Naturist hotel wins alcohol licence

A naturist hotel and spa in Birmingham has won the right to serve guests alcohol, despite concerns that it would turn “the venue into a raucous strip club”.

The Clover Spa and Hotel

Tim Higgs, owner of the Clover Spa & Hotel – the only purely naturist hotel in the Midlands – said he is “delighted” at the decision.

As previously reported in db, the hotel faced objections from locals, and some city councillors in Erdington said giving the hotel a premises licence risked “a rise in inappropriate behaviour and displays of flesh” and would “become a magnet for troublesome individuals and youths”.

But Mr Higgs said he was not applying to open a strip club adding “we aren’t going to be attracting hardened drinkers and wild youths”.

The three members of Birmingham City Council’s licensing sub-committee C took 10 minutes to grant the licence allowing live music, the sale of alcohol and dancing, and said objectors had not demonstrated “evidential or causal links” for their concerns.

Committee members heard the hotel and spa had been running as a naturist establishment, where guests can go about the premises completely naked, for two and a half years with all but no issues.

Mr Higgs added: “The only issue has been that on two occasions, my neighbour has asked for clarification on nude sun-bathing in the back garden, but the police told them it was entirely lawful.”

There were no objections from the police, the fire service, the city’s safeguarding children board or a children’s nursery which is next door to the hotel.

Mr Higgs told the committee: “There is no public access to the hotel or spa, other than to reception, because all the naturist areas are behind key-locked doors.

“So it isn’t true anyone can just wander in – we know who is coming in.”

He added hotel guests and spa users were already able to drink on the premises, but with a licence he “could send them to their rooms if they became intoxicated, so this actually gives me greater control.”

The committee attached conditions making the sale of alcohol and the music and entertainment to be for the hotel’s patrons and spa visitors only.