Snooker Club Trouble in Whitefield and Radcliffe

The licensing panel for Bury Council imposed additional conditions on the license of the Radcliffe Central Snooker Club following a review held on April 8, 2026. The decision followed an early-morning assault at the venue that revealed the establishment had been serving alcohol beyond its permitted hours.

The review was prompted by an incident that occurred on February 1, 2026. According to PC Peter Eccleston, a licensing officer for Greater Manchester Police, officers responded to reports of an assault at the Abden Street venue shortly before 3:10 am.

Assault and CCTV Evidence

CCTV footage of the incident showed a customer drinking at the bar at approximately 3 am. The video captures the man in a black shirt engaging with another individual; after an apparent handshake, the assailant grabbed the man’s shoulder and delivered a punch to his face.

The force of the blow caused the victim to lose consciousness and fall to the ground. While other patrons gathered around the downed man in shock, the victim remained conscious and breathing by the time police arrived on the scene.

PC Eccleston reported to the committee that the victim’s injuries were relatively minor, although the man was required to take several days off work. The owner of the club, David Morley, stated that the victim had recovered and returned to the venue five days after the assault.

Licensing Breaches

The investigation into the assault, which was classified as assault causing actual bodily harm, uncovered significant breaches of the club’s licensing agreement. The CCTV footage provided by the club showed the consumption of alcohol and recently poured pints on the bar itself well after the legal operating limit.

The venue had been serving drinks more than three hours past its licensed hours at the time of the altercation. During the hearing, David Morley accepted responsibility for the breach without excuse.

Mr. Morley explained to the panel that the staff had been attending a belated Christmas party in Manchester and had lost track of time upon returning to the club around 11 pm. He maintained that such an occurrence was not a regular occurrence.

Panel Findings and Outcome

Despite the breach, PC Eccleston noted that the Radcliffe Central Snooker Club was not typically a location where police received reports of incidents. He highlighted that the club had provided the necessary CCTV footage to the police without delay during the investigation.

The panel concluded the review by adding more conditions to the club’s license to prevent future occurrences of after-hours alcohol service. No charges have been filed in relation to the assault as of April 13, 2026.