Went to the Axe about a week ago on a Saturday afternoon.
Half a dozen girls, nobody taking a blind bit of notice of any Covid restrictions so how it stays open I don't know.
It was fun to have another visit, though I only stayed for a couple of "dances".
Dances are upstairs only. It is pretty dire up there, with a bunch of old sofas that would have looked tempting when they were in a skip. On the plus side, if you get bored with the dance while you're up there, take a look at the beautiful early Victorian skylight - it's a hint of what the pub was like originally.
In previous years dances were £20, but they'd always try to get you to pay double by offering a "naughty forty" to which I'd reply "Twenty's Plenty" at least until I knew what their dances were like. Some were filthy as fuck, and some were plastic robots, regardless of what you paid.
Now, there seems to be a firm cartel on pricing, and nobody is offering anything less than £40. Of that, £5 per dance, or perhaps £5 per journey upstairs, now goes immediately and obviously to the bar, so it's kind of understandable. Isn't that "living off immoral earnings"?
Anyway, for £40 you get a pretty filthy dance, lots of touching her everywhere, lots of dick rubbing through trousers, just as frustrating and soul draining as ever but somehow we're drawn back aren't we! So in answer to the question "what should my budget be", a half hour visit with two minimal dances, £5 entry, one drink and a packet of peanuts saw me waste very nearly £100.
Looking forward to going back one evening when I can get hammered and wonder how I spent £300 on unmemorable sweaty dances and warm beer.