Love Empire Limited, previously trading as Private Shop and located on Bourne Road, submitted the application to Bexley Council on December 4.
Bexley Council has delegated authority to Sevenoaks District Council, whose Licensing Sub-Committee will decide whether to approve or reject the application on Thursday (January 23).
For the application to be approved, the applicant must meet four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.
To meet the requirements of the protection of children from harm, the applicant promises to ensure that no persons under the age of 18 to be admitted to the premises or employed in the business.
The applicant also stated: “In addition to the notice displayed on the external door, a prominent notice stating “OVER 18 ONLY” in letters of no less than three inches high is to be displayed on the internal wall facing the door.
The applicant also promises to “maintain good order in the premises” and “retain control over all portions of the sex shop” for the criteria of public safety.
To meet the prevention of crime and disorder criteria, the applicant has assured the council that “no part of the premises shall be used by prostitutes for the purpose of solicitation or otherwise exercising their calling”.
To meet the prevention of public nuisance criteria, they said that “no employee or other person shall seek to obtain custom for the sex shop by means of personal solicitation outside or in the vicinity of the premises”.
However, despite having methods to meet each criterion, one resident wasn’t happy.
Samantha Laing made an objection, stating: “In 2024, this kind of establishment is outdated and objectionable”.
She added: “Bexley is a lovely area, and this shop is a blot on the landscape.
“It is well known that sex trade enforces the idea of sex trafficking and the objectification of women.
“I do hope this business is denied its licence to trade.”
In response to her objection, Nik Budimir, Managing Director of Love Empire Limited, said: “246,472 people are living in the London Borough of Bexley currently and the number is rising.
“Only one person out of a quarter of a million people felt it necessary to object to our licence renewal.”
If their licence is approved, the sex shop will be open from 9am to 8pm Saturday to Thursday, 9am to 9pm on Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.
The Licensing Sub-Committee will make a decision by Thursday, January 30.
