Lap dance club to reopen as a pub

A former lap dancing club in Walsall will be turned back into a traditional boozer selling real ale after plans were approved.

The historic Green Dragon pub in High Street was transformed into a lap dancing club in 2006.

The venue, which was called the Cobra Club, flopped and now its new owners Black Country Traditional Inns have bought it. They were today given the go-ahead to re-open it as a traditional watering hole by the licensing sub-comittee at Walsall Council.

William Hetherington, aged 77, who lives in a flat at Digbeth, close to the venue, spoke at the meeting voicing his concerns about noise.

He said: "I object to the proposals but I know some of my neighbours who couldn't make it are also very concerned. We fear there will be an increase in noise which will be going on into the early hours of the morning."

But the meeting heard there were no objections from Walsall Council, police or fire service regarding the proposals.

The venue will be open from 9am until 12.30am Sunday to Wednesday and 9am until 2am Thursday through to Saturday.

The building dates back to 1627 and had been known as The Green Dragon since 1769.

There was fury when its owners Midland UK Leisure reopened it as a strip joint. The move angered the religious community, who pointed out that the venue was once used as a place of worship in the early 1800s.

Speaking after the meeting, Angus McMeeking, director at Black Country Traditional Inns, which owns 21 pubs across the Black Country, said: "There have been a lot of traditional pubs which have closed down in Walsall recently but we want to buck the trend.

"We will ripping out everything associated with the old establishment such as the stage, mirrors and lap dancing poles.

"We want to turn it into a traditional pub again and will be offering a wide range of traditional ales. We will be aiming at the more mature customer."