Viagra Hotel owner up for a battle with council

A hotelier who sparked controversy when he changed the name of his hotel is squaring up for a fight with Blackpool Council.
Photo Neil Cross Gagged... Neil Marshall, owner of the Viagra Hotel, has been threatened with an anti-social behaviour order by the councilPhoto Neil Cross Gagged... Neil Marshall, owner of the Viagra Hotel, has been threatened with an anti-social behaviour order by the council
Photo Neil Cross Gagged... Neil Marshall, owner of the Viagra Hotel, has been threatened with an anti-social behaviour order by the council

Neil Marshall caused outrage when he rebranded the Vidella Hotel in Dickson Road to the Viagra Hotel earlier this month.

Now Blackpool Council has written to him requesting he change the name within 21 days. While the authority has not made any open threat, it has informed Mr Marshall of the powers available under the Anti Social Behaviour, Crime and Local Policing Act.

Mr Marshall believes he could be heading for an ASBO.

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But he doesn’t care, insisting he will introduce even ruder branding on his property, which is a stone’s throw from Cocker Square..

He said: “They are looking at any way they can to get to me.

“I don’t think Pfeizer, whichthreatened me over copywrite on the name, can get me to change.

“Now they have given me 21 days or I might get an ASBO.

“Well, if they want I will change the name.

“I’ll cross out the V, add an N and make it the Niagra and I’ll change the slogan to ‘keeping you wet all night’.”

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Mr Marshall, who would also need to add an ‘A’ to the title to name it after the famous waterfall, said he would add a new lewd logo to accompany the rebrand.

“I want a fight,” he said.

“It will be as big a wind up as possible.

“I’m not bothered, bring it on.Business has been great since all this started.”

Blackpool Council confirmed it was not threatening Mr Marshall with an ASBO, a point made clear in the letter he received.