A council is considering an application for a 'sexual entertainment' licence for punters attending the Cheltenham Festival. Red Apple Associates Limited is seeking permission from Cheltenham borough council to stage sexual entertainment at a town centre venue over six days to coincide with the influx of visitors for the jump racing festival.
The application has divided local opinion, with 'approximately 38 representations, some of which are in support'. The festival has controversially attracted stripping and lap-dancing at other venues in the town in previous years.
Although no other applications have been put forward, any venue with a premises licence or Temporary Event Notice, but without a sexual entertainment venue licence can offer sexual entertainment for a period not exceeding 24 consecutive hours once a month.
They are able to do this under a statutory exemption that allows for infrequent sexual entertainment.
Cheltenham Borough council said that officers from the council and police visit these venues each night during race week to ensure that they are operating lawfully. Red Apple Associates are planning to host the events at Jessop House in Cambray Place in the town centre.
They estimate that they will operate on the evenings of March 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 from 6pm or 8pm until 5am. Jason Kirkwood, the council's senior licensing officer said: "I can confirm that we have received an application for a sexual entertainment venue for Jessop House in Cambray Place.
"The objection period is now closed and the application will go to committee in early November. For this specific application, we have had approximately 38 representations, some of which are in support. These representations need to be checked to ensure that they are relevant and made within time.
"We have not received any other such applications for next year’s race week at this time."
