Liverpool: The Safe House bar linked to stabbings has licence revoked

The Safe House can appeal the decision within 21 days

A city centre bar linked to a brawl in which a promising young boxer was stabbed is set to be stripped of its licence.

During a Boxing Day event at The Safe House bar on Victoria Street, a large fight broke out in the street outside.

Boxer Anthony Dodson was in a critical condition in hospital after the attack in the early hours of 27 December.

The city council's licensing and gambling sub-committee has decided to revoke the venue's licence.

The 21-year-old promising athlete's condition is now said to be improving, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Police said two groups of men came together after leaving The Safe House nightclub before a "large-scale disturbance".

Liverpool Council moved quickly to temporarily suspend the bar's licence after a request by Merseyside Police following the disturbance.

The sub-committee decided it would revoke the licence entirely following a lengthy hearing.

Alongside Mr Dodson, three other men also suffered serious injuries, including a 21-year-old who was stabbed in the back and a 23-year-old who suffered lacerations to his head after being struck with a glass or bottle.

A 20-year-old man was later traced who had also suffered lacerations to the head.

Seven men have been charged to date over the incident. 

Four men were hurt in the disorder, with one man critically injured

A three-person panel at Liverpool Town Hall on Wednesday agreed to remove the business' permission to sell alcohol after hearing evidence from police and the owner.

The Safe House can appeal the decision within 21 days. If an appeal process began the licence would remain suspended until a decision was reached.

Under its terms granted in 2022, The Safe House had been permitted to open and sell alcohol on the premises from 10:00 GMT and 04:00 daily.

December's hearing was told Merseyside Police attended the premises at 05:40 on 27 December and it was still open and there were approximately 50 customers inside.

Karl Barry, licensing agent on behalf of the owner, said an appeal was to be lodged and he had written to the city's head of licensing regarding the process of the hearing.

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