A SOUTHAMPTON city centre strip bar has been shut down as police investigate allegations of a serious crime.

Officers are probing reports that a customer of For Your Eyes Only (FYEO) paid out more than £30,000 during an eight hour-long stay at the lapdancing bar.

Now bosses at Hampshire Constabulary have urged Southampton City Council to launch a review of the strip club’s licence.

And the venue, based in the High Street, has been temporarily closed while city licensing chiefs carry out the review.

It comes after police wrote a letter, seen by The Echo, to the city council following an alleged incident in December.

In the letter, the force said it was investigating after a customer of the strip bar spent £33,000 from three of his bank accounts, but later had no recollection of the transactions.

According to the letter, police believe the man appeared “very drunk”, was seen “vomiting at least twice” and later being seen to be “close to unconsciousness”.

Daily Echo:

In the letter, police say the man appeared “so drunk he was unable to use a credit card machine unaided”.

Police say they have now launched a criminal investigation into the incident.

A Hampshire Police spokesperson said: “We are investigating a report of theft that happened at For Your Eyes Only on 14 December 2019 where it is alleged that £33,000 was stolen.

“We informed Southampton City Council of this because this incident may be a breach of the Licensing Act for the venue.

“The investigation is ongoing. No-one has been arrested at this time.”

Meanwhile, city licensing bosses are set to review the venue’s premises licence.

A decision will be made by the council at a committee meeting next month.

The club itself has been temporarily closed in the meantime.

However, a note inside the front door of the venue says the club is closed due to an electrical fault and that it is planned to open again “as soon as the problem is resolved”.

Daily Echo:

A spokesperson for Southampton City Council said: “After careful consideration the council’s Licensing (General) Sub-committee imposed a suspension of the licence for For Your Eyes Only.

“This follows a complaint made to the police about activities at the premises on one night in December 2019.

“The license suspension will be in place until the full review is held next month, after an application by Hampshire Constabulary for a summary review of the premises.

“The police investigation is on-going.”

For Your Eyes Only opened in 2004 after plans for the venue were given the green light by city planning chiefs, despite concerns at the time that it could increase “prostitution” in the city’s old town conservation area.

The strip bar underwent a major redevelopment in 2014, reopening in March that year.

It was later awarded Best Bar None award for “Best Club” in Southampton.

Daily Echo:

According to the club’s Facebook page, the venue is one of the “leading brands for Southampton city nightlife” and offers six VIP booths, aimed at entertaining cooperate clients or enjoying a night out with friends.

The page says the club is open six days a week, from 10pm to 4am weekdays, and 11pm to 4am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Echo contacted For Your Eyes Only for a comment, but did not receive a response as the paper went to press.