CCTV footage of incident at Radcliffe Central Snooker Club

The incident caused bosses of Radcliffe Central Snooker Club to be hauled in front of a panel of councillors earlier this week to defend their alcohol licence.

The Abden Street venue had been serving drinks more than three hours past its licensed hours before the altercation left a man unconscious on the floor, a town hall meeting heard. 

The video, shared with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, shows a man in a black shirt drinking at the bar at around 3am on February 1.

He speaks to someone out of view before going in for what appears to be a handshake. But after taking his hand, the assailant then takes a hold of the man’s shoulder and delivers a punch to his face that causes the victim to lose consciousness and fall to the ground.

Other punters can be seen circulating the downed man in shock. 

Shortly after the video cuts off, an ambulance and police were called to the scene. Nobody has been charged. 

The man who was punched had to take several days off work, councillors heard. He has since recovered and reportedly returned to the club five days after the assault, according to the snooker club’s owner, David Morley. 

Mr Morley, who has managed the club for nine years, told the meeting that the attack had come ‘completely out of the blue’ and staff ‘didn’t see it coming’.

The owner said the incident happened after a late staff Christmas celebration in Manchester.

They returned to the club at around 11.30pm for karaoke and mingled with regulars, friends and family, he added. Staff served alcohol beyond licensed hours after ‘losing track of time’, and had called last orders just before the incident, Mr Morley claimed. 

Radcliffe Central Snooker Club (Image: Google Maps)

“It’s a big wake-up call to me,” he said. “Clearly I’ve got to make sure this doesn’t happen again. But overall it’s a really well-run club. It’s a real hub for the community and I can’t remember the police ever being called out before.” 

PC Peter Eccleston, who referred the case to the town hall’s licensing panel, confirmed he had never known police to be called to an incident at the venue in his four years as the GMP’s licensing representative in Bury. 

PC Eccleston therefore recommended a change of licensing conditions but did not suggest withdrawing the club’s license to operate entirely. 

After a concise deliberation, councillors agreed the club can continue operating but must have a first-aid certified member of staff present during opening hours; have tighter limits on last entry; and will need to review its health and safety procedures and risk assessments.