Snooker club must tighten rules after assault

Wednesday, 8 April 2026 17:39

By Charlotte Hall

Bosses at a Bury snooker club were hauled before councillors after a customer was knocked unconscious after hours.

He was punched in the head at Radcliffe Central Snooker Club just after 3am on February 1.

Police discovered the Abden Street venue had also been serving alcohol more than three hours past its licenced hours, a town hall meeting heard.

Owner David Morley described the incident as a ‘wake-up call’, saying the attack came ‘completely out of the blue’.

CCTV appeared to show a man approaching the victim to shake his hand, before striking him. The man lost consciousness and collapsed, hitting his head on the floor.

Nobody has been charged. An ambulance was called and the victim had to take several days off work. He has since recovered and returned to the club five days after the assault, Mr Morley said.

PC Pete Eccleston recommended a change of licensing conditions over more serious repercussions.

Mr Morley, who has owned the club for nine years, said incident happened after staff had been out for a late Christmas do in Manchester. They returned to the club at around 11.30pm for karaoke and mingled with regulars, friends and family, he added.

Staff served alcohol beyond licensed hours after ‘losing track of time’, Mr Morley claimed.

“It’s a big wake-up call to me,” he said. “Clearly I’ve got to make sure this doesn’t happen again. But overall it’s a really well-run club. It’s a real hub for the community and I can’t remember the police ever being called out before.

“The disadvantaged youths in Radcliffe come in most days and we give them free pool so long as they’re supervised by a member of staff. The biggest side of the club is the snooker, the drinking side isn’t massive.”

Councillor Mary Walsh raised concerns about how seriously GMP had taken the assault. She said: “This chap was out for at least 60 seconds. He banged his head. It looked like he went down really hard. He was trying to shake hands and [the assailant] then thumped him one.

“My concern is that people who bang their head like that have been killed and yet it’s only considered a section 47 assault rather than a GBH assault, which could have ended up with him dying and this being manslaughter.”

PC Eccleston said police record crimes ‘based on the level of injury that was present at that time’.

Mr Morley was told the club can continue operating but must have a first-aid certified member of staff present during opening hours; have tighter limits on last entry; and will need review its health and safety procedures and risk assessments.

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