EDWARD VII was something of a rogue. Before he became king he had a scandalous liaison with an actress, heartily indulged in gambling, drinking and women, and was cited in a number of divorce cases.

So we can't help but think he would feel at home in the York pub which bears his name.

Not only is the Edward VII in Nunnery Lane developing a sports bar, it has become the only pub in York to boast a topless barmaid.

Politically correct, no. Profitable, yes.

"We have trebled the turnover," said landlord Alan Jackson. "Thursdays are very busy.

"It's the best night of the week, better than Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays."

If you so desire, you can be served by a half-naked barmaid tonight and every Thursday night between 8 and 11.

The idea blossomed at Christmas, said Alan.

"We just decided to do something different. It was legal and we went into all the licensing and everything, and it was all right.

"It was just a trial at first, a one-off. It went so well I decided to carry on with it."

The barmaid cannot come round from behind the bar, and customers are not allowed on her side.

The women, all under 40 with no restriction on bust measurements, are supplied by an agency in Bradford. "They're usually good at pulling pints. They're all professional barmaids," says Alan.

The venture has generally met with approval, including among women customers.

"Only one or two people have complained. The rest think it's all right.

"I have signs up in the doorways, and we have the curtains drawn. It doesn't offend anybody if they read the notice."

The service is not cheap at £30 an hour. "We have had a few offers off girls in York wanting to do it," Alan said.

"I can't get enough to alternate them over six weeks. I am compiling a list."

Arduous work? "No, no, it's easy."

POOR old Martin Bashir. It's terrible when you get to that age when your memory plays tricks on you.

Last year, when he edited his Michael Jackson-bashing documentary, he completely forgot to include the bit where he told the singer: "Your relationship with your children is spectacular. It almost makes me weep when I see you with them because your interaction with them is so natural, so loving, so caring."

And now he "genuinely can't remember" working on a documentary about the Babes In The Wood child murders and being entrusted with an item of bloodstained clothing from one of the dead girls. The item has never been returned and, as we reported yesterday, its disappearance could jeopardise an attempt to nail the killer.

Well, when you've been snapped up by US broadcasting giant ABC on a $1 million salary, such small details can slip the mind.

But we think the American company has the right to know that its new star interviewer's powers of retention may be fading. So we have emailed a copy of our story to ABC bosses.

THE Plain English Campaign yesterday issued a list of the most irritating phrases in the language. "At the end of the day" came top.

Bob Hutchinson will be delighted to see that 24/7 is also on the list: he upbraided the Diary last year on our use of this Americanisation.

The fact of the matter is that clichs should literally be stamped down on like a ton of bricks at this moment in time. It's not rocket science.

Fortunately, the Diary rarely has the energy for pushing the envelope. And we are renowned for thinking inside the box.

Write to: The Diary, Chris Titley, The Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN

Email diary@ycp.co.uk

Telephone (01904) 653051 ext 337

Updated: 09:55 Thursday, March 25, 2004