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Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 3 October 2008

Adult World manager Sue Butt and director Gary Best at the Town Hall

Sex shop gets green light for late opening

Council decision comes despite local objections

A SEX shop at Islington Green has been allowed to provide titillating window displays and to open on Sundays.
Adult World was granted the new conditions – including later opening times – by a Town Hall licensing committee on Wednesday despite opposition by objectors including St Peter’s ward Labour councillor Martin Klute.
In a letter objecting to the plans, Cllr Klute said Islington Green is a family area and not a suitable location for a sex shop that openly advertises itself.
He added: “Sunday is still more of a family and recreational day and it is even more offensive that the shop should seek to open on Sunday as well.”
An objection lodged with the panel by a member of the public said: “The council should consider that Collins Theatre will be open shortly [in Islington Green] and that the extended opening hours will coincide with the theatre’s activities and themes. I am sure a lot of the events will be directed at families and children and I do not feel it is appropriate for a shop in the nature of Adult World to be open at these times.”
The shop will now open until 10pm Mondays to Saturdays and 8pm on Sundays – previously it had to close at 8pm.
Until now, Adult World had been forced to cover up its windows but the panel decided on Wednesday to allow the management to open it up for window displays.
Manager Sue Butt said: “We’re really excited about having displays. I’m hoping to have a chaise long and give it a kind of burlesque feel.
“Having our window blocked off gives [the shop] a kind of clandestine image – what goes on in people’s minds could be worse.
“The display will dispel people’s fears. The underwear we have on the ground floor is no different to the underwear in Harrods. Everything on that floor is quite tame – massage oil and underwear.”
She added: “A lot of people ask why we’re not open later. We asked for Sundays based on the shopping trends in Islington.”
Lib Dem Councillor Tracy Ismail, who chaired the panel, said: “The applicants represented themselves as a reputable and responsible company whom the committee are confident will continue to run the premises in a proper manner.”

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I think this is great news. I have been into the shop myself and it is very stylish. I think the open window will make people feel a lot more comfortable. The girls in there are great and really helpful, see you again soon.
M. McNulty