A nightclub in Manchester city centre has been temporarily closed after a fight broke out at the weekend resulting in two men being stabbed outside. Vision in Whitworth Street West has had its licence suspended pending a full review.
It comes after a brawl between two groups occurred at the club in the early hours of Sunday (June 11). They were separated and the club was closed, a town hall hearing was told today (June 14), but the fight continued outside.
According to a witness statement, another fight took place in the middle of the road during which two men were stabbed after confronting the other group who had 'goaded' them. A doctor who later treated them said the wounds were consistent with knife injuries, a GMP report to the licensing panel said.
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One man suffered 'heavy blood loss' from a stab wound to his leg while another man who was stabbed in the back was 'slipping in and out of consciousness', according to the police. A blood stained knife was later recovered nearby, PC Simon Braithwaite told the licensing sub-committee.
In a statement on Sunday (June 11), a GMP spokesperson said the injuries were not life threatening. A report published by Manchester council revealed that two women were also caught up in the initial brawl inside the club and a man was punched in the face resulting in cuts, bruising and a lacerated elbow.
The club disputes the suggestion that a knife was brought into the premises, but said it would not resist GMP's request to temporarily suspend its licence. It comes just 10 weeks after a man was slashed across the face at the nightclub.
After the last incident, the club was told to beef up security by using metal detectors. Representing Vision at the hearing, solicitor Richard Williams said it is 'extremely regretable' that another incident has taken place at the premises.
Owner Yongzhi Shao, who was at the club during the incident which took place on the night that Manchester City won the Champions League, told the panel that he believes it was 'all related to the football'. He said: "This group, they were all wearing blue tops – I think they all must be City fans, definitely."
Quizzed by councillors, representatives of the club explained that the group of men were not wearing football shirts, but were all dressed in light blue tops. Labour councillor Carmine Grimshaw described the claims as 'debatable'.
The licensing panel decided to suspend the licence with immediate effect pending a full review. The summary review hearing is scheduled for July 7.
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