York could wave goodbye to its only dedicated jazz club if it loses its right to sell alcohol, its owners warned today.

Police have told bosses at The Cells caf and bar in Parliament Street that they will be asking magistrates to revoke the licence.

A popular student haunt, The Cells is the only venue in the city dedicated to live jazz.

It has also been infamous in the past for organising a "gentleman's" evening - with topless caged barmaids - which was called off at the last moment.

Bill Crook, who plays bass guitar at the club, and is the father of owner, Kim Bayley, said there had been great alarm when the letter from the police arrived.

"We don't know what we've done wrong," he said. "But if we lose the licence, the club can't continue. It would be very sad. There is jazz in pubs in York but not like this place. We exist for our jazz. We could not function without a licence. How many people would come to listen to jazz and drink tea or coffee?"

The reasons for the revocation order will become clear in court on May 19, but it is thought there may be a problem with the fact that The Cells holds a restaurant licence, enabling it to serve alcohol till midnight. It charges £3 entry, which includes a plate of food, but customers do not necessarily claim their food.

PC Alan Sunderland, a licensing officer at York Police, said a revocation order was being sought because the premises were deemed to be ill-conducted.

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