DREAM Lounge will reopen with a bang on Saturday, nine months after the lap dancing club was torched last July.

The gentleman’s club in Victoria Road was targeted by Faisal Qaddus, 27, of Amber Court, who reversed a car into the front of the club and doused it with petrol before setting it alight.

Club owner Peter Rogers, was inside the venue at the time.

Qaddus was jailed for four years at Swindon Crown Court in January, after pleading guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Since last summer extensive repair work has been carried out at the club, with the final fixtures and fittings due to be put in place just hours before an invite-only showcase evening on Friday.

Sandra Rogers, who helps her husband Peter run the business, said: “We’re going to be bigger, better and hotter than before.

“We’re looking forward to re-opening and we’re all getting excited.

“The club has been refurbished to a high standard and is unrecognisable with a completely new colour scheme.

“We’ve also got lots of new ideas for our clients to enjoy, like the Dream Lounge Dollar, and if you want to find out what that is then you’ll have to come along and find out for yourself.

“We have some new girls too, some of the old ones are coming back but also some new faces and some from outside of Swindon.”

Sandra said that the renovation had taken longer than expected, due to the club’s insurance company, Millburns, going into administration before the claim was paid out.

She said: “It’s been a long road I have to say.

“It was devastating when the fire happened because we are a family business and it really hurt because we had been working so hard to get it where it was and it was doing better and better.

“It was scary as well because my husband was inside when it happened.

“We are glad we are getting there now. We’ve had lots of ups and downs and every day there has been a wobble or two.

“To be honest we expected to be open again much earlier than this, whether that was unrealistic or naive perhaps I don’t know but we’re hoping all will go well on Saturday. We’re expecting to be packed out.”

Dream Lounge also encouraged people who may have never been into a ladies and gentleman’s club before to go along rather than listen just to what others have told them.

Sandra said: “We want everyone to come along and find out for themselves what we’re like, perhaps there are people who have never been to somewhere like Dream Lounge before who want to just be a bit curious and find out.”

  • For more information call the Dream Lounge on 01793 977344.