The application is ahead of the arrival of Forbidden Nights and An Evening of Burlesque to the venue this year and next year.
The aim is to allow some adult entertainment which, in the case of these shows, includes semi-nudity. Forbidden Nights, for example, is a strip show seen on ITV1’s Britain’s Got Talent which includes bare bottoms but no more than this according to its website.
A notice outside the town hall said there would be two to three shows per year of this type depending on the decision about an amendment to the premises licence on a date to be determined.
It said: “The council has an application for a variation to the premises licence for Albert Halls, Victoria Square, Bolton, BL1 1RU. The details of the variation to the premises licence are as follows:
“The addition of relevant entertainment to the licence – Albert Halls hosts two to three shows per year which include some partial nudity – namely Forbidden Nights and An Evening of Burlesque.”
A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “The Albert Halls offers a programme for audiences of all ages and, like venues across the UK, the Albert Halls offers a small number of touring performances with a burlesque or similar theme.
“The appropriate age checks and safeguarding are always in place and the shows are popular. Due to the content of some of these performances we are required to make a minor amendment to the venue’s licence in order to host them.”
Earlier in 2024, Bolton Council broke with 40 years of tradition to allow a hypnotist permission for a performance at the Albert Halls.
Robert Temple applied for a licence for his show, Red Raw, around two weeks before the performance at the venue on February 10.
Under the Hypnotism Act, any act in which someone’s “susceptibility to suggestion” is increased or intended to be increased is in need of permission on payment of a fine of £1000, although Bolton Council was understood to be one of few authorities to apply the act.
Forbidden Nights and An Evening of Burlesque are at the Albert Halls this year and next year. For information go to alberthalls-bolton.co.uk/whats-on/.
This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.
