine Schwarzenegger by partying into the early hours at Sunset Strip in January 2019.

The A-list actor was said to have spent £5,000 on bottles of bourbon and champagne and jokingly asked a blonde stripper to marry him instead of Katherine, while visiting the UK to promote Lego Movie 2.

Supermodel Kate Moss is said to have used the club’s downstairs theatre to learn pole dancing. it was said when the venue celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010.