The future of topless table dancing club Cheeks could be decided tomorrow at a crunch meeting of bosses.

Directors of the nightspot on Southchurch Road were "very, very doubtful" it would continue as a place to watch scantily-clad women dancing.

The meeting comes after police launched a bid to revoke the premise's licence following allegations of after-hours drinking while the bar was run by a franchisee.

Now directors of Cherokee Leisure - owners of Cheeks - have cancelled the franchise and plan to close the bar for "at least a month".

However, three events which have already been booked at the nightspot for May will go ahead after licensing magistrates granted an order to let the bar honour those commitments.

Operations director of Cherokee Leisure, Chris Hall, told licensing justices at Southend Magistrates Court it was "a big mistake" for the company to have franchised out the running of Cheeks.

He said: "We took it back Friday last week and tomorrow we have a board meeting to decide if we will continue with the table dancing which is very, very doubtful.

"I want to close the venue for at least a month for cosmetic refurbishment but there are three functions I must continue in May."

Mr Hall stressed to licensing magistrates that the franchise had been taken back.

It is not clear if Southend police will continue procedures to take away the licence from Cheeks.

The action was launched after undercover police initiatives prompted allegations of after-hours drinking.

A hearing has been agreed for June 7 to consider revoking Cheeks liquor licence with Southend and Rochford licensing magistrates.

Showgirl - Charlie, a former Cheeks table dancer who now helps run the club

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.