A study will be drawn up to assess the future of topless dancing at Cheeks in Southend.

Club owner, Cherokee Leisure, is opposed to the Southchurch Road venue continuing as a place to watch provocative dancing by scantily-clad young women.

The board of directors has decided that the nightspot will continue to operate - but is more likely to end up as an ordinary bar than a strip club.

Operations manager Chris Hall said: "We are looking for it to be a bar of some description.

"It's unlikely there will be table-dancing again - very unlikely.

"We are looking at a variety of options, in terms of the style of bar we would like to operate.

"We are doing some research in and around the area as to see what works and doesn't work."

Mr Hall said the options under consideration included a wine bar, an internet cafe bar, a theme bar, an over 30s' bar or a sports bar.

Cherokee Leisure has taken Cheeks over again following police allegations of after-hours drinking while the bar was being run by a franchisee.

Directors have already said they want to close the bar for at least month to refurbish it.

Licensing magistrates have given permission for Cheeks to cater for a number of pre-booked events this month.

However, a hearing is still on for June 7 to consider the allegations of after-hours drinking at the private members' club.

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