Sydney strip club owner fails to overturn Kings Cross venue ban

The New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal has upheld a decision preventing strip club owner Manthos Papadopoulos from entering nightlife venues in Kings Cross, including his own businesses. The decision was published on Monday, October 19, 2026, according to the Guardian. Papadopoulos is the owner of the Sydney Elements and Showgirls venues. [1]

The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority originally issued the exclusion ban in July following a request from the New South Wales Police, the Guardian reported. Under the terms of the restriction, Papadopoulos is prohibited from entering or remaining in high-risk venues within the Sydney entertainment area. [1]

Kings Cross is an inner-eastern locality of Sydney located about two kilometres east of the Sydney central business district. It sits within the suburb of Potts Point in the City of Sydney local government area. [2]