Vagina Museum granted alcohol licence despite locals’ concerns

London’s hotly anticipated Vagina Museum has been granted a licence to sell alcohol, despite concerns from locals it could attract messy stag parties.

The Vagina Museum will be licensed to sell alcohol. (Photo: Vagina Museum)

The Vagina Museum is the “the world’s first bricks and mortar museum about the gynaecological anatomy”, according to its website, and is set to open in Camden Market on 16 November, after successfully raising £50,000 for the project via crowdfunding.

Its mission is to “spread knowledge and raise awareness of the gynaecological anatomy and health.”

Although the museum’s launch has been met with widespread support, Camden locals are concerned that it will attract unsavoury clientele.

The museum’s founders had applied to Camden Council for a license to sell alcohol on the premises, but local residents objected to the application on the grounds that the museum would be a honeypot for stag and hen parties.

The Camden Journal first reported last week that Patricia Thomas, chairman of Harmood Clarence Hartland Residents’ Association, wrote a letter to the council to air their concerns.

She said they were “particularly alarmed” that the museum would be open to stag and hen nights, and suggested they should be exempt from the licence.

“This area already suffers from rowdy behaviour late at night, shouting brawling, swearing, street urination,” she said.

Kate Gemmell, chair of the Tenants Residents Associations Camden Town (TRACT), said events at the Vagina Museum would cause “unacceptable disturbance both day and night” due to crowds.

Camden Council granted the Vagina Museum an alcohol licence at a hearing on Thursday 24 October.

A statement from the the museum’s director, Florence Schechter, said she had “heard and engaged with” residents’ concerns at the hearing on Thursday.

“We are honoured that Camden Council have granted our license application and would like to thank Councillors Mason and Cotton for their time in making their decision. The hard work begins now to ensure that we hold our charity to the highest of standards and deliver our educational and empowering work. We’re grateful for the continued support of Camden Market.

A spokesperson for the Vagina Museum told db it cannot reveal how the museum and bar will look on the inside just yet. We will update this story when internal photos come through.