Swingathon event near Grantham approved after police raise objections

An event for swingers has been given the green light, despite police raising an objection against a temporary licence and making accusations of dishonesty from organisers.

A South Kesteven District Council licensing committee granted the temporary events notice (TEN) for the ‘Swingathon’ to go ahead over three days from yesterday (Thursday) at Glebe Lodge Farm, in Allington.

It was praised as a “good decision” by event organiser Matthew Cole, who told the Journal afterwards that most who would be attending “have been waiting for 12 months to come to this”.

A swinger is described as a person who has sex with many different people.

Lincolnshire Police submitted an objection to the event, based on prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance and protecting children from harm.

Concerns were brought before the council committee on Friday, where Emma Heath-Tilford, a solicitor representing Lincolnshire Police, spoke on behalf of officers present.

In a report, Lincolnshire Police said officers found a site called swingathon.co.uk promoting the event – which the TEN application had said would be an “LGBTQ+ camping event”.

The website advertised activities including adult games and competitions involving full or partial nudity, wet t-shirt competitions, adult bouncy castles, mobile dungeons and “sexy” competitions.

It was claimed that Mr Cole was not “open and honest” with his application – although he argued that the form asked for little detail, which he would have been happy to provide – and Ms Heath-Tilford said there would not be enough staff to prevent crime and disorder and ensure public safety.

On the subject of an alcohol licence, Mr Cole said the reason he had applied was to put a “cap on people’s drinking” so that organisers can “control it”.

Fellow organiser Kerry Voellner, also present at the committee meeting, added: “Our community are not big drinkers.”

Officers had also raised concerns about the nearby village of Allington and whether the event would be a public nuisance. Mr Cole said the location was “out of sight” and fencing would prevent people in surrounding areas from seeing into it.

Mr Cole stated as it was a private event, “only members have been invited” and that he “knows everyone” and that they were “friends”.

Police raised a concern that a school fete was taking place on the same weekend near the event, and questioned what the impact would be on children living near the area, but Mr Cole said the fete was two miles down the road.

Officers also said Mr Cole stated the event would have “no nudity” but they questioned this as it was advertised to have topless barmaids and barmen.

Miss Voellner said there would be “no nudity in the public areas and only the social areas such as marquees”.

It was agreed that topless bar staff would be removed.

The ‘Swingathon’ festival has run in the area for the last three years and includes a variety of activities carried out by a “private network”, said Miss Voellner.

She added: “Everything we do is done in privacy.”

In giving its decision, the sub-committee said it was reasonable and proportionate to the promotion and safeguarding of the licensing objectives to grant the application.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Cole told the Journal: “I’ve got all this on my neck and this [meeting] was D-Day.

“Things might have gone bad and obviously there would have been a lot of disappointed people. Lots of businesses would have been annoyed with us if we had let them down, but it’s all good.”

He said most of those who attend are professionals such as doctors and lawyers who want privacy.

Miss Voellner said she was “relieved” at the outcome, but said “the fact it has come to this point, things need to be changed in society”.

She added: “There is so much stigma around our industry. It is a proper festival and a proper business model.

“There is freedom of choice in the event, and freedom is the key word here.”

In the report, the police force criticised Mr Cole as not being honest on multiple occasions when applying for TENs, one relating to an application for a private camping club in June 2021 at Dembleby Heath Farm. Mr Cole told officers the event was for “VW enthusiasts” but it later transpired to be a swingers’ event.

Further examples of dishonesty were connected with Eden Wine Bar, in Market Place, Grantham, which Mr Cole wanted to turn into an LGBTQ+ alternative lifestyle private members’ club.

A temporary licence sought for a “burlesque” event last month turned out to be an event organised by a private members swinging club company called Pineapple.

When officers visited Eden, Mr Cole described the club as a “safe space” for the LGBTQ+ community where like-minded people could meet without fear of being judged”.

Officers found the rooms on the first and second floors were set out for adult activities. Rooms were “sexually themed” and there were TV screens which Mr Cole said would be used for showing pornographic films.

In a follow-up visit on July 1 for the opening event at Eden, police said all the rooms were lit and pornographic films were being shown on televisions - information police said should have been stated on the TEN application.

As part of a further TEN application, Mr Cole was said to have stated in writing that “no swingers’ type activities” were going to take place and all associated equipment would be removed. However, a police inspection found room layouts had not changed and pornographic films were still being shown.