Church loses battle to halt lapdance bar

Leaders of a historic City church have lost their battle against plans for an all-day lapdancing club nearby.

The owners of the City Golf Bar in Bride Lane were granted permission today for a licence to host nude dancing at the venue from midday every day.

It came in the face of strong opposition from the vicar of St Bride's, the Christopher Wren-designed church in Fleet Street, as well as many residents who live nearby.

The Rev Canon David Mear said there were many children in his congregation. "We deplore the possibility of a licence extension to allow lapdancing," he added.

"The bar's close proximity will, we believe, be detrimental to the work of the church, which has a thriving youth programme.

"We also feel the application is totally unacceptable for a number of our parishioners who live in and around Bride Lane, and should never even be considered in an area which is now semi-residential."

The nearby Bridewell Theatre also objected, saying it was worried about the effect that the presence of strippers may have on its younger members.

Resident Bill Gardiner said: "No one would have bought around here if there was a lapdancing club. If I wanted to I would live in Soho.

"All the women who live here immediately want to leave on hearing this news, and I don't blame them. It's a pretty sordid business and has a very adverse effect on house pricing."

St Bride's Church is one of the most ancient in London, with worship possibly dating back to the conversion of the Middle Saxons in the 7th century.

The building's most recent structure was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in

1672.

It is known as the journalists' church, a link that was first formed when Fleet Street was the centre of the newspaper industry.

Objectors may now appeal to the magistrates' court. The owners of the City Golf Bar could not be contacted.