Pub boss describes 'crime scene' as Wilford Street in Nottingham cordoned off after stabbing

A pub boss was stunned to arrive at work to a 'crime scene' outside. Those were the words of Jeanette Hill, landlady and licensee of the canalside Navigation Inn, located in Wilford Street, Nottingham city centre.

She and husband David were told to avoid the main entrance of the pub by police who had 'sealed off' part of the street due to a stabbing overnight.

Five men have been arrested after two people were stabbed during a group fight outside the I-Club music venue nearby. Police believe the fight broke out as people left a private event at the club and say the two men who were stabbed have been taken to hospital.

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Mrs Hill, who has run the Castle Lock pub with husband David for five years, said they were hoping to open the Navigation later on. Describing the scene on Sunday morning (June 23), she said: "The entire area has been cordoned off from the archive onto the canal, and then to the other end of the road. We have been told we can't come to the main entrance, it's a crime scene.

"We have been here for five years. It's the first time we have had the road sealed off due to a police incident outside. [We've only been told] there's an incident, that is it. We are hoping to open but we have no idea."

Pictures show at least two police vehicles and multiple officers guarding the cordon at the entrance to Wilford Street at the junction with Castle Boulevard. The cordon stretches back towards the turn-off for Castle Meadow Road.

Another local worker, who asked not to be named, said staff were unable to get to their cars in the early hours. "We were inside the building, we had finished and we did not know what was actually was going off until we were trying to leave. We could not get our cars out of the car park to go home because it was cordoned off," he said.

He described the stabbing in the area as a "rare situation", and "something you do not see or hear of". Officers were first called to the scene after reports of a fight involving several people just before 4am.

Detective Inspector Lisa Jones said: "Officers are carrying out an extensive and thorough investigation to determine what has happened. We believe the fight broke out as people were leaving a private event at the I-Club.

"A cordon is in place while we investigate the incident. There is absolutely no place for violence on our streets and we are determined to ensure those responsible are dealt with."

Anyone who saw what happened or has any mobile phone or dash cam footage is being urged to contact the police by calling 101 and quoting incident number 0099 of June 23. Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The I-Club is described as a venue for music and live entertainment on its Facebook page.