A RESTAURANT faces being stripped of its alcohol licence following an alleged serious assault outside the eatery.

Officers were called in after a man was allegedly hit in the face with a glass bottle near the Shapla Restaurant in Alresford.

A police report reveals how the victim told police that he had managed to get a drink at Shapla by using a password that he was told about by other revellers.

Police are now calling for the restaurant’s licence to be revoked because they consider that the restaurant has broken licensing rules by selling drinks that were drunk off the premises and not with meals.

A report ahead of a Winchester City Council meeting today details the alleged assault outside the restaurant in January.

It said the injured man had been socialising in Alresford and says he was told if he wanted to continue drinking after the pubs had shut then he should go to the Shapla Restaurant.

After initially being refused a drink he was then told by a The report said: “It was further explained that if he said the right things at the bar (gave a password) he should be able to get alcohol even though he wasn’t going to have a meal.”

He tried the technique but was not served.

However, a group on the pavement drinking, told him to go to the bar, to say a password and he would be served.

This time he got a pint and was outside when the alleged assault took place.

Under the terms of the restaurant’s licence, alcohol can only be drunk at the premises, in West Street, by people who are having a meal.

According to the report, a police officer who attended found part of the bottle recovered was the neck and top with the cap still in place.

“This would suggest that the bottle was supplied solely for consumption off and away from the premises,” the report said.

Police now consider that the premises “failed to promote the licensing objectives and, have breached conditions on its premises licence and broken the law.

“They have supplied alcohol for consumption ‘off the premises’. They have supplied alcohol to intoxicated persons.

“They have supplied alcohol to persons not taking a table meal and they have not assisted with a live police investigation.”

However, restaurant regulars have written to the authority pleading with them to renew the licence.

One said alcohol had been sold there without incident to his knowledge.

“I feel that it would be totally unfair and disproportionate for one recent incident outside the Shapla to have any adverse or negative effect on the popular local business,” he added.

The restaurant had not responded to the Daily Echo’s request for comment at the time of publication. The hearing was due to take place at 10am today at the Guildhall in Winchester.