London Clip Joints

[DaVINCI]

Seen another thread were it mentions getting attacked while punting which jogged the memory.

As l visit London frequently for Punting activities and sightseeing    (the SP’s are no longer working  in case anybody asks why no review and the other is well reviewed).

About 14 years l was down in Soho and passing which l thought at the time was a strip club. I was coaxed into the club thinking l could have 2 or 3 beers and watch a couple of dances (like at the clubs at Shoreditch) then on my way.

Anyway, once down the stairs in the club l was offered a drink which l accepted. Then l had a look around and there was no punters, just a Barmaid, WG(?) empty tables and strippers dance floor 

I was then informed it would be £300  to go to the room with the girl. I can always remember the girl was extremely attractive but l wasn’t interested and especially at those prices.

Therefore, l had a quick sip of my pint and went to pay for this. I cannot remember the exact cost of the pint but was advised l had to pay the £300  which l was having none of that.

Pissed off and angry, l informed the Barmaid l would be phoning the police on my mobile and immediately they had filled a large plastic water bottle and threw this over my head to destroy my mobile phone.

With rage l stormed up the stairs and managed to get past a heavy bouncer l meet on the way up and and get out onto the street. I then phoned the Police again and they were hopeless and referred me to Trading Standards which l lodged a complaint.

About a few months later on the TV (might have been crimewatch) there was the same situation in the news and a guy was assaulted by one of the Bouncers. As time elapsed, I believe Trading Standards closed the places down, good riddance l say.

Looking back l was lucky to get out their relatively unscathed.

Did anyone actually ever pay the ridiculous fee (certainly at that tlme) and have a punt? Or if they paid the fee, what was the result?

[GreyDave]

  funny thing I commented on a thread above being assulted never have been but I was threatened and intimdated in one of these places many years ago too

I did have the luck of being a lot younger and at the time there where two other guys who were not at all worried by the bouncers in fact looking back it was almost as if they wanted a ruck the place wanted 30 quid for a beer I paid and left sheepishly not wanting trouble the girls wanted you to buy the champers  I made my exit when the other guys where standing off each other I would be surprised if they were ex squaddies they seemed it..No Fear and angry about some rip off clip joint..I belive the Trading sandad people had a nightmare with these places as the ticket has a condition of buying expensive drink on it and the prices are put up outside....

Been punting since 16 in Soho and I have never had trouble in Soho Walk up`s but this was the one and only time I thought shit I am out of my comfort zone

[RAJEC]

Happened to me in my very young days. I may have been the only guy in there and falling for the trap of having a drink with the girl, I was given a fairly large bill when declining the offer to go to a room.

Querying the bill, the bar woman insisted I paid. Said I had £15 in cash and that was all. She asked me to empty my pockets which I did with the bouncer standing over my head.

Was probably my luck, but the contraption holding my cards did not look like a wallet in any shape or form, so she just threw it aside looking through my other items. Believing I had no more money, she just shrugged her shoulders and told me to leave. No trouble from the bouncers (thank god) and counted myself a lucky escape.   

Never again did I fall for this type of place.

[Josler]

Had a very similar experience in Budapest, attractive lady coercing me into a bar/club and then faced with a large bill equivalent to being with the lady or they said the price of a beer.
Paid about £20 for the beer and they thought wiser than stopping me leaving

[Joepeeps]

they had filled a large plastic water bottle and threw this over my head to destroy my mobile phone

Sorry, just curious but how does this destroy your phone? Was the phone on your head?

[Stiltskin]

Sorry, just curious but how does this destroy your phone? Was the phone on your head?

Bizarre!

I had a similar experience in the 90's. Our bill was £85 for two cokes. The 'bouncer' blocking the stairs must have been 10 stone at best, but still my mate pulls £20 out and we left.

Then my mate decided it would be a good idea to hang around outside their door for an hour warning people off. It cost them a lot more than £20

[magnetico]

So they've poured water on your phone?
I don't fully get your story

[mrhappypants]

Based on 20 years experience working and socialising around Soho and the West end,  “Members Club” scams in Soho and the West End are longstanding and well known - AVOID.

[DaVINCI]

So they've poured water on your phone?
I don't fully get your story

When the phone was up at my ear when phoning the police, water was thrown l would imagine to get into the workings of my phone to destroy my phone.

Water and phones are not a good mix. 

[DaVINCI]

Based on 20 years experience working and socialising around Soho and the West end,  “Members Club” scams in Soho and the West End are longstanding and well known - AVOID.

understand that from my experience and now always wary. It still goes on in major EE tourist cities as l have noticed.

My main point of my story, has anyone ever had a punt in these places or was it just a scam money making machine and no punting even stripping ever had taken place 

[RAJEC]

understand that from my experience and now always wary. It still goes on in major EE tourist cities as l have noticed.

My main point of my story, has anyone ever had a punt in these places or was it just a scam money making machine and no punting even stripping ever had taken place 

I don’t think anyone has money left after the drinks bill comes, so likely no punt.

[magnetico]

phoned the Police again and they were hopeless and referred me to Trading Standards which l lodged a complaint.

Useless police, just good enough to fine drivers 🖕

[Alanroy]

Had a very similar experience in Budapest, attractive lady coercing me into a bar/club and then faced with a large bill equivalent to being with the lady or they said the price of a beer.
Paid about £20 for the beer and they thought wiser than stopping me leaving

Budapest is a very dangerous place for this to happen in, some strip joints etc run by the friggin mafia or whatever. You're lucky if you got away with only paying £20. Happened to someone I know years ago and he got done for hundreds, and beat up into the bargain. Heard of others since then.

[Boristheboy]

I’ve had a similar experience in Soho, probably about 19 years ago now. Offered a drink, taken to a little room with the lady, who then outlined her prices for giving me a “dance”. I believe it was around the 300 mark, and I said no, having only about 100 cash on me anyway. I was then informed by the “management” that I was obliged to pay that already, pointing to a sign on the wall with various small print about charges on it. They actually said I could try calling the police if I liked, it didn’t bother them because what they were doing was legal. I think now I would have called their bluff on that, but at the time I was shit scared and told them I just didn’t have more than a tenner on me. A thug then insisted on accompanying me to a cash point round the corner, and I was basically intimidated into withdawing money from it. Fortunately, because my balance was low it would only give me about £50, and they didn’t find out about most of the cash I had on me, so I got off lightly.

[lewisjones23]

I’ve had a similar experience in Soho, probably about 19 years ago now. Offered a drink, taken to a little room with the lady, who then outlined her prices for giving me a “dance”. I believe it was around the 300 mark, and I said no, having only about 100 cash on me anyway. I was then informed by the “management” that I was obliged to pay that already, pointing to a sign on the wall with various small print about charges on it. They actually said I could try calling the police if I liked, it didn’t bother them because what they were doing was legal. I think now I would have called their bluff on that, but at the time I was shit scared and told them I just didn’t have more than a tenner on me. A thug then insisted on accompanying me to a cash point round the corner, and I was basically intimidated into withdawing money from it. Fortunately, because my balance was low it would only give me about £50, and they didn’t find out about most of the cash I had on me, so I got off lightly.

why didnt you bolt once outside?

[king tarzan]

Many many years ago, in my college days, got manipulated in going into one of these places in Soho, anyway 10 minutes later a bill for £300 for a cocktail for the fucken bitch, then the bastard went through my pockets and the cunts took the £20 i had, flung my travel card back at me and told me to piss off, tried to reason with these motherfuckers but to no avail..

LESSON LEARNED never ever went near these places again..

[magnetico]

Are these dodgy Soho clubs still here???

[Liverpool]

Are these dodgy Soho clubs still here???

No. The Police and Westminster Council and the Home Office raided them, shut them down, charged some of the people, dealt with the illegal immigration of others.

[smiths]

Seen another thread were it mentions getting attacked while punting which jogged the memory.

As l visit London frequently for Punting activities and sightseeing    (the SP’s are no longer working  in case anybody asks why no review and the other is well reviewed).

About 14 years l was down in Soho and passing which l thought at the time was a strip club. I was coaxed into the club thinking l could have 2 or 3 beers and watch a couple of dances (like at the clubs at Shoreditch) then on my way.

Anyway, once down the stairs in the club l was offered a drink which l accepted. Then l had a look around and there was no punters, just a Barmaid, WG(?) empty tables and strippers dance floor 

I was then informed it would be £300  to go to the room with the girl. I can always remember the girl was extremely attractive but l wasn’t interested and especially at those prices.

Therefore, l had a quick sip of my pint and went to pay for this. I cannot remember the exact cost of the pint but was advised l had to pay the £300  which l was having none of that.

Pissed off and angry, l informed the Barmaid l would be phoning the police on my mobile and immediately they had filled a large plastic water bottle and threw this over my head to destroy my mobile phone.

With rage l stormed up the stairs and managed to get past a heavy bouncer l meet on the way up and and get out onto the street. I then phoned the Police again and they were hopeless and referred me to Trading Standards which l lodged a complaint.

About a few months later on the TV (might have been crimewatch) there was the same situation in the news and a guy was assaulted by one of the Bouncers. As time elapsed, I believe Trading Standards closed the places down, good riddance l say.

Looking back l was lucky to get out their relatively unscathed.

Did anyone actually ever pay the ridiculous fee (certainly at that tlme) and have a punt? Or if they paid the fee, what was the result?

I had to fight my way out of a clip joint in Soho in the 80s, some ugly huge cunt was demanding money with menaces off me and it was hundreds of pounds. Cant say I am impressed at the lack of speed the police and council close such places down, I saw a programme a few years ago about such a joint in Soho and it was allowed to operate for far too long in my view before it was raided, closed and the low lifes nicked.

At that one the modus was to frog march the guy to an ATM to maximise what they could steal off him.

[David1970]

Sorry, just curious but how does this destroy your phone? Was the phone on your head?

If your phone was destroyed by water inside the club, how could you use it to phone the police outside?

[DaVINCI]

If your phone was destroyed by water inside the club, how could you use it to phone the police outside?

I never mentioned they had destroyed my phone  they tried to by throwing water over me out of a bottle but it did not succeed.

If they had filled a bucket and threw it over me, then it would have been a different story. 

[David1970]

My fault, picked you up wrong

[Malvolio]

I remember paying £5 to go into one of those places when I was young and naive.  Fortunately there was a group of us there so we managed to get out unscathed once someone was sensible enough to ask how much drinks cost.

It's best to assume that anyone on the street in Soho who tries to start a conversation with you has some type of scam in mind.

[Perkystarfish]

I too found myself in one of these places in the early 2000’s.

Was enticed downstairs thinking it would a strip joint, ended up in a little room with a very attractive young lady, who sat with me and chatted. 5 minutes later another woman came in explaining that it would cost £300 to take said young lady into a private room, however, I also needed to pay for her time already at £300, a grand total of £600.

I only had £100 on me and so she started asking for ID so that she could complete court papers for small claims.

There was a burly looking bouncer behind her. Explained I could go to cashpoint to withdraw money, but she insisted on taking me, and the bouncer followed behind. There was a queue for the cashpoint, and so I waited in line.

Whilst not proud of the next part; I stamped on her foot and legged it.... was around the Piccadilly Circus area I seem to recall!

Was before my punting days (which are few and far between anyway) but it really put me off for a loooong time!

[bhudda]

I too found myself in one of these places in the early 2000’s.

Was enticed downstairs thinking it would a strip joint, ended up in a little room with a very attractive young lady, who sat with me and chatted. 5 minutes later another woman came in explaining that it would cost £300 to take said young lady into a private room, however, I also needed to pay for her time already at £300, a grand total of £600.

I only had £100 on me and so she started asking for ID so that she could complete court papers for small claims.

There was a burly looking bouncer behind her. Explained I could go to cashpoint to withdraw money, but she insisted on taking me, and the bouncer followed behind. There was a queue for the cashpoint, and so I waited in line.

Whilst not proud of the next part; I stamped on her foot and legged it.... was around the Piccadilly Circus area I seem to recall!

Was before my punting days (which are few and far between anyway) but it really put me off for a loooong time!

Why not proud of it? She deserved to have you stamp on her head, never mind her foot.

[magnetico]

I only had £100 on me and so she started asking for ID so that she could complete court papers for small claims.

Is that a bluff?

[fed24]

Whilst the rapid Gentrification and loss of character in Soho makes me sad I am not sorry to see these thieving scumbag Clip Joints shut down!

In my younger days I also had a run in and lucky escape with one of these places, I used to do regular business trips to London and I would often have the evening to myself. I loved the thrill of walking about that part of London and had walked past the 'Enticers' of the clip joints many times...

One weekday afternoon I had a meeting finish early off the Strand and with nothing else to do I wandered in the direction of China Town eventually drifting into Soho. For some reason that day I stopped to actually chat to one of the Enticers, she made all the usual offers of a drink and a dance but with no threat of having to commit. I decided to go have a look and started down the steps, the way the entrance was designed was you went down a flight of steps turned left  went down another before turning another left into the bar area. That way you couldn't see down into the establishment or see the massive threatening bouncer on the second flight. Feeling concerned but committed I carried on down and the bouncer followed me in, I was taken to a table on the other side of the bar area with the bouncer taking up position between me and the door. Like  mentioned earlier it was utterly empty except for an older angry looking woman, no music, no girls doing dances no customers propping up seats with drinks. Feeling concerned and confused I was rapidly changing my mind, the angry looking woman came over and asked what drink I would like. Wanting out as quick as possible I asked for a Coke which she duly brought back stating she would be back soon with the bill and menu for dances.

So there I was sipping a Cola and feeling rather worried as the bouncer eyed me, eventually the angry woman returned and gave me the bill. £300 with a dance, if I didn't have the money the bouncer would kindly take me to a cash point for my own protection..it was a dangerous area to be carrying large wadges of money apparently and they were only thinking of my safety. She made it clear that there was no choice in the matter and I would be expected to pay up or else. As I was thinking about the financial loss that I was facing I had my first stroke of luck, behind the angry woman the Enticer had returned to the bar to ask the Bouncer to come back up the stairs with her for some reason. He left leaving myself and the angry woman, realising I might have an opportunity to get out I decided to sound perfectly happy about the situation. I told her £300 was fine with a smile and asked her what Girl I was going to see and what was she going to do for me. The angry woman then said she would go and get the girl to talk to me, she left the room as well.

Time to make my escape, the bouncer had not returned so I got up quickly dropped a few coins out of my pocket on the table as compensation for the Cola and started to stride towards the exit stairs realising if I was going to get out momentum was going to be the key. Just as I was approaching the exit the angry woman returned with a girl in tow, I kept on going with her calling out to me 'I brought you the Girl and you owe us'! I hit the staircase and started to bound up two stairs at a time. I rounded the first corner and had my next stroke of luck, the bouncer was half way up the second flight of stairs leaning against the wall facing up the stairs talking to the Enticer. I held my momentum and as I bounded past him two steps at a time I cheerfully called out, "Thanks but I'm not that interested in whats on offer". I was past the Enticer, out the main entrance and making a rapid move towards Piccadilly circus. My reasoning being I doubted the bouncer would give chase or cause trouble if I was in a very public place plus there were a number of banks and shops with door security.

Next thing I remember was standing in the Piccadilly Circus Barclays branch with a member of staff asking if I need some help...I mumbled "Just want to get some cash" and my adventure was over!

[magnetico]

fed24 this is a good story to tell at parties 

I can't believe how cheeky these clubs can get, by getting a bouncer to go with the victim to an ATM to pay £300.
You'd think the victims could just scream HELP!! as soon as they get outside of the club ?
What would the bouncer do ? Beat up the victim and drag him to the ATM in front of 100 witnesses ?

[fed24]

Certainly is 

They rely on the shock and embarrassment factor I would guess. They were cheeky certainly!

[fed24]

The Clip joint I made my escape from was in Tisbury Court, I can't remember exactly which one. I think it was at the end where the Vegan cafe is now.

Reading this interesting article about it at the moment:

External Link/Members Only

Looks like I would not have got anything more than the Cola as these places were not licensed to provide alcohol or get this "Entertainment" 

[paulub45]

Very interesting read thanks for posting

[itk]

Similar thing happened when myself and two punting mates spent the weekend in London about 20 years back. Being all new to us we stupidly thought we would get in this place for £5 and watch lap dancers. We then got told we had to pay a waitress for her to sit with us, and with that we made our way to leave, and was met at the first door by two bouncers. Asked us for all our money, watches and mates leather coat, stood our ground and told them to fuck off and eventually left after paying about £50.
A couple of months later it was on Crimewatch where someone fireballed a club in Soho and tenner wishing it was the same club we’d been fucked over.

[Boristheboy]

why didnt you bolt once outside?

Yeah, I absolutely should have... but I was terrified at the time, far from the worldly punter I have become, I was just too scared.
Should have tried the foot stamp in retrospect!

[Keema]

These places used to be ok, saw my first strip show there with a girl with a full bush stripping and a decent crowd  - that was early 80s and I was a horny teenager. About 5yrs later tried to find the same place and the bastards got me for £60 with the girl shouting can we have a show. I thought she was calling a girl down, but it was really calling the bouncer down. They wanted a grand but I bolted it to the tube and was convinced they were on my tail till I got to Waterloo Station.

Wanting my revenge I got some superglue and glued their padlocks the next morning*

*Actually that's still to happen. But it was a great plan at the time.

[Marmalade]

No. The Police and Westminster Council and the Home Office raided them, shut them down, charged some of the people, dealt with the illegal immigration of others.

The illegal basement ones, yes. But I believe Sunset Strip is still on the go isn’t it? Perfectly legit, no pressure. Not quite as good as it used to be as the dancers try to get tips, but otherwise fairly solid show.

[dirkdiggler583]

Had the same in the 90's with me and mate thinking we were wandering into a strip club.
Was another guy in there who made a run for it when we came in, bouncers chased him so we just wandered out.

[Liverpool]

The Clip joint I made my escape from was in Tisbury Court, I can't remember exactly which one. I think it was at the end where the Vegan cafe is now.

Reading this interesting article about it at the moment:

External Link/Members Only

Looks like I would not have got anything more than the Cola as these places were not licensed to provide alcohol or get this "Entertainment" 

I went to that one. Got charged £380 for a 1/2 pint and a drink for the girl that looked like one Del Boy would ask for. Luckily the bouncer accepted my "I'll get the cash from a machine" line. I remember that the drinks menu was written in red on red paper and with dodgy lights as well....

[Slowjoe]

The Clip joint I made my escape from was in Tisbury Court, I can't remember exactly which one. I think it was at the end where the Vegan cafe is now.

Reading this interesting article about it at the moment:

External Link/Members Only

Looks like I would not have got anything more than the Cola as these places were not licensed to provide alcohol or get this "Entertainment" 

Really interesting article, thanks for posting the link. Remember going in one with a group of mates many years ago, we were all young and stupid.  We got away with it (as there were a fair few of us), horrible at the time but funny thinking back now.

[Mr Farkyhars]

and the bouncer followed behind. There was a queue for the cashpoint, and so I waited in line.

Whilst not proud of the next part; I stamped on her foot and legged it

Did the bouncer not try to fetch police, on the grounds you had committed an assault in public on his 'girlfriend' (as he would no doubt say)?

[Justanotherman]

made the mistake of walking through china town/soho area the other night after being in the old axe. Approached by several touts, female, mostly oriental. But one, white, drug ravaged features gave me terrible abuse, following me for quite some way in the street because i made the mistake of asking 'where' but not following her when she walked off. Wont make that error again.

[jimmypoo]

I remember one of the very last of these places was in Great Windmill street.

For years I had to pass by there a few times a week.

Always had a good looking woman trying to entice gentleman in.

Sometimes they could get quite abusive if they were ignored, shouting homophobic comments.

The last straw was in the final few weeks there had been quite a few disturbances, as wronged customers came back to seek revenge, eventually leading to the murder of a hostess.

It's now a rather nice steak and chop restaurant called Blacklock.

[Stiltskin]

I remember paying £5 to go into one of those places when I was young and naive.  Fortunately there was a group of us there so we managed to get out unscathed once someone was sensible enough to ask how much drinks cost.

When we got scammed it wasn't the drinks that they stung us on, it was the hostess service. So you're just paying the old tart to bring the drinks to your table.

[IG88b]

A trip down memory lane reading this. My initial months in London involved a lot of walking round the adult bookstores and enjoying the attention of the girls sitting in the booths trying to entice people in. Walking round with a permanent erection, and sometimes popping into a £3 peep show and having an afternoon wank. As shitty as these scumbag clip joints were, they added to the fabric of an area rapidly losing its edge. Kinda miss knowing they exist even though they are awful. Anyway thanks to the old London Strip yahoo group quickly learned where they best strip action was and never went back!

[chodu1]

Anyway thanks to the old London Strip yahoo group quickly learned where they best strip action was and never went back!