One woman – an innocent bystander – suffered an ‘open skull fracture’, police said
Manahatta(Image: Colin Horne – Manchester Evening News)
Glasses were thrown ‘indiscriminately’ and chairs picked up ‘as weapons’ as violence flared inside a Deansgate bar, a town hall meeting in Manchester heard.
A woman described as an ‘innocent bystander’ was also hit on the head with a bottle. She was said by police to have suffered an ‘open skull fracture’ and a bleed on the brain, together with a head cut that needed stitches.
Councillors were told ‘at least’ six men were involved in fighting on a raised ground floor area inside Manahatta cocktail bar in Manchester city centre.
The incident was considered today – Friday – at a meeting of Manchester City Council’s licensing sub committee.
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed the venue’s licence wasn’t suspended, but conditions to it were added. All drinks must now be served in plastic glasses on Fridays and Saturdays, the force said.
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In an application to the committee Chief Superintendent David Meeney, district commander of the city of Manchester division, said the fight involved ‘numerous customers’ and broke out at 1.30am on November 1.
“Numerous males were involved in the fighting that lasted for around five minutes,” he said. “During this time, at least half a dozen males were involved in the fighting, glasses were thrown indiscriminately and chairs were picked up as weapons.”
Violence flared on November 1(Image: Colin Horne – Manchester Evening News)
He said it was ‘of note’ that there was ‘very limited security involvement in halting the disorder’.
“The fight was eventually broken up and all of the persons involved left the scene,” the application went on. “A crime for affray has been recorded and enquiries are ongoing.
“GMP have subsequently been contacted by a female customer from the premises who was an innocent bystander to this disorder but has been struck with a bottle.
“This has caused her to attend hospital for treatment to her injuries which are an open skull fracture, a bleed on the brain and an inch long cut to her head that has required stitches. A crime for wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm has been recorded and enquiries are also ongoing.”
Councillors were told the fight was captured on CCTV, with the footage highlighting the ‘grave danger that customers nearby were placed in’.
GMP, the meeting heard, have had ‘serious concerns about safety at Manahatta for a number of months’. That follows four ‘serious incidents’ between May and August 2025. In three of them, glasses were said to have been used as weapons.
The council imposed additional licence conditions on Manahatta in September, with one condition requiring the use of plastic glasses at ‘peak times’. Others suggested a limit to the capacity of the raised area involved in the latest incident, additional doorstaff and increased CCTV coverage.
The decision of the council, however, was subsequently appealed by Manahatta and a court hearing was said to be pending.
The Manchester Evening News has contacted Manahatta for comment.