BEXLEY could get its first taste of pole dancing when a town centre snooker club branches out into a "gentlemen's club".

Sidcup Snooker Club, in Sidcup High Street, has been granted an entertainment licence to allow pole dancing in a designated area of the club on Friday and Saturday nights.

It also wants to extend its alcohol licence to serve drinks until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

But Bexley Council's licensing sub-committee and club owner Daniel Hasleden have agreed strict conditions for the licence to prevent public nuisance and stop youngsters aged under 18 from having any contact with the performances.

The licence was opposed by groups representing residents and businesses in the town.

They were concerned about nuisance to residents from the late-night drinkers and worried about the kind of clientele a pole dancing venue would attract.

They also feared granting one late licence would lead to other premises in the town opening until the early hours.

One resident of St Johns Road, Clair Yates, told the sub-committee she had particular fears about the kind of customer attracted to the pole dancing sessions, who "treat women like meat".

She said she was worried about loutish and sexist behaviour by men when they were in the vicinity of the club, and that women and possibly children would be subjected to harassment and their safety compromised.

But Mr Hasleden agreed to a whole series of conditions to try and limit any problems.

These include entry for members only and up to three bona-fide guests; under-18s to be cleared from the club an hour before any pole dancing performance and a maximum of 60 customers at any pole dancing performance.

Others include entry to the gentlemen's club nights being from the rear access doors only and a delay of at least 24 hours between applying for and being granted membership.

The snooker club will continue to run as now and be separated from the pole dancing on gentlemen's club nights.

Mr Hasleden said he had not gained one complaint about his snooker club and would run the gentlemen's club in the same way.

Despite getting a licence for the dancing and to serve alcohol until 2am, the club will still need planning approval before it can go ahead with its plans.