Lush Bar is allowed to re-open

1:59pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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A BURY bar has been allowed to stay open despite being closed twice in seven months for violent disorder.

Senior police officers had shut down Lush Bar in Haymarket Street following a fight on April 12, where it is believed three men were stabbed and another was beaten unconscious.

The bar staff did not report the incident, which was caught on CCTV, which only came to the police's attention when they confronted a bloodied victim nearby.

Police had previously closed the bar last October following violence, when it was under different management.

Councillors at Tuesday's licensing panel say Lush can now re-open, but it must close its doors at 11pm, rather than 4am.

Councillor Yvonne Creswell, one of the three-strong panel, said: "I watched the CCTV footage and it was horrendous. In the past it has had a dreadful reputation, but the people running it now have only done so for six weeks, and we're giving them the opportunity to clean the place up. We were told they want to open it as a bistro, so we are letting them stay open but they have to close every night at 11pm."

Coun Creswell added: "The designated premises manager has to be replaced. They also have to up their security and put a CCTV screen at the back of the bar so it can be seen by all staff and door people."