Private's Flagship Store in Soho - closed

[alicia_fan_uk]

Every now and again I venture to the adult stores in central London to refresh the DVD collection. I'm not sure how long that'll continue, as more and more stores are closing down. There's only about 4 of any note left in Soho, and I recently noticed the Private Shop on Brewer St (their "Flagship Superstore") has shut down. I was particularly shocked that the country's largest chain/franchise of adult stores apparently can't make the numbers stack up in its prime store. I'm sure it'll be turned into another caf?, deli or boutique store soon enough....

Is this a general sign of the economy (mix of downturn/high rents) or is there something else to this latest closure?

alicia_fan_uk

[andy at handiwork]

I presume its high rates and punitive licence fees levied by Westminster council, as well as an internet saturated with free tube porn.

[Jonone]

Private's tax shelter isn't as effective as Starbucks.

[one eyed jack]

Plus the companies that produced the stuff are finding it harder or closing down to diminishing returns on their website ventures or their lack of vision for missing the gold rush by thinking no one would ever watch porn on their computers or their mobiles that gave rise to the entrepreneurs that contributed to the change we now recognise today

This is the age of AdultWork and the tube sites I doubt ATVOD will realise they made any real impact when legitimate websites cannot afford to operate under their rigid rule 11 when AdultWork or Tubesites dont have to

Porn as always will always find a way. Thing is, if you aint on Adult Work now what makes you think you will be given a fair crack of the whip before so many people on their determine there is less money to be made for all the content available

[JamesW]

andy at handiwork wrote:

> I presume its high rates and punitive licence fees levied by
> Westminster council


Westminster Council would be acting illegally if they were to levy punitive licence fees. It would be a serious breach of the law.

[andy at handiwork]

They charge a fee of ?29,102 pa per establishment.

[m100]

fees for the shops in my area are between 6000 and 8000 per year so if someone could prove that a london store has at least 4-5 times as big a turnover then the fees would be proportionate. IF.

though i also know that both shops i go in take in at least ?10000 per week and their profit margins on toys and dvd's in particular are massive.

[JamesW]

andy at handiwork wrote:

> They charge a fee of ?29,102 pa per establishment.


No, that was ruled to be illegal. Nowadays they charge ?1,100.

[JamesW]

m100 wrote:

> fees for the shops in my area are between 6000 and 8000 per
> year so if someone could prove that a london store has at least
> 4-5 times as big a turnover then the fees would be
> proportionate. IF.


But still illegal.

Licensing authorities can only charge fees to cover the actual costs of the licensing process. That's the law.

[andy at handiwork]

I stand corrected.