Wolverhampton Bar Retains Licence After Violent Brawl Incident
The Garden Bar, located on Birmingham New Road in Lanesfield, Wolverhampton, will be allowed to continue operating after a council hearing addressed its owner's failure to report a violent mass brawl to the police. City of Wolverhampton Council's licensing committee ruled that the bar can keep its licence, but imposed strict new conditions to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Violent Disorder Captured on CCTV
The hearing revealed that a late-night brawl involving between 15 and 20 people erupted at the bar and grill around 1:20 am on December 13 last year. The violence began when one man slapped another inside the venue, prompting a gang of males to attack the individual both inside the bar and outside in the car park.
CCTV footage, which was shown to councillors ahead of the hearing, depicted men returning from their cars with weapons, including a broken pool cue. West Midlands Police discovered the footage while investigating an unrelated matter, as the incident had not been reported by the bar at the time.
Owner's Explanation Deemed Unacceptable
Licence holder Jasvir Singh Johal told the hearing on Thursday, February 12, that he was "in shock" and "couldn't think clearly" when the fight broke out. He later stated that he did not call emergency services because he had been assured no one was injured and believed the situation was already dispersing.
"It was already over before it had even started," Mr Johal said. "People are already dispersing, they were already leaving. I asked the guy if he was okay, I asked if everybody else was alright… if I had stopped and called the police it could have escalated [even further]."
Council's Strong Criticism and Conditions
Licensing chair Councillor Alan Butt described the CCTV footage as "damning" and the disorder as a "free-for-all" that lasted "quite a bit." He emphasised that the incident "should have been an immediate call [to police]."
The committee ruled that Mr Johal's reasons for not dialling 999 were not acceptable, stating that despite "differing opinions" over when to call police, this was "clearly an incident that should have been reported."
As a result, the council added conditions to the bar's licence, including mandatory staff training on reporting and dealing with emergencies, as well as preserving crime scenes. The committee expressed it was "not confident" Mr Johal could provide sufficient training himself and recommended seeking outside expertise.
Police Accusations and Ongoing Investigation
West Midlands Police had accused the licence holder of a "lack of responsibility" for failing to report the brawl and called for the licence review. The force noted that the CCTV footage is part of an ongoing investigation and will not be released publicly.
The police questioned why the incident had gotten "so out of control," highlighting the seriousness of the unreported affray. Despite this, the council's decision allows the Garden Bar to remain open under enhanced oversight to ensure public safety and compliance with licensing regulations.
