THE owners of Foxies, the Swindon-based topless bar, have bought a nightclub in Chippenham as part of an expansion programme.

Businessman David Broome and former Swindon speedway rider John Jefferies have bought Rush nightclub in New Road.

The men own Foxies tableside and pole dancing club in Victoria Road, Swindon, which opened just over a year ago and has been hailed a huge success.

Mr Broome said if there was a demand for tableside dancing in Chippenham he would have to consider what his customers wanted.

He said: "Our new club in Chippenham will be a fun pub nightclub with lots of promotions. We have not planned to run the club as a tableside dancing club but if there was a demand for it then we would look at the situation. Whatever happens it will certainly be different to what has been there.

"We have had no complaints about the club in Swindon. Thirty per cent of our customers are businesswomen. People should come and see before judging it. It is not a dirty or seedy pub."

Foxies was formerly Bar 150 in Regent Circus, and when plans to turn it into Swindon's first topless club were first announced, it created quite a stir. The original plan was to open the venue at the former bingo hall in Cricklade Road, which is next to retirement flats, but that faced significant opposition.

The two entrepreneurs, who hope to open three more pubs or nightclubs in the next three years, bought Rush last week. Its name will change to Mad Jack's next month.

North Wiltshire District and Chippenham town councillor Nina Phillips said she hoped the new management would be an improvement and said Rush nightclub had earned a reputation for trouble.

"I do think we have to be a little concerned about these sorts of entertainments, but I am not sure to what extent," she said. "It will be good if the new owners improve on the reputation Rush has had in the past."

But Chippenham town councillor Ian Bridges said the town centre was not a suitable venue for this kind of activity.

"I am not a puritan but I would have concerns if they did introduce pole dancing here," he said. "I do not see it as a small town activity.

"You normally associate it with the city, and certain parts of the city, and it is associated with certain trades and occupations which do not fit into a rural High Street scene."

Builders are currently working on a revamp of the club. A new, state-of-the-art music system has been installed and on its first night under new management last Saturday, the owners welcomed more than 200 people.

An application would have to be submitted to North Wiltshire District Council's Chippenham area development committee for any changes to the public entertainment licence and currently no application has been made.