"THAT'S what society wants and that's what society gets."

Richard Carr's controversial Wiggle venue in Bournemouth's town centre started off life as a restaurant.

Now it's a fully fledged gentleman's club offering "topless and fully nude" cabaret - and doing rather well according to the Bournemouth bar and club owner.

Mr Carr had repeatedly denied rumours that he was going to turn the former register office on Old Christchurch Road into a pole-dancing club.

He initially claimed there would be "no live dancing of any description", although he later said it would be "Bournemouth's version of the Moulin Rouge".

But now Wiggle is serving up naked dancers alongside its restaurant menu.

Mr Carr said the move to offer a fully nude cabaret was down to "market forces".

"What we are doing is within the terms of our licence and is no different from what other clubs in the town are offering - and even venues such as the BIC," he said.

"Food is still an important part of what we offer, but at the end of the day it's about market forces.

"That's what society wants and that's what society gets."

Other venues in the town centre already offering full nudity shows include For Your Eyes Only and Spearmint Rhino.

And Bournemouth Borough Council confirmed that the venue was operating within its licence.

Licensing officer Sarah deBruin said: "I visited the premises on Friday, December 15, together with Dorset Police and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service officers, as part of our current Christmas enforcement programme.

"The establishment received a satisfactory report and was not to be found in breach of the licence.

"All conditions were being complied with and the premises were of a high standard."

Mr Carr sparked a storm of outrage when the Wiggle restaurant first opened in June featuring topless pole-dancing displays and private dances.

He was forced to apply for retrospective permission in September for the "upmarket gentleman's dining club" after an investigation by enforcement officers.

After heated debate, planning board members endorsed their officer's recommendation to grant the application to allow live entertainment at the restaurant venue.

Now, signs outside Wiggle proclaim "Topless and fully nude cabaret" alongside suggestive photos, much to the disgust of Sally Wilton, who runs the employment agency Staff2000 opposite.

"It think it's awful, and all the women in the office find it offensive," she said.

"This sort of thing just shows a lack of respect towards women."

And Bournemouth councillor David Smith, who has already protested about the club at planning board meetings, said: "I don't think establishments of this type do the image of Bournemouth any good whatsoever."

Mr Carr's Future 3000 company also owns Bliss and Toko bars.