Dancers set to make stage return Doors open at strip club
ONE of Townsville’s strip clubs is reopening for the first time in more than three months as state health authorities ease restrictions on adult entertainment venues.
The Showbar 151 Gentleman’s Club will reopen on Friday night among openings around the state.
Showbar venue manager Faith Hunt said they were very excited to have staff return to work and to have dance performers back on stage.
She said the industry, in conjunction with health authorities, was working to finalise the way venues like Showbar 151 would operate to comply COVID-19 restrictions.
While nightclubs are still not permitted to operate dance floors, it is understood adult entertainment dancers will be permitted.
“We are going ahead. We will implement whatever measures are required to be put in place,” Ms Hunt said.
“We are very excited to get the venue open and to get dancers back on stage.”
Ms Hunt said it was likely Queensland, initially at least, would move towards the kind of non-contact performance operated in other states.
This could mean restrictions on lap and private dances.
The moves have come quickly for the adult entertainment industry.
Under stage two restrictions, strip clubs, brothels, sex on premises venues and sole operator sex workers could not operate, although sole operator sex workers could continue to provide online or phone services. Adult entertainment venues were included in stage three restrictions under changes announced this week by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, when their introduction was brought forward one week to July 3.
Under the stage three restrictions, adult entertainment venues including strip clubs, brothels, sex on premises venues and sole operator sex workers may only operate in compliance with an approved plan.
The operator of another of Townsville’s strip venues, Greg Pellegrini of Santa Fe, said they were looking to open later this month.
He said they would wait until they had a clearer understanding of how they would be allowed to operate.
“We are playing it safe,” Mr Pellegrini said.