by Gerry Warren

A popular night club in Whitstable has been closed down after a customer allegedly had his ear bitten off during a brawl.

Police already had concerns about disorder and drug use at the Brewery Bar on the East Quay but brought the application to an emergency meeting of the council's licensing committee following the latest incident.

After hearing the concerns, councillors suspended the bar's alcohol, music and dancing licence until November 9 when a full review hearing will be brought by the police. But the venue can still operate as a restaurant with customers bringing their own alcohol.

Insp Gordon Etheridge (pictured right) said: "Following the incident at the weekend, police applied to the licensing authority for this expedited review because of a mounting number of concerns about disorder at the premises.

"The suspension of the licence is an emergency measure which will allow us over the next three weeks to collate all the information and build a picture of the issues for the licensing committee.

"It will hopefully also be during that time that the owners will accept and agree with us to work to help rectify some of the problems."

One man has been arrested in connection with the assault and released on police bail pending further enquiries.