Casino Rooms in Rochester slammed for offering free entry to clubbers who show cleavage
Casino Room boss Aaron
Stone (third from left) during previous celebrations
by Jenni Horn
A nightclub's decision to offer women free entry if they show
their cleavage has been condemned as "totally unacceptable".
The Casino Rooms, in Rochester, is holding a National Cleavage
Weekender from April 4-6.
The event, described as "lighthearted and fun" by club boss
Aaron Stone, has been set up to coincide with National Cleavage
Day, organised by lingerie giant Wonderbra.
The poster advertising the weekend shows seven scantily dressed
pairs of breasts with the strapline 'It is not about the size, it
is about the presentation'.
The Casino Rooms is popular with students at the Universities at
Medway, but the event has upset some women on campus.
Student Michelle Gleaves, 20, said: "I usually go to the club
with my friends. But I won't be going to this.
"I saw it on Facebook and I was a bit shocked. Girls can dress
how they want, that’s not the issue. It is the fact that you can
use your cleavage to get free entry. They are all male doorman and
they'll be ogling at the women.
"I think guys will see it differently to girls. They might think
that if a girl is willing to show off her cleavage to get free
entry into a club, then what else is she up for."
Cllr Vince Maple (Lab) said he thought the event was totally
unacceptable.
He added: "This is not something I would expect to see in a
nightclub in the 21st century. It sends all the worst possible
messages when it comes to body image."
Mother and part-time DJ Nina Page, 37, said: "It's all very well
to say this is a bit of fun to celebrate the female form, but I'd
like to know how staff would feel if it was their own young
daughter/wife/sister being leered at and judged by male door staff
to determine whether they fit the criteria to enter their
establishment."
And she
joked: "If we're celebrating the female form, why not go for a bit
of equality? How about pencilling a date in the Casino diary for
national 'Tackle Out Weekender' for the lads?"
Club boss Aaron Stone said: "It is a celebration of the female
form. It is not meant to degrade anyone or embarrass anyone. It is
a little bit cheeky, I'm not going to apologise for that. But it is
lighthearted and fun. We are not trying to offend anyone.
"We are in no way sexist. If a bloke comes along and gets his
pecs out, they will get free entry too."
22/03/13
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