A man has claimed he suffered a 'horrifying' ordeal during an alleged assault by door staff outside a Manchester nightclub. Gareth Evans spoke at a council licensing meeting open to the public on Monday (October 5), saying the alleged attack happened in December 2023 outside the New Union Hotel on Princess Street in Manchester's gay village.
Licence review application
The council meeting was called after Mr Evans applied for a review of the venue's premises licence, claiming it 'failed to uphold the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder, and public safety'.
In a statement submitted to the hearing, the alleged victim claimed he was 'subjected to a violent assault by door staff at the premises' when he was placed in a 'chokehold resulting in loss of consciousness and requiring paramedic attendance'.
The incident was reported to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) but Mr Evans told the council hearing that 'no further action' was taken by the force. He claimed CCTV footage of the alleged incident was 'intentionally deleted or not saved to protect the door staff' after it took place.
Alleged incident details
The allegations were focused on events outside the New Union Hotel when Mr Evans had been at the venue and rented a power bank. When he later tried to go back inside to return the portable battery, he said he was denied access. He claims the 'assault' took place after he 'attempted to go past the door supervisor to return the battery pack' himself.
He added in a statement: “I recall that two of them grabbed me around the neck, put me in a headlock and removed me roughly from the premises. During that removal I recall threatening remarks that they were going to 'f**k me up' and that they 'hope I like going to sleep'.
“Only after I had been put in a headlock, removed and threatened with being put to sleep did I throw a bottle left outside the venue and not removed by their team towards the building in frustration. That was wrong, and I told the police about it.”
He said he has since suffered 'anxiety, stress and nightmares' after the alleged incident, and that he has 'lost confidence with going out in the village'.
Venue's response and outcome
Robert Ramsbottom, representing the New Union Hotel, said the venue's door staff had acted in a way to uphold the licensing objectives by trying to prevent crime and disorder. He claimed Mr Evans was denied entry by the doormen because he was 'too intoxicated'.
He added: “The complainant came up to the venue, tried to gain entry with regards to putting a power bank battery pack back in the charger that you pay a fee for. The doorman at the time said, 'I'm not going to let you in, you're too intoxicated', which was adhering to one of the licensing objectives.
“The person in question was not happy about this, he said, 'I want to put it in, because if it doesn't get put in, I'll get charged for it.'
“The doorman explained, 'I can't let you in, you're too intoxicated.'
“As he was distracted by another customer, he barged straight past, ran through the nightclub, was apprehended by one doorman at that time.
“The doorman at the front door came and helped, they then moved the person outside onto Canal Street.”
He added: “As the head doorman confronted the gentleman after throwing the projectile, everyone was concerned that the man was highly intoxicated, he had already thrown a glass projectile causing criminal damage, and apprehended him for causing criminal behaviour as part of one of the four licensing objectives that is raised with us.
“They then took him to the ground, contacted the police, the police came, police called the ambulance, he was then taken.”
The venue representative also said that police had viewed the venue's CCTV footage 'on several occasions' after the incident, that the footage is kept for a statutory 28 days, and was deleted '12 months after' the alleged assault took place. He added: “All the CCTV from ourselves in and around our building was given to the police that was required.”
GMP did not submit a statement to the hearing but a licensing officer attended the meeting to observe. Manchester council's licensing committee decided that no further action was needed in regards to the venue's premises licence.
