MP acts on club's drinks promotion after night of violence

Richard Benyon challenges Liquid nightclub boss to respond to critics

NEWBURY MP Richard Benyon has written to a nightclub's management following concerns that a cheap drinks promotion helped trigger a night of violence.

Mr Benyon took action after Newburytoday.co.uk revealed that, on the night youths fought pitched battles with police after being ejected from Liquid, the club had been running an “80p for any drink, all night” promotion.

The incident happened in the early hours last Saturday, July 30, after a violent assault inside the premises.

Club management did not respond to requests for a comment from our sister publication the Newbury Weekly News.

Now Mr Benyon has written to the chief executive of the parent company, Luminar Leisure.

He wrote: “Concerns have been raised with me by a number of constituents about drink pricing following alcohol related disturbances in Newbury town centre....that night there was a drink promotion offering any drink for 80p all night. While I firmly believe that individuals have to take responsibility for their own actions, I just cannot see that this is in any way responsible behaviour by the company of which you are chief executive. I would therefore be very grateful for clarification about your drink pricing policy in Liquid nightclubs.

“I look forward to your reply.”

Meanwhile taxi drivers have expressed concerns about increasing violence.

For more on this story - and on the chief executive's response - see the next edition of the Newbury Weekly News.