News Beat
Pool cue attack bar’s licence changes may become permanent
The Overdraught, on Blackburn Street, faced a licensing panel on November 13 after a customer was left with serious injuries during the pool cue incident in the early hours of Sunday, November 9.
These restrictions could be made permanent at a reconvened panel on December 3.
Papers published ahead of next week’s meeting outline two other major violent disorder incidents at the venue over the past two years.
The first, in January 2024, involved a “serious assault” where two customers were attacked with knives outside the venue, with police saying no door supervisors were employed on the night in question.
At the time, Greater Manchester Police asked for door supervisors to be considered as part of licensing changes, but this was not granted.
The second incident, in March 2025, involved a customer being hit over the head with a glass bottle during a dispute near the pool table.
A written action plan was then drawn up with the pub, the police and the council, which included all games of pool ceasing after 10pm and the balls and cues being securely stored away.
However, in papers, GMP said: “Unfortunately, this has not been adhered to, and again there has been another incident involving serious crime and disorder at the premises.
“[This] has resulted in this request for a review of the premises license by Greater Manchester Police, as we feel it necessary to bring this incident to the attention of the licensing authority with a view to license conditions being amended to prevent a recurrence of such serious crime and disorder and ensure the safety of customers.”
GMP say the November 9 incident, which happened after 1am, occurred while the pool table was still in use and saw a man be struck “several times” over the head with the cue.
It left the victim with a “large wound” to the back of his head, blood on his clothing, and a swollen left arm, and while in an ambulance, he suffered a seizure.
This incident sparked the interim licensing review, which took place on November 13.
Newly published minutes from the hearing say a board had been placed over the pool table in September, but due to there being “no pool-related incidents”, it was removed because the licensee thought it was “unnecessary”.
A door supervisor was not on shift at the time of the November incident, though the venue manager had been acting in this role and has since “booked himself door supervisor refresher training“.
Concerns were also raised about the venue being a “local night spot for frequenting” due to its late operating hours compared with other nearby venues.
The lack of door staff led to questions about there being “no checks at the door for levels of intoxication”.
The police said: “The opinion of GMP was that if door staff had been present, then the incident was likely to have not occurred or may have been prevented.
“[The licence holder] does not want door staff due to the associated costs, but there was a risk to public safety with the number of violent incidents.”
Police also said the knife in the January 2024 incident could have been discovered if there were door staff on the premises.
As a result of the three incidents, police then asked the council to place temporary restrictions on the licence, which were enacted on November 13 and could be made permanent next week.
They initially included banning all games of pool at all times and the removal of the table from the premises.
However, this was scaled back to banning all games of pool after 10pm, as previously agreed, but this was made a condition of the alcohol licence rather than being a written agreement.
Cues and balls must also be securely placed away from sight after 10pm.
A temporary restriction on glass after 9pm – which the venue said had been adhered to following the March glassing – was also made a temporary licence condition at the November 13 panel.
Frequent glass collections were also requested throughout the day “to prevent any glassware being used as potential weapons”.
A minimum of two door supervisors are now required after 9pm until close on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays of bank holidays, as well as around key holidays like Easter and Christmas.
This was a rule accepted by the venue, which said an additional door supervisor will be employed when the licensee is on shift, and two will be on-site when he is not in the premises “for any reason”.
And rules around CCTV were also strengthened, requiring upgraded camera systems in HD format, which must be stored for a minimum of 28 days’ footage.
The cameras must be placed on external walls to cover all entrances and exits, and should be serviced every three months.
The licensee told the panel this would be actioned, while four internal cameras will be upgraded.
The GMP requests and other evidence – including body-worn police footage and images of the broken pool cue – will again be presented to councillors on December 3.
That is when the temporary rules enforced on the licence on November 13 could be made permanent.
The Overdraught was approached for a comment regarding the November 9 incident.
