It becomes rather tiring, " said Stringfellow, speaking exclusively to the Sunday Tribune from Mallorca this weekend.

We don't count in numbers, we count in quality of customers. You could walk into London [Stringfellows' club] on a Tuesday night and count a hundred people, or walk in on Monday and count 70, but you'd be amazed at how much that custom actually takes in."

It was recently reported that the club had let half of its staff go, due to poor numbers and its location away from the main Dublin night spots.

Stringfellow acknowledged that the club has let some staff go.

Of course we have, " he said. ?When we start a new club, you have to decide if the staff are good enough. We fill the place with staff and see where they are at. Some people aren't quite good enough, others decide it's not for them and yes, we have asked people to leave."

On Friday night last, the Dublin club was moderately full. One dancer half-heartedly complained that business hadn't ceased since the bank holiday weekend.

Stringfellow said that it was ?frustrating" that rumours of the club's demise persisted. He said he respected the protesters' right to an opinion but was confused at their motivation for remaining on site.

It's not loud, it's not rough, there's no agro outside, it's probably the quietest nightclub in Dublin on the outside, " he said.

Why are they there?

Dublin has a huge drug problem, so if they have a moral argument, they should look at that. Dublin has a number of sex clubs . . . why aren't they protesting there?

And there are a number of other, quote unquote, 'lapdancing' clubs . . . and you know I hate that word . . . why aren't they outside those?

Why are they outside Stringfellows?"