Why would anybody think that I'm running a brothel?

But a Russian-born entrepreneur has revealed she is "grossly offended" people assumed her "themed-massage" parlour would operate as a brothel.

Kristina Love, 24, who has applied for a public entertainment licence for Glam Massage, said staff dressed in skimpy schoolgirl, maid or nurse outfits to give massages without offering "extras" was a new concept which she hoped to franchise across the UK.

Her bid to open on Easter Road has drawn 22 objections from neighbours and local politicians, who fear the business would be a cover for prostitution. But in a long written rebuttal to the city council, Mrs Love threatened to sue people who had written to accuse her of opening a brothel, which she dismissed as "speculation and stereotypical false assumption".

She said her staff would operate to strict guidelines, which made it clear sexual services must not be offered. Mrs Love, who plans to work as a masseuse at the parlour herself, wrote: "I am a married woman; accusations for me offering sex for money at my massage studio are offensive to both me and my husband."

The graduate and former oil industry employee moved to the UK from Russia after meeting husband David, who is a fellow director of Glam's parent company, KDL Services Ltd. She has applied for a public entertainment licence to accommodate one client at a time at the studio, with the application due to be decided by the council's licensing sub-committee on Friday.

Mrs Love said she had spent 10,000 renovating the shop and was offended by the suggestion made by some objectors that the arrival and departure of her clients would pose a threat to women and children in the area. She currently works from home and said many of her clients were respectable businessmen with families.

Mrs Love wrote that the silhouette of a woman used on the shop front was clearly clothed, not naked, adding: "Our logo is no more offensive than a women's toilet door sign".

She said she hoped to develop the business into a franchise which could be extended across Scotland over the next five years, and then across the UK, writing: "It is upsetting that in our progressive modern world people still think that 'massage' and 'sex' are synonymous.

"The reason there has been so much objection to my massage studio is because of other unscrupulous massage parlours licensed by the City of Edinburgh Council offering sexual services. I am trying to set up an open and honest business with its own theme and character."

Mrs Love said she was a qualified massage therapist and was also willing to adopt more conservative uniforms if it would help secure a licence. She plans to employ one other member of staff, and has herself appeared in a promotional video on YouTube, demonstrating the type of massage offered, while wearing a low-cut pink dress.

Despite her protestations, a licensing officer wrote in his report that there were "concerns as to the precise operation" of the business. He suggested committee members could carry out a site visit to help them decide if the firm was a legitimate operation.

Mrs Love could not be contacted for comment.

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