Customer Punched at Bury Snooker Club Caught on CCTV

The alcohol license of the Radcliffe Central Snooker Club in Bury has come under scrutiny following an incident on February 1, 2026, where a customer was knocked unconscious after being punched in the head.

CCTV footage of the assault was shared with the Manchester Evening News and the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The video shows a man in a black shirt drinking at the bar at approximately 3:00 am. After a brief conversation and what appeared to be a handshake, the assailant grabbed the victim’s shoulder and delivered a punch to his face, causing the man to lose consciousness, and collapse.

Licensing Violations and Council Review

The incident led to the owners of the Abden Street venue appearing before a panel of councillors to defend their alcohol license. During a town hall meeting, it was revealed that the venue had been serving alcohol more than three hours past its licensed hours at the time of the altercation.

David Morley, who has owned and managed the club for nine years, testified that staff had lost track of time regarding the licensed hours. He explained that the situation occurred after a late staff Christmas celebration in Manchester, with staff returning to the club around 11:30 pm for karaoke and socializing with friends, family, and regulars.

PC Pete Eccleston recommended a change in licensing conditions as an alternative to more severe repercussions for the establishment.

Impact on the Victim and Legal Status

Following the punch, an ambulance and police were called to the scene. The victim suffered injuries that required him to take several days off work. According to Mr. Morley, the man recovered and returned to the snooker club five days after the assault took place.

Despite the footage and the police response, nobody has been charged in connection with the attack.

Mr. Morley described the attack as having come completely out of the blue and stated that staff didn’t see it coming. He further characterized the event as a wake-up call for the management of the club, emphasizing the need to ensure such an occurrence does not happen again.