City centre rocked by violence from Deansgate bar
Eagle bar in gets suspended license after anti-social behaviour
Last updated 3rd Jun 2025
Some 200 people spilled out onto Deansgate in the early hours of May 4, the area was rocked by two large brawls on April 28 and May 4, both of which started inside Eagle Bar and resulted in patrons crowding on the thoroughfare, blocking traffic.
Eagle’s licence was suspended after the two incidents, and reviewed by Manchester council on Monday (June 2). The licencing hearing was told by PC Stuart Hammersley how Greater Manchester Police required ‘every’ officer on its night-time economy team to disperse the crowds.
Eagle’s neighbours also told the hearing the chaos was part of a what they described as a wider trend of antisocial behaviour stemming from the bar. This included incidents of public urination and loud music being played from cars parked outside the venue.
PC Hammersley went on to say: For all 30 police officers to attend is unusual. It’s not a weekly occurrence,” he added.
“All those officers not engaged means they are not across the city centre and other busy areas. It’s not something we can promote week in and week out.”
Deansgate ward councillors Joan Davies and Anthony McCaul reported similar worries, with the latter adding he believed Eagle had ignored a condition of its licence to ‘promote is responsible drinking’.
He produced a series of images taken from Eagle’s social media and website pages which appeared to show bottles of liquor being poured into women’s mouths.
He said: “One of the conditions was to not allow patrons to pour alcohol down each other’s necks. I am concerned this is driving some of the behaviours at the bar.
“I have never been in any place where pouring tequila in someone’s mouth was considered acceptable.”
Eagle’s licensee, Ugochukwu Inyama, said the images taken showed ‘bottle shows’, and no alcohol was poured into customers’ mouths by staff. Mr Inyama, a 25-year veteran of Manchester’s hospitality scene, said the fights were ‘regrettable’ and apologised.
“April 28 was very regrettable. GMP have looked at the whole thing and they have made recommendations which we fully agree with,” he told the committee.
“Those two nights we slipped up and we are sorry about it.”
Only four crimes were recorded at Eagle in the previous 12 months — including two phone thefts and two assaults, one of which was between two staff members, which PC Hammersley said was ‘below average’ for a bar in town.
Ultimately, councillors decided to allow Eagle to stay open, but restricted its operations.