Club loses licence for second time
VENUE CLOSES FOR SECOND TIME AFTER MAN IS STABBED
SPINNINGFIELDS bar Neighbourhood has been temporarily stripped of its licence – for the second time in less than a year – after an alleged south Manchester gang member stabbed a man in the chest, back and leg.
Officers told a town hall meeting they were ‘extremely concerned’ about potential repercussions and said staff and customers could be ‘in danger’ if the nightspot was allowed to stay open.
The popular celeb haunt will be shut for up to 28 days, pending a full review, following the incident in the early hours of Sunday.
Police said the offender – a ‘member of an organised crime group’ – has not been arrested. Enquiries are ongoing.
Lawyers for the venue did not challenge the GMP application to suspend the licence. They said they were working with police and the council having voluntarily closed the club in the wake of the incident.
In a statement, bar bosses said they were ‘determined’ to make the venue the ‘safest possible environment.’ Police were called to Neighbourhood at 1.25am. Officers found a man had been stabbed inside the bar. The attacker had fled.
A report handed to councillors read: “It was established that the victim had sustained multiple stab wounds to his chest, back and leg and one of the door staff who was spoken to stated that the offender was in possession of a pocket knife.
“CCTV footage has been viewed by CID and one of the cameras shows the alleged offender produce a knife from his waistband as he is being ejected by the door staff. Pc Alan Isherwood told the meeting a potential offender has been identified. “It’s anticipated that an arrest will follow very swiftly,” he added. “Unfortunately, [the victim] has refused to cooperate with the police.” In CCTV footage shown at the meeting, the attacker was seen holding a knife outside the venue. The victim could be seen with a bloodied torso.
Pc Isherwood said: “The alleged offender is a member of a south Manchester organised crime group and GMP are extremely concerned that because of this there may be serious repercussions and that staff and customers at the premises may be placed in danger if the premises were allowed to continue to trade as a licenced premises.”
A full review of the club’s licence must be held within the next 28 days - and is likely to take place on April 11.
Neighbourhood lawyer Felicity Tulloch said: “My clients don’t wish to challenge the application today made by GMP. That’s not to say that in time we won’t be robustly defending our position, however.”
It is the second time in a year the nightspot has been temporarily stripped of its licence.
The bar was shut down following a brawl in March last year.