{"id":324194,"date":"2025-08-07T03:37:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T03:37:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/324194\/"},"modified":"2025-08-07T03:37:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T03:37:13","slug":"family-run-sex-shop-bids-to-stay-open-in-bootle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/324194\/","title":{"rendered":"Family-run sex shop bids to stay open in Bootle"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Scandals wants to continue bringing its &#8220;supportive expert advice&#8221; to the town<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_Scandals-Adult-store-in-Bootle-Liverpool-run-by-Catherine-Kershaw-and-Ben-Hughes-Photo-by-Colin-La.jpeg\" alt=\"Scandals Adult store in Bootle run by Catherine Kershaw and Ben Hughes\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>Scandals Adult store in Bootle run by Catherine Kershaw and Ben Hughes(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">A family-run sex shop is bidding to stay open in <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/bootle\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Bootle<\/a> and continue to provide adult products in north Liverpool. \u2018Scandals\u2019 was first granted a licence for <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/news\/local-news\/scandals-adult-store-set-open-3404255\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">its Derby Road store back in May 2013<\/a>, when the owners declared their ambition to dispel \u2018preconceived notions\u2019 of sex shops.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Since then, the brand <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/news\/liverpool-news\/couple-delighted-new-sex-shop-25596524\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">has gone from strength-to-strength<\/a> and now has shops open in <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/birkenhead\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Birkenhead<\/a> and <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/liverpool-city-centre\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Liverpool city centre<\/a>. On its website, the company shapes out its mission statement and promises \u2018no awkwardness, no judgement, just supportive expert advice\u2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">The statement adds: \u201cScandals was created to make adult products more accessible, inclusive, and free from stigma. From day one, our mission has been to challenge taboos and help people embrace their sexuality with confidence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">\u201cFast-forward to today, and Scandals proudly stands as the UK\u2019s premier destination for luxurious lingerie and safe, affordable adult products \u2013 built on trust, discretion, and award-winning personal service.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">As part of the licensing legislation for sex shops, Scandals must seek to renew its license every 12 months. This is detailed in the \u2018Sex Establishments (shops)\u2019 section of <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/sefton\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Sefton<\/a> Council\u2019s online licensing portal.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754537833_749_0_Scandals-Adult-store-in-Bootle-Liverpool-run-by-Catherine-Kershaw-and-Ben-Hughes-Photo-by-Colin-La.jpeg\" alt=\"Scandals Adult store in Bootle run by Catherine Kershaw and Ben Hughes\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Scandals Adult store in Bootle run by Catherine Kershaw and Ben Hughes(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">The guidance states: \u201cAny person wishing to run either a Sex Shop require a Licence to do so from us under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">\u201cThere is a 21 day advertisement requirement, following which we aim to complete this type of application within 28 days.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">A sex shop is defined by Sefton Council as \u2018any premises, vehicle, vessel or stall used for a business which consists to a significant degree of selling, hiring, exchanging, lending, displaying or demonstrating sex articles or other things intended for use in connection with or for stimulating or encouraging sexual activity or acts of force or restraint which are associated with sexual activity.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">The application by Scandals, owned and operated by Ben Hughes and Catherine Kershaw, does not seek to make any changes to its current agreement with Sefton Council \u2013 namely to open from 9am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 6pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">The advertisement requirement has been met by Scandals and its license application is available to view on the public notices portal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">The application states: \u201cNotice if hereby given that MF Trading Ltd of Faversham House, Old Hall Rd, Bromborough, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/wirral\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Wirral<\/a>, CH62 3NX applied on 30.07.2025 to Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council in respect of the premises to be known as Scandals Adult World of 304 Derby Road, Bootle, L20 8LN.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">For the latest news and breaking news visit <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/news\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"liverpoolecho.co.uk\/newsLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">liverpoolecho.co.uk\/news<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Follow us on <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk\/all-about\/twitter\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Twitter<\/a> <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LivEchonews\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"@LivECHONewsLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">@LivECHONews<\/a> &#8211; the official Liverpool ECHO Twitter account &#8211; real news in real time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">We&#8217;re also on <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/theliverpoolecho\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Facebook\/theliverpoolechoLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook\/theliverpoolecho<\/a> &#8211; your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Scandals wants to continue bringing its &#8220;supportive expert advice&#8221; to the townScandals Adult store in Bootle run by&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":324195,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8815],"tags":[2648,748,393,4884,179,12460,246,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-324194","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-liverpool","8":"tag-bootle","9":"tag-britain","10":"tag-england","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-liverpool","13":"tag-sefton-council","14":"tag-shopping","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114985399266437057","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/324194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=324194"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/324194\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/324195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=324194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=324194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=324194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}