Northampton Bar To Reopen After Stabbings

16 January 2015, 11:58 | Updated: 16 January 2015, 12:06

A Northampton night-spot in Bridge Street, close to where mass stabbings took place during a brawl last December is being allowed to re-open.

Emergency services were called to Bridge Street in the early hours of Friday the 12th of December after between 50-60 people had become involved a fight, leading to many injuries - 8 were seriously hurt including suffering knife-wounds.

Northampton Borough Council and the Police quickly shut down the two bars from which it's believe those involved had been drinking in - the NU Bar and Faces Bar.

NU Bar was allowed to re-open again quickly after assuring authorities they would adhere to changes to their licensing conditions including needing to give the Police 14 days notice of any external promoted event.

But Faces Bar remained shut as the Council wanted to speak more to the police and the owners before they were satisfied the venue could be operated again safely.

Today, Friday 16 Jan, Northampton Borough Council and Northants Police agreed Faces can reopen following the progress they have made after last week’s Licensing Sub-Committee hearing.

NBC Leader David Mackintosh said: "The safety of residents and visitors to our town is our top priority. As the Licensing Authority we have a duty to make sure that the pubs, clubs and other venues in Northampton are safe places to visit and are managed responsibly.

Faces is being allowed to reopen, and working with Northamptonshire Police, our Licensing Officers will continue to monitor the situation ready to take action if required to keep the public safe."