Licence Strip club wants go-ahead to solicit people during 2022 Festival week
ACHELTENHAM strip club wants permission to be able to solicit people to attend its premises and operate a courtesy vehicle to transport them with dancers to and from the venue.
Red Apple Associates Ltd was granted a renewal of its premises licence for the 2 Pigs venue in Church Street by Cheltenham Borough Council earlier this year.
It allowed the club to open as a sexual entertainment venue during Cheltenham Festival week in 2022. It will be allowed to do so from 6pm to 5am (March 15 to March 18) and from 8pm to 5am (March 14 and March 19).
However, applicant Steven John Burrows now wants to vary the licence.
The venue wants to be allowed to solicit individuals to attend the premises during the hours the licence is in operation provided that no solicitation takes place to anyone who appears to be under the age of 25.
And the changes would also see it allowed to operate a courtesy vehicle to transport dancers and clientele to and from the venue at all times.
The venue also wants to advertise the courtesy vehicle at all times during the permitted licence hours.
The original plans were met with strong opposition from some local residents and church leaders, who feared the licence could lead to an increase in sexual violence against women.
And the Rector of Cheltenham, the Rev Richard Coombs, said the current proposals went against the standard conditions included in the council’s sexual entertainment venues policy, adopted last year.
It prohibits the advertising of sexual entertainment and its promotion by means of personal solicitation anywhere in the town.
He also says the application goes against the code of conduct for the Night Safe scheme, which the 2 Pigs pub has adopted.
The code of practice for the distribution of printed material suggests that matter such as promotional flyers should contain nothing that is likely to cause serious or widespread offence.
Distributors must not distribute free printed matter in such a way as to cause nuisance or annoyance to members of the public.
Today (December 30) is the deadline for residents to comment on the proposals on the council’s licensing portal at www.cheltenham.gov.uk/info/11/ licensing_and_permits/710/view_ applications_for_licences_online.
The applicant declined to comment.
Changes would also see it allowed to operate a courtesy vehicle to transport dancers and clientele