Man in hospital after mass brawl at city centre bar involving baseball bat and furniture

Police are investigating after a mass brawl broke out at a popular city centre bar yesterday.

Around ten people were involved in the fight at the outside seating area of Barca in Castlefield.

A dispute between two tables escalated into violence, with one man said to have armed himself with a baseball bat, and others using bar furniture as weapons.

Police and the ambulance service responded quickly to the fight at around 5.45pm.

One man was taken to hospital but his injuries are not thought to be serious as he has since discharged himself.

The bar remained shut on Sunday evening behind a police cordon but has since reopened.

No arrests have been made, police said.

The bar was closed on Sunday after the incident (STEVE ALLEN)

Nicole Barker, operations manager, told the M.E.N: "It was an isolated incident and our security team responded to this right away.

"We contacted the police and are assisting them with their enquiries."

It is understood Barca is not currently under formal investigation by the council and an expedited licensing hearing has not been requested by police at this stage.

Staff acted quickly and followed procedure and much of the violence happened off the premises on the street, it is understood.

A spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “We have been notified by Greater Manchester Police about an incident which took place in Barca’s beer garden, on Sunday afternoon (April 25).

“Based on preliminary investigations we are satisfied that door staff did everything they could to diffuse the situation and remove the individuals from the premises.”

Barca is one of many bars in the city centre to have reopened since restrictions were eased earlier this month.

Under the latest coronavirus restrictions, venues must operate with a outside table service only.

Joan Davies, Labour councillor for the Deansgate ward, said: "It's great to see everybody outside enjoying themselves.

"But it has to be in a safe environment - for the people in outside areas, the staff, the customers and the pedestrians walking through.

Many bars have reopened in the city centre with outside seating (Adam Vaughan)

"The outside area at Barca is a big pedestrian route, residents walk through there to get to the white bridge and it needs to be a safe walkway.

"Councillors will be asking ofr a report into what's happened."

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "Officers were called to Catalan Square, Manchester city centre, at about 5.45pm on Sunday 25 April 2021 to reports of a disturbance involving around 10 people.

"It is believed two groups were involved in a fight using a baseball bat and bar furniture, and one man was taken by ambulance to hospital, where he discharged himself.

"A bar was closed after the incident for the rest of the day.

"There have been no arrests and enquiries are ongoing."