A Sydney strip club owner has been unsuccessful in his attempt to overturn a ban prohibiting him from entering certain nightlife venues, including those he owns, in the Kings Cross and Sydney central business district (CBD) entertainment precincts.

Manthos Papadopoulos, owner of Sydney Elements and Showgirls, faced the ban following a request from New South Wales police. The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority imposed the 12-month prohibition in July, a decision later upheld by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which published its ruling on Monday.

The restriction bars Papadopoulos from entering or remaining in any so-called “high-risk” venues within the Kings Cross and Sydney CBD precincts, both of which include his businesses. The tribunal made its decision based largely on recent allegations and charges against Papadopoulos.

On March 15, Papadopoulos was arrested and charged with multiple offences, including the serious indictable charge of intentionally choking a person without consent during an incident at Sydney Elements. Additional charges later followed in connection with other alleged incidents at the club and his residence. Among the allegations is that Papadopoulos used his penis to slap a heavily intoxicated staff member in the face. Other offences are said to have been committed against the same employee and another staff member at Sydney Elements.

Papadopoulos denies the charges and is expected to defend himself in court, with a hearing scheduled for March next year. During a police interview, he refuted the validity of CCTV evidence, claiming it was “AI-generated and a conspiracy.”

Separately, he faces a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm related to an incident involving an alleged intruder found inside Sydney Elements before it opened. The tribunal heard that Papadopoulos confronted the individual, allegedly pushing him against a wall, throwing him to the ground, repeatedly punching and stomping him, and ultimately kicking him in the face, rendering him unconscious. A defended hearing for this matter is set for the following month.

In his submission against the banning order, Papadopoulos emphasized his not guilty pleas across the charges and invoked the presumption of innocence. He highlighted that the order impeded his livelihood by restricting access to venues tied to his employment and business interests. Papadopoulos also noted his $17 million investment in Sydney Elements and indicated he held relevant evidence, including CCTV footage and witness statements, which he sought to submit to the tribunal.

While the tribunal acknowledged Papadopoulos’ claims that both venues depended heavily on his management and that his family’s income was linked to the businesses, it found insufficient probative evidence to support the financial reliance assertion. Senior tribunal member Dr. Thalia Gordon concluded there was a sufficient risk that Papadopoulos could cause disruptions or trouble-making if allowed to enter Sydney Elements or Showgirls.

As a result, the ban remains in place until July next year.