Festival organisers are in a race against time to find a site for an ornate spiegeltent, which has graced the fields of Glastonbury.

With its circular wooden dance floor, billowing red curtains and stained glass windows, the glamorous Pussy Parlure hails from the same era as the Famous Spiegeltent, which was popular with visitors when it appeared during Brighton Festival Fringe for three years from 2004.

Organisers hoped to pitch the art deco Parlure and another smaller tent on the grass north of St Peter's Church in York Place - but church officials have said no because they are worried the venue is too raunchy.

Brighton and Hove City Council, which owns the site, had agreed to rent it out, but only with the church's blessing.

Now the Fringe and the Pussy Parlure's owners are making a last-ditch effort to get church officials to change their minds. They have only a few days before they must submit a bid for a premises licence for the site.

With the Udderbelly venue already booked for the Old Steine, the St Peter's site is one of the last options.

The vicar of St Peter's, Father David Biggs, was unavailable for comment last night but a diocese spokeswoman said there were concerns that the venue's name and the nature of performances held there might cause offence.

Malcolm Haynes, the owner of the Parlure, said the programme would include family-friendly cabaret acts and tea dances, as well as activities for children, live music and DJs.

The smaller tent would house a cafe and seating area which would be open to the public.

He said the venue's name was not intended to be lewd - saying it referred to cats - but suggested it could be renamed the Parlure for the duration of the festival in May.

He said: "We have tried to address their concerns. It won't be risqué. We don't do anything sordid - it's a clean sort of naughtiness."

My Haynes has assured the church that noise would be kept to a minimum during services and the grass would be fully restored once the tent was taken down.

He will provide round-the-clock security to discourage the drinkers and drug-users who gather near the church.

It has been suggested the council could let the Parlure pay the £5,000 ground rent into church funds.

St Peter's, known as Brighton's cathedral, has been earmarked for closure by the Diocesan Pastoral Committee because of falling congregations and high running costs.

Holly Payton, communications manager at the Fringe, said: "The spiegeltent could be really positive for them to build their popularity.

"We are desperate to get a spiegeltent back into the city and we are disappointed it is proving so difficult."

She added: "The council are being brilliantly supportive in trying to help us find a site."

She said an application to use the Pavilion Gardens has already been turned down.

  • Do you think St Peter's Church should allow the spiegeltent to be pitched nearby? Leave your comments below or click here to vote in our online poll on the right hand panel of the main news page.