Lincoln Uni students criticise gentlemen’s club where women can only enter as men’s guests

Lincoln’s Feminist Society claims the club is ‘sexist’

4 hours ago

University of Lincoln students have criticised a local gentlemen’s club where women can only enter as men’s guests.

Castle Hill Club has been called out by the uni’s Feminist Society for its “sexist” rule which prohibits women from entering the club, unless accompanied by a male member.

The club’s secretary, Paul Watson, said the rule “had always been the same” and “for the rights or wrongs of it, they wanted to leave it that way”.

A vote took place among the 560 members of the club on whether the club should keep the rule.

The vote closed on 7th May. 100 members voted to keep the rule the same while 78 voted for female members to be allowed.

Mr Watson defended the rule, suggesting that the women who visit as guests are “happy”.

“They keep coming. They’re obviously comfortable in how the club is set up,” he said.

Ellie Henshaw, 19, a member of the University’s Feminist Society, said the decision was “frustrating”.

Adding: “It’s not the default anymore that women should be excluded”.

According to the BBC, the history student continued by saying: “I think denying progress in the name of history is a very flawed argument.”

Bee Moore, 18, another Feminist Society member, stated that she understood that gentleman’s clubs are seen as “historic”, further noting: “We live in an age where everyone is equal and excluding people is wrong”.

The Grade II listed building dates back to the Middle Ages. It used to operate as a pub called the Black Boy.

In 1922, it was made into a gentleman’s club, to combat the pub’s financial problems at the time. Since then, it has operated as the free house run by volunteers, which it remains.