A lap and pole-dancing club is seeking a renewal of its licence for another year.

Players Gentlemen's Club in Maidstone High Street is classed as a sex establishment and is obliged to seek renewal of its permit with Maidstone council every year – paying an annual fee of £4,655.

Licences were introduced following new legislation in 2011, and the club, which has been in existence since 2007, has had its licence renewed each year since 2012.

Opening hours were initially limited to 2am, but that was extended to 4am in 2016.

Under the terms of its permit, the club is allowed to open from 8.30pm to 4am every night, but chooses only to open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and only from 9.30pm currently.

In its first year of licence renewal, the council received 107 objections, but on several occasions since, there have been no objections at all.

The club is not allowed any exterior advertising.

It hit the headlines in October 2015, when a former director of the club, James Premble, set a fire at the premises after falling out with his wife Emma Sexton, who at that time was running the business. Premble was later jailed for six years for arson and related offences.

The terms of the club's licence impose strict rules: "During any lap dancing performance, or private dance, performers may not: Touch any customers with their fingers. Perform within six inches from any part of a patron save that they are are allowed to sit on the lap of a customer provided they sit with their backs to the customer.

"They must not climb onto furniture provided for patrons, simulate sex acts, nor use sex articles."

In addition the club has to have CCTV that covers every area of the premises and ensure that the cameras are manned at all times to ensure compliance with the rules.

The current manager and director of the club, Christopher Intrieri, was contacted but declined to comment.

People passing the premises seemed unconcerned about the business.

Joy Mitchell, 57, from Allington, said: "I pass by it every day on my way to work and I never even realised what it was."

Adrian Critall, 33, of Grove Green, Maidstone, said: "It's not somewhere I would go myself, but if other people want to, good luck to them."

Police are not objecting to the renewal. The licence will be automatically renewed unless there are any objections, in which case the application will be determined by the licensing committee, comprising 13 councillors under the chairmanship of Cllr Valerie Springett.

High Street ward councillors Dinesh Khadka (Lib Dem) said: "To be honest, it's not an issue that any of my residents have raised with me. The club has been there such a long time I think people have got used to it."

Maidstone's licensing function is carried out on its behalf by Sevenoaks council. Anyone wishing to object should write to The Licensing Partnership, PO Box 182, Sevenoaks TN13 1GP.

Or send an email to licensing@sevenoaks.gov.uk, giving the grounds of objection.

Objections must be received by April 22.