TOPLESS bars are traditionally the haunt of men on stag parties and rugby tours.

But now one club in Oxford is looking to redress the balance – by launching a topless night for women.

Every Thursday, male bar staff at the No 9 club in High Street will sport only their underwear, becoming the first venue in Oxford to offer the service.

Earlier this month, Oxford’s only lapdancing club, The Lodge in St Ebbes, stopped offering “sexual entertainment” after being stripped of its licence by Oxford City Council.

But No 9 club director Steve Fontaine, 44, said his club would offer women in the city something “entirely different”.

He said: “It’s certainly not a lapdancing club and it won’t be tacky.

“All of our male barman will wear just their underwear on Thursday nights because we want to create a relaxed environment where women can go and enjoy themselves.

“We will offer table service to our guests and the whole event will be a bit of fun.

“There have always been places where women have worked topless for male audiences. Why shouldn’t there be a similar place for women?”

Head barman James Rowson is among those stripping off from 9pm to 3am on Thursday evenings.

The 20-year-old, from Cowley, said: “I have never done anything like this before.

“But I am quietly confident and looking forward to event. It should be a lot of fun for both staff and customers.

“We wanted to do something a little bit different. There has obviously been all the controversy recently surrounding the lapdancing club but our event will be nothing like that.

“It’s just a novel way of encouraging new customers to come and check us out.”

The council confirmed the club did not need a sexual entertainment licence for male strippers.

The owners of The Lodge are looking to relocate to The Coven club in Oxpens Road.

In February, the council refused The Lodge’s application for a sexual entertainment venue licence because it was “inappropriate” given the character of the area.