A new strip club could open in Southend town centre.

Steven Laidlaw, 50, from Southend, wants to open up the gentlemen’s club called Entice in the former Bar Luna nightclub, in Warrior House, in Southchurch Road.

Mr Laidlaw, who was born in the borough, said 50 jobs will be created as part of the venture, which he claims will offer a “high market” business compared to other venues in town.

Split over two floors, there will be pole dancing in the basement and VIP lap-dancing booths on the upper level.

The venue is expected to be open from Thursdays to Sundays, until 3am.

Mr Laidlaw said: “This will be an upmarket gentlemen’s club.

We have based the look and design around the Mayfair Gentlemen’s Club in London’s Dover Street, with really nice interiors.

“It is not simply a gentlemen’s club. There will be no nudity in the bar area, so it will be a nice place to relax, even for couples to come to.”

There are two lap-dancing venues in the town – Sunset Southend, in Lucy Road, and the Forrester’s Arms, in Marine Parade.

If it is given a licence, the venue is expected to be up and running before Christmas, and will be near Dick de Vigne’s and Mayhem nightclubs.

Pole dancing will also be kept to a minimum downstairs.

He said the club will aim for an older clientele, and bemoaned the lack of clubs for the older generation in the town centre.

He added: “There is nowhere for the older generation in Southend, everywhere you go it’s all places for younger people.

“We are aiming for that kind of older market as I don’t think the older generation feel comfortable going out in the town centre any more.”

However, the plan has raised concerns.

Cheryl Nevin, Labour councillor for Milton, said: “It’s not something I would welcome, and we already have two of these establishments in the town.

“I don’t think it is the right place as Warrior Square is in the middle of the town centre, close to a lot of late-night venues.

“There are some residents in homes in the area too, and that would concern me.”