A NIGHTCLUB has been ordered to employ more bouncers and only serve drinks in plastic containers after a man was stabbed with a broken bottle on a night out.

Minutes after the incident, a mass brawl broke out outside After Dark in Nelson Square in a fight described by one police officer as “one of the most violent” he had seen in 19 years of policing in Bolton.

The owners of the nightclub were hauled before councillors for a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday after police asked for the licence premises to be reviewed. The committee heard how the staff had “lost control” of the premises on Saturday, October 25, when the incidents occurred.

Showing the CCTV of the fight, PC Andy Vernon said: “It is one of the most violent fights I have seen.

“Door staff from four other venues had to intervene in the fight. There’s feet going in, people kicking, there’s punching being done.

“The people who were involved in this fight were customers of After Dark.”

In total police have been called to the venue 20 times this year for a range of incidents, including a spate of thefts in March and underage drinkers being caught inside.

PC Vernon explained that on October 25, police were called to the Food Factory in Bradshawgate when a 22-year-old man realised he had been stabbed in the leg.

He had had an altercation with another man in After Dark, who then approached him again on Bradshawgate after he left the club.

Police came to his aid – meaning when the fight broke out in Nelson Square minutes later, officers had to be called from further away to attend.

Manager of After Dark, Betrum Igbokwe, told the committee door staff were inside ejecting people from the club when the brawl broke out outside.

“The reason there were so many people outside was because we were in the process of closing – it wasn’t because there was a large scale brawl”, he said.

“We are clear that we will make sure this never happens again.”

As part of their new licensing agreement, After Dark can stay open until 4am, but there must be no admissions after 2.45am.

There must be four door staff from midnight on Fridays and six from 12pm on Saturdays, who will all be briefed on revellers banned from the town centre. The door must be staffed at all time.

All drinks must be served in plastic vessels, the dress code of no hoodies must be rigorously enforced at weekends, and staff must be trained to use CCTV.

The Challenge 25 drinking policy should also be strictly implemented, and all staff will be trained and re-trained every six months.