Birmingham pub has licence suspended after man attacked by gang with machetes

A pub in Birmingham has had its licence suspended after an attack on a man by a ‘gang carrying machetes’. The incident took place at The Belle Vue pub in Icknield Port Road in Edgbaston shortly before midnight on Friday, March 22.

A man in his 30s was said to have been attacked in the smoking area of the pub at around 11.45pm by a group of eight, with three carrying machetes. The injured man was ‘lunged at, kicked and punched’ and suffered a cut to his left hand and bruising under his right eye when he went to the outside area. A police investigation is ongoing.

Concerns were raised that the pub was operating beyond its licence conditions, which state that alcohol sales had to stop at 11pm, the smoking area had to be closed at that time, any sale of alcohol had to be ‘ancillary to food’ and the music had to be ‘background music only’.

Read more: Restaurant caught selling booze at ‘wedding’ in early hours faces licence review

But given the wounding incident, the pub was referred to Birmingham City Council ’s licensing sub-committee C on Wednesday, March 27. The licence holder and designated premises supervisor, Andrea Murray, attended the hearing. Sgt Mark Swallow attended on behalf of West Midlands Police.

Sgt Swallow said the Belle Vue pub was licenced to sell alcohol between 12noon and 11pm each day. Its smoking area should shut at 11pm each day and CCTV should be provided to police ‘on request’. He said: “At 11.44pm on 22 March 2024 the premises were open and conducting licensable activity.

“At that time a male was attacked in the smoking area of the premises by a group of eight persons, three of whom were armed with machetes. The male has sustained a cut to his left eye and bruising under his right eye.

“At that time the premises should have stopped all licensable activity and the smoking area should not have been in use. If that had been the case, then the incident could not have occurred.

“The victim had attended the premises to play pool and socialise with friends. And clearly regulated entertainment was being provided as the victim had attended the smoking area in the premises with the DJ.“

Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp

He said after the incident people left the premises ‘of their own accord’. But claimed no staff appeared to intervene to help stop the incident or call the emergency services.

He said: “West Midlands Police have serious concerns for the promotion of the licensing objectives at the premises. A large-scale disorder has taken place and the staff have either failed to intervene to prevent it.

“West Midlands Police similarly have no confidence in the management of the premises. That lack of confidence is compounded by the premises carrying out licensable activity, in breach of the premises licence, by serving after hours, and not ensuring the smoking area was cleared of members of the public by the time specified in the licence – 23.00. Had that been done then the incident would not have occurred.”

Sgt Swallow added that CCTV was requested on that Friday night and again on Tuesday, March 26 –had not been provided at the time of the hearing. He also said alcohol was not being sold ancillary to food and music was not at a background level. He said West Midlands Police requested the premises licence is suspended and the designated premises supervisor is removed.

Read more: Off-licence selling ‘illegal booze and vapes’ to have licence reviewed

A tearful Mrs Murray responded admitting she was not at the pub on the night of the incident, as her ‘daughter was very ill’. She said the staff that were there ‘she’s very competent’. And that the music can only go up to a ‘certain level set for background noises unless it has been tampered with’.

She claimed the venue had a street food man on that night selling barbecue food and said: “The smoking was closed and then one of the guys went out there to collect something and he went out there with security to have a smoke. We put most of the people through the front and most of the people was gone.”

Get the latest court and crime news delivered direct to your inbox

She said the venue was her livelihood and this was ‘the first serious incident that has ever happened’. She said: “I was not aware of any machete. He had an altercation inside and they put him in the back to cool off.

“I wasn’t aware of an altercation in the garden.” On the CCTV issue, Mrs Murray added it was working and the guy that makes it available will make a copy for the police that day.

But Sgt Swallow then came back and said he had attended the premises on 7 September last year following an allegation that the venue had been trading outside of its licensable hours, with people drinking outside. He says Mrs Murray was told of the implications and run through her licence conditions. He also said the victim also told him the DJ was playing music that night.

Read more: Bar handed licence suspension after car driven into crowd outside

At the summary review hearing on March 27, licensing sub-committee C chair, Cllr Sam Forsyth (Quinton, Lab.) said: “It is clear that a serious incident of crime and disorder occurred on the night of 22 [March] in which violence occurred involving machetes on licenced premises.

“Having weighed up the representations given today to the sub-committee, this committee prefers the position of the police as to the events in question and their concern that this incident occurred when breach of the permissions and conditions on the premises licence were occurring.

“This sub-committee is also concerned that notwithstanding any technical difficulties, the CCTV which is required to be produced immediately on request has still not been given to the police. The contents of that CCTV is likely to assist the police in their investigations and may or may not assist the premises licence holder to confirm some of the assertions she has made today.

“Against the background of such a serious incident this is not satisfied that the premises licence holder can adequately promote the licensing objectives. And at this time it is necessary to proportionate to suspend the licence and remove her as the designated premises supervisor in order to prevent crime and disorder.”

Read more: Station sex attack horror as woman assaulted and sprayed in face

The Belle Vue then appealed against the interim suspension but at a hearing on Friday, April 19, licensing sub-committee A said: “The licence will remain suspended until the final review hearing.” That final and full review hearing will take place on Tuesday, April 23 at 10am.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “We’re investigating after a man was assaulted at a bar on Icknield Port Road in Birmingham last month. Shortly before midnight on Friday 22 March, a man was attacked by three people armed with machetes.

“The man, who is in his 30s, fell to the ground after being lunged at by one of the group. He was then kicked and punched, sustaining injuries, which are not life-changing.

“Our enquiries are continuing and we’re appealing for anyone with information to contact us on 101 or via Live Chat on our website and quote crime number 20/60231/24. Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”