Councillors will this week decide whether to grant permission for a "fun, relaxed and responsible" adult entertainment show at the NEC this September.

Maring Events Ltd has applied for a sex shop licence from Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) for the event which it hopes to run between September 27 and 29.

Plans submitted to the local authority say the event will bring up to 3,000 guests per day to the exhibition centre, with 100 exhibitors expected.

While there have been no objections to the application, councillors will decide whether to grant permission on Tuesday (March 26).

"The Expo is designed solely to be an adults only sexuality health and lifestyle event, to promote a fun, relaxed, responsible and non discriminatory environment for like minded individuals, to express themselves without fear of judgement in a safe space," the application said.

Maring said this would be the first Sexpo show it has hosted, having been forced to cancel a similar event back in 2020 due to the pandemic.

 "So although this is the first Adult Event to date, the main reason for doing this, is because since we had to close the doors on the 2020 event, the enquires from potential exhibitors and visitors has not ceased, as enquiries continue to arrive in our inbox," the application added. 

"This show is going to take place at some point, somewhere in the UK and I passionately believe that Maring Events can deliver an incredible Expo in a top class venue, in a first rate city."

A report to be presented to SMBC on Tuesday has recommended some 26 conditions be put in place, if a licence is granted.

These include restricting the event to over 18's only, and the screening of doors, windows and other openings at the venue.

See the full council report here.

(Header image by Elliot Brown via Flickr)