Brighton is supposed to be a trendy, open, happy, anything-goes and vibrant place. It was probably like this in the Sixties but one doubts it now.

In many ways, it is just like a provincial town, with many bored police, judges, council officials and magistrates who will do everything they possibly can to try to squash and close down anything they consider not the norm.

Europeans and Londoners who want to go out late on a Friday or Saturday night have to vacate most clubs by 2am.

The few that hold a special licence are able to stay open to 3am. However, unless you enter the premises before midnight, they won't let you in.

What on Earth do Europeans and Londoners think of our "city" when so many of them don't even go out until after midnight?

Endorphine Visions was a good fetish club - anyone who went knows this. Anything that happened inside the club had nothing to do with the law (unless anyone was caused actual physical damage) because it was a private club.

In London, there are some very extreme clubs, often opening all night.

The Metropolitan Police and councils know exactly what goes on in these places yet their licences are never questioned and many have been running for decades.

The policewoman who happened to see something offensive really ought to take a trip to Fist Club in London SW8, by Vauxhall tube.

If she saw what went on there, frankly, I think she would have a heart attack.

It is a great pity the licensee of the Volks Tavern doesn't challenge the police and their petty, small-town mentality because, with the backing of the European courts, I do not see how the licence would be in any danger whatsoever.

-David Burgess, Endorphine Visions member, George Street, Brighton