Nightclub’s licence is suspended after knife-attack horror
TOY Box nightclub in Manchester city centre has been temporarily closed after a ‘shocking’ stabbing outside the venue in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
The victim, in his 20s, suffered what were initially life-threatening injuries when he was knifed in the stomach and arm on Queen Street, off Deansgate.
Shortly before the attack, police had been alerted by city centre CCTV to a separate incident where a man ‘in possession of a baseball bat’ was ‘kicking off at Toy Box,’ a police report said.
A senior police officer said in a statement to Manchester council’s licensing sub-committee that the venue, formerly The Press Club, had ‘lost control and the closure would prevent any further victims.’
A spokesman for Toy Box insisted the venue ‘had built up an unrivalled reputation for excellence in the Manchester club scene’ and that they had not had any previous problems since opening. They added that the stabbing happened outside the venue.
But in the police report, which was considered by the town hall’s licensing committee, Supt Chris Hill of GMP said that due to ‘evidence of serious crime and disorder’ at the club, police felt it was necessary for a full review to take place.
A full hearing will be held on Friday, January 25, and in the meantime the club has had its licence suspended. The club has the right to appeal.
Police were first alerted at 3.26am on January 1 by city centre CCTV, but a GMP report says ‘at this time no record can be found of the premises notifying the police.’
On arrival, two men were fighting with door staff.
The disturbance was serious enough for an officer to request urgent back up from other patrols.
One of the men was wielding a baseball bat and had to be Tasered by police to disarm him, police said. A man was then arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and affray.
The report, by Supt Hill, says while officers were still at the scene obtaining evidence there was another disturbance ‘originating from inside the premises and spilling outside.’ One man was head-butted and then stabbed in the arm and abdomen.
The report says the offender ran off and other pockets of disorder broke out, resulting in a police officer being assaulted. A knife was recovered at the scene. The victim of the stabbing required two surgical operations.
Supt Hill says: “These are two incidents of such a serious nature...it is not inconceivable to believe that either could have proved fatal. It appears the clientele are of a violent nature and the suspension is required to protect the public.”
GMP said the stabbing was still being investigated, but no arrests have yet been made.
Anyone with information on the incident should call police on 101 quoting incident number 981 of 01/01/19 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.