CITY licensing chiefs are today set to discuss the future of a Southampton strip club following allegations of a serious crime.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, police officers are probing reports that a customer of For Your Eyes Only paid out more than £30,000 during an eight hour-long stay at the lapdancing bar.

The venue, based in the High Street, has been temporarily closed while city licensing chiefs carry out a review.

The council has the power to reinstate the venue’s suspended licence, impose new restrictions or even revoke the licence completely.

The review comes after police wrote a letter, seen by the Echo, to the city council following an alleged incident in December.

In the letter, the force said it was investigating after a customer of the strip bar spent £33,000 from three of his bank accounts, but later had no recollection of the transactions.

Daily Echo:

According to the letter, police believe the man appeared “very drunk”, was seen “vomiting at least twice” and later was “close to unconsciousness”.

In the letter, police say the man appeared “so drunk he was unable to use a credit card machine unaided”.

Police say they have now launched a criminal investigation into the incident.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said: “We are investigating a report of theft that happened at For Your Eyes Only on December 14, 2019, where it is alleged that £33,000 was stolen.

“We informed Southampton City Council of this because this incident may be a breach of the Licensing Act for the venue.

“The investigation is ongoing. No-one has been arrested at this time.”

A spokesperson for Southampton City Council said: “After careful consideration the council’s licensing (general) sub-committee imposed a suspension of the licence for For Your Eyes Only.

“This follows a complaint made to the police about activities at the premises on one night in December 2019.

“The license suspension will be in place until the full review is held, after an application by Hampshire Constabulary for a summary review of the premises.

“The police investigation is on-going.”

Daily Echo:

For Your Eyes Only opened in 2004 after plans for the venue were given the green light by city planning chiefs, despite concerns at the time that it could increase “prostitution” in the city’s old town conservation area.

The strip bar underwent a major redevelopment in 2014. It was later awarded Best Bar None award for “best club” in Southampton.

The Echo contacted the club for a comment but has received no response.