Chilli N Lime

restaurant-handsworth-two-stabbing

Rhi Storer - Local Democracy Reporter | Tuesday 25th October 2022 7:39am

A restaurant claiming to be the ‘finest Indian restaurant in Handsworth’ will continue to run as normal after a mass brawl at a birthday party involving knives and a sword.

Lime N Chilli, operating on Soho Road, was hauled into an expedited licensing review at Birmingham city council on Thursday (October 20) after two people were reportedly stabbed during the fight last week.

In addition, three people were recorded with various injuries, including a broken nose and jaw; deep cuts; injuries to the head, body, and arms. One individual suffered a cut to the head.

Chairs, bottles and pint glasses were reportedly thrown as violence flared in the bar. The trouble started as the ‘DJ wound down’ a private function in Lime N Chilli shortly past 11pm.

West Midlands Police told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the victims required hospital treatment, but added none of the injuries were life-threatening.

The force said a car linked to the incident was found shortly after in Wolverhampton.

A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, but has been released pending further enquiries.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: “Our investigation continues and we'd ask anyone with information who hasn't yet spoken to us to reach us via Live Chat on our website or call us on 101 quoting log 4366 of 14 October.”

Council chiefs heard it was suspected that there had been an invasion of the private party by gatecrashers, who had entered uninvited and had then created disorder.

Police told councillors the restaurant must undergo an ‘expedited premises licence review’ by the force due to serious crime and disorder at the restaurant. 

But after deliberating, the council decided that it would not impose any interim steps ahead of a full licence review.

The first phone call was received from Lime N Chilli itself. “The caller stated that people had knives and that members of staff had also been injured and bleeding,” said the force.

“A further three phone calls were made from members of the public stating that there was a large fight at the premises and people had weapons. One of the callers stated that there was a male present with a sword.”

“I have considered the use of the normal review procedure but I do not feel this would be appropriate in the circumstances due to the above reasons, and the fact that to maintain the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder the normal review procedure would not be sufficient.

“The severity of the incident is a matter that needs to be brought to the attention of the licensing committee immediately.

“I am conscious of the guidance of the use of expedited reviews and given the emphasis that is given to use of this power to tackle serious crime and disorder, my feelings that this process is deemed appropriate are further enforced.”

None of the injuries sustained in the fight are thought to be life-threatening, police said.

The council heard that there had never before been any type of incident in which West Midlands Police had been called out to Lime N Chilli. On the night in question, when the disorder broke out the owners intervened personally to protect their patrons and staff.

Neighbours in the area had also turned out to help as they were concerned about the safety of the management and staff.

A council spokesman said: “In deliberating, the sub-committee determined that there had been an allegation of serious crime and serious disorder, which was being investigated by police. However, it was not clear that there had been a failure in management, or that the operating style was unsafe.

“The police had not asked for suspension of the licence, or removal of the sale of alcohol by retail, or the removal of the designated premises supervisor.

“The sub-committee therefore felt that the correct course was to impose no interim steps, and instead to recommend that the premises cooperate with the police pending the full review hearing.”

More News Headlines