A TABLE dancing club planned for a venue next to a Swansea chapel is an affront to God, in the opinion of its pastor.

Bosses behind the club, which will feature fully nude performances, are hoping to open in mid-April.

But Pastor Haydn Dennis, who leads the congregation of the York Place Baptist Chapel, said: "It is the total opposite of what the Bible teaches."

Church-goers have been attending services at the grade two listed baptist chapel in York Street since 1830.

It is next door to the former Jager Bar, which closed at the end of last year, and could reopen in a matter of months as table dancing club Bellissima.

Mr Dennis said: "We should respect and honour God's creation in all aspects, including people.

"We have a strong objection.

"It (the table dancing club) would militate against our spiritual values. We continue to bring young people, men and women, into contact with God.

"This is the total opposite.

"We see it as a direct affront to God."

Bellissima is the first venture of Thomas Bellis Leisure, a company formed by former Jager Bar security guard David Bellis and his business partner Paul Thomas who has run clubs in Bridgend.

Mr Thomas said: "We respect the views, principles and privacy of our neighbours.

"We would hope our neighbours would similarly respect ours and those of our customers.

"There will be no external advertising nor promotion and the hours of operation of 10pm until 4am will not coincide with the hours in which the chapel is or will be in use.

"The external appearance of the premises will have considerably less prominence than any of the bars, restaurants and other entertainment venues — including Aspers casino, which is sited similarly around York Place Baptist Chapel."

Bellissima is likely to employ eight to 10 dancers.

It is intended to feature a VIP room with a one-way glass wall allowing customers to watch the rest of the club while enjoying the privacy of an exclusive performance.

Fully naked dancers will also work in a guarded room on the premises.

Mr Bellis said there was no longer a taboo surrounding table dancing.

Taboo

The 28-year-old, a founder of security firm Millennium Security, said Thomas Bellis Leisure would be employing a general manager to run Bellissima who had more than 15 years of experience running table dancing clubs.

He said: "We don't feel that the subject is taboo anymore.

"Security personnel are getting asked by a lot of out-of-town businessmen where they can go for a table dancing club, and until now they have had to say Cardiff. It is about hospitality these days, it is not about sleaze."

Swansea Council has approved an application to change the use of the site from a bar to a dance venue. It is now considering a request for a sex entertainment licence for the club.

A spokesman for the local authority said: "The matter will go to the licensing committee for decision.

"No date has been set yet but it's likely to be towards the end of March."