NUDE table dancers are set to become the latest attraction in Twickenham after Richmond upon Thames Council granted a licence to allow erotic dancing at The Zen Lounge nightclub.

Twenty conditions were placed on the licence by the licensing sub-committee who gave the go-ahead for the King Street Parade club following a four and a half hour meeting last Thursday.

The venue is to be renamed as Heaven when it reopens in the spring.

A number of residents who live near the club attended the meeting to express concerns about the noise, anti-social behaviour and vandalism they have suffered in the past. They said they believed it to be an inappropriate location for such a club.

Owner Wally Angliss argued that the new club will attract a new clientele, which will remove many of the problems associated with a nightclub.

Mr Angliss told the Times he is planning to spend £100,000 refurbishing the club, which will have its capacity halved from 200 to 90 seated customers. It will cost £15 to get in for over 21s.

He said: "It is a proven fact from the police that trouble at these kind of clubs is reduced. There is far less aggression and rowdiness. In fact police say it is almost unknown.

"There will be a totally different crowd. They will be over 21 and at the end of the day it will be fun. No red lights, just fun. It is not a cheap man's night out."

The conditions imposed by the council, intended to address residents' concerns, include no advertising outside the club. The application to extend opening hours during the week was rejected.

Cllr Denise Carr who represents Twickenham Riverside was at the meeting and said she was glad that residents' worries had been addressed.

She said: "I am delighted that the licensing sub committee of the council took acceptance of the residents' concerns about the opening hours which were limited to 1am in the week. The original application was for 2am.

"I am particularly pleased with the setting of conditions, 20 in all, which have been attached by the subcommittee to the licence to ensure the safety of the performers and conduct within the premises and also prohibit any advertising outside the premises, which will help to ensure that the club is well-run and that any potential adverse impact on residents is minimised."

Cllr Carr believes that the changed use of the club could alleviate many of the problems currently faced by residents, such as loud music and rowdiness.

She said: "There will be very different music played, softer for the girls to dance to, one of the problems for residents at the moment is noise from the club, which is disco music and it is amazing how far it travels. Also, it is going to be a relatively expensive night out, you are looking at £200 to go there which is going to attract a different kind of person. Also, the capacity of the club has been reduced to about 90 because of the tables. It will look better, there will be less impact in terms of noise and vandalism so if he achieves that it could be better."

Councillor Roger Avins, Chairman of the Licensing Sub-Committee, said: "This was not an easy case to determine, and the Sub-Committee had to consider only the evidence before them and were not able to consider any of the moral issues that having such activity in the borough might raise.

"The change in the client profile and the reduced numbers likely to visit the premises was a factor in allowing the later operating time, even if a small amount of disturbance would be inevitable.

"During the week it was not felt appropriate to increase the opening hours to 2 a.m. at this location, where residents could be disturbed by the departure of patrons of the club.

"One key condition set by the Committee was that no external advertisements could be put up outside the establishment, so that passers-by would not be offended. This will hopefully help to maintain the dignity of Twickenham."

Club owner Wally Angliss said he was very pleased with the decision as his nightclub trade had suffered with the growth of bars being granted late licenses in recent years. He said: "I am very, very happy, over the moon, Twickenham has pulled itself into the 21st century.

"My night club has suffered over the last three years, it was the first place in town to get a late license in 1991. But then two years ago the Cabbage Patch was granted a 2am license and now the George has been granted a 1am license, it is getting harder and harder for business, trade was going down and down.

"It is going to be wonderful for the people of Twickenham and the borough, at the moment the nearest clubs are in Park Royal and Hammersmith. All major town centres should have one and Twickenham is the rugby capital of Great Britain.

"There was room for 200 people in the club but we are cutting capacity in half and there will be 90. I have had that place for 18 years and it needs a total refurbishment. Currently I only take £2,000 a week and the refurbishment wouldn't change that but after the change I am hoping to take half a million a year.

"It is going to be very small, people cannot stand at the bar and they will be served by beautiful waitresses. We are aiming at rugby clubs and the rugby days because they are good fun and well behaved."