BOSSES at Oxford’s only lap dancing club have revealed a deal to move to a new city venue fell through at the 11th hour.

Owners of The Lodge, in Pennyfarthing Place, off St Ebbe’s Street, are battling to remain open after Oxford City Council stripped them of their licence in February.

They have challenged the decision in the High Court and are awaiting a hearing date.

But owners have also explored moving to a new site in a bid to stay open.

A new venue – on “an industrial site” – had been found and the club had discussed licensing issues with council officials.

But owner Al Thompson said the deal had fallen through at the last minute.

At present, the club must resolve its licence issue by June 10 or stop offering sexual entertainment.

“We were trying to placate everybody by finding a new site by June 10,” said Mr Thompson.

“We thought if we could find somewhere else that would fit the bill we could move the business, but time was against us.

“What we don’t want to do is make people redundant.”

He would not confirm the location of the alternative venue but said it had been an industrial site in Oxford.

Mr Thompson said the club was not now looking for another venue as the timescale was too tight and it was concentrating its efforts on the High Court challenge.

He said: "We are going to fight our corner, we have no option.

“We are not going into this lightly, we think we can win.”

Neighbouring St Ebbe’s church and rape support workers have both campaigned against The Lodge, saying it demeans women and could lead to an increase in sexual attacks.

Hannah Clare, who works at the Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre, said: “This is part of an industry that objectifies women’s bodies, and the community needs to know it has a right to have a say under the new legislation.

“The location is unimportant. I am concerned with the impact on the community.”

The rector of St Ebbe’s Church, The Rev Vaughan Roberts, said: “Some locations are especially unsuitable, but we believe that lap dancing should not be welcomed in any location as it is demeaning to women and undermines God’s good gift of marriage.”

The council originally allowed lap dancing at The Lodge in December 2009, saying it had no grounds to refuse it.

But under new powers granted last year, applications for lap dancing clubs can now be refused if they are near schools, play areas, shops, churches or tourist hot spots.

In February, the council refused The Lodge’s application for a sexual entertainment venue licence, saying it was “inappropriate” given the character of the area and of neighbouring premises.

The only way the owners can challenge the ruling is through a judicial review at the High Court.