A RESTAURANT has been allowed to continue to sell alcohol with tighter restrictions after a review prompted by an alleged assault outside the premises.

The Shapla Restaurant in Alresford had faced being stripped of its licence after a police investigation when a man was allegedly hit in the face with a glass bottle close by raised concerns.

A police report revealed how the victim told police that he had managed to get a drink there by using a special password that he was told about by other revellers.

Officers considered that the venue had breached the terms of its licence by selling drinks to be drunk off the premises and not with meals.

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.

PC Brian Swallow, Winchester Licensing Officer, told today's hearing police found plastic cups at the restaurant behind the bar which they were told were for customers who were eating but wanted to go outside to smoke.

He said the injured man has a permanent facial scar following the alleged assault in January.

Mark Ruffell, barrister on behalf of the owners, said restaurant bosses accepted the breach and had sacked two members of staff as a result of this.

He said it was accepted that this was unlikely to have been the only time this had happened, but it was not possible to say for how long it had continued.

Any new staff are required to understand the licensing conditions.

In consultation with police he said the restaurant had agreed to not allow customers in after 11pm, not serve alcohol after 11pm and shut the premises at 11.30pm.

Mr Ruffell said this should avoid the issue of people moving on to the restaurant after other venues had closed.

The restaurant also agreed to further conditions that alcohol not be supplied to people having takeaways, or snacks and that CCTV footage be available for 14 days.

Mr Ruffell asked the Winchester City Council licensing panel to take into account that this was the first problem with the venue in 23 years trading.

The committee approved the licence to continue under the terms agreed with the police.

After the hearing, restaurant manager and co-owner Ahmed Moon thanked the police and said he was pleased with the decision and would ensure the measures, some of which were already in place, were enforced.