A strip club has been granted permission to leaflet people to attend their premises during Cheltenham Festival and operate a courtesy vehicle to transport them to their venue.
Red Apple Associates Ltd was granted permission by Cheltenham Borough Council last year to renew its premises licence for the 2 Pigs venue in Church Street.
The renewal application re-licensed the alternative club to open as a sexual entertainment venue during the Cheltenham Festival week in 2022.
And the dates and times it will be allowed to open are from 6pm to 5am from March 15 to March 18, and from 8pm to 5am on March 14 and March 19.
The applicant has now also been granted permission to give out leaflets to people 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.
The changes also allow them to operate a courtesy vehicle to transport clientele to and from the venue at all times.
They can only give out leaflets to those who want one, no music will be played from or in the vehicle and there will be no leaflet distribution in the grounds of Cheltenham Minster, other churchyards, outside schools or libraries before 6pm.
The applicant must also clear up litter generated by the leaflets within 50 metres of each place where they are distributed from.
The original plans were met with strong opposition from some local residents and church leaders who fear it will lead to an increase in sexual violence against women.
And Cheltenham Minster rector Richard Coombs said the latest proposals go against the standard conditions included in the council’s sexual entertainment venues policy adopted last year.
The applicant’s solicitor said the business would not be viable if it was not allowed to distribute leaflets.
“All that would mean is that the performers will look to go elsewhere and would then operate in unlicensed venues,” he told the licensing sub-committee on January 18.
“This is not a brothel, it is a licensed establishment that has been in operation for many years that has never had any issues.”
The committee voted to approve the licence variation with conditions by four votes to one.
