A Douglas bar has made an application to extend its opening hours, which would also see it allowed to stage adult entertainment.

1886 on Regent Street has applied to the licensing court for a variation to its licence premises to allow it to open later during the week.

The application would see the bar extend its opening hours from Sunday to Thursday nights until 3am the following morning and stage pre-advertised adult entertainment in its function room. The bar is currently only open until those hours on weekends.

Under Manx law, adult entertainment requires a separate licence to regular drink, music and dancing permits.

The Isle of Man Licensing Codes describes adult entertainment as:

â?¢ Dancing by a male or female in an exotic or erotic manner of an adult nature;

â?¢ A ’striptease’ show, stripping, or other like performance;

â?¢ Male or female modelling which includes erotic style costumes or nudity (not bona fide fashion shows);

â?¢ Performance of lap dancing, pole dancing or table dancing either as a private performance or on a stage, platform or podium;

â?¢ Entertainment by performers who remove clothing during a performance and/or perform in a sexually suggestive manner;

â?¢ Any other form of adult- orientated performance including those not suitable for viewing by minors characterised by nudity, sexual content, violence or explicit language.

The codes say that all performers must be 18, wear appropriate clothing, including shoes and cover their genitalia before and after any performance.

Animals cannot form any part of the act and it must not be possible for it to be viewed from outside the premises, for example through a window.

Not included is belly dancing, pole dancing for fitness or classes, modelling or other fashion show where underwear or partial nudity may take place or dramatic performances such as in a theatre.

There are also rules informing what performers can and cannot do, such as placing their feet on furniture, ’live, realistic or simulated sex acts’ or leaving the premises with a customer.

And for customers, the code says: ’If partaking in a private show of any nature by an entertainer, customers must at all times be seated in an upright position against the back of the designated area with their hands by their sides before a dancer can commence such performance, and customers must remain seated during the entire performance.’

The application is due to be heard before the licensing court next month. Any comments on the application should be made in writing to The Office of High Bailiff, Isle of Man Courts of Justice, Deemsters’ Walk, Douglas and to 1886 Bar, Grill and Cocktail Lounge, 6 Regent Street, Douglas.