Boy threatened with machete when 16-year-old cocktail party turns violent

A cocktail bar and restaurant will be allowed to reopen after a teenager was threatened with a machete during a 16-year-old party. Five teenagers were arrested last month following a “violent” incident involving a machete at Oryan Cocktail Bar in Three Shire Oak Road, Bearwood.

The cocktail bar was forced to close following an “urgent” hearing earlier this month, with West Midlands Police calling for a review of its concerns that the venue was associated with “serious” crime and disorder. Sandwell Council’s licensing sub-committee has agreed to remove restrictions preventing the cocktail bar from opening – with a new ban on under-18s events.

Oryan owner Ryan Ottley told the hearing on Tuesday (July 30) that he thought the birthday party was a “bad idea from the start”. Mr Ottley said he had “learned his lesson” and “just wanted to move on. “It’s my job, I take it very seriously,” he told the hearing at Sandwell Council House in Oldbury. “I won’t do anything to put my business in jeopardy.

Read more: Plans revealed to replace West Bromwich estate’s ‘dilapidated’ and at-risk community center

Read more: Crumbling pub will finally be demolished ‘before it collapses on itself’ but neighbors not happy

Read more: Gurdwara’s plan for bigger kitchen to provide more free meals during cost of living crisis

“All this now that I am is not worth it. I don’t want any evil coming into my bar.” Robert Edge, representing Mr Ottley, said: “The police never sought the revocation but obviously an incident of this magnitude gave them serious concerns, rightly so.

“This is a very robust operating program and I think that was a trauma that he wouldn’t want to go through again and it was a real learning curve in a lot of ways.” At the hearing, Nicola Stansbie from West Midlands Police said the force had “serious concerns” after the shocking incident at the 16-year-old party, which saw a large police presence – including armed officers and dogs.

Chris Jones, also from West Midlands Police, told the hearing there was a “lack of management” in terms of responsibilities and “poor” searches by door staff, with only male attendees searched. CCTV footage showing the disturbance was shown to councilors in private.

Read more: New twist on block of flats road, where fire engines and garbage trucks are stuck and parking at ‘full capacity’

Read more: Planning row over one of Britain’s most dangerous buildings ‘temporarily’ resolved

Read more: West Bromwich community center plans refused again for same reason

West Midlands Police said five teenagers – two girls and three boys, all aged 16 and 17 – were arrested for violent disorder. Two of the boys were also detained on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon. All five have now been released on bail while inquiries continue, the force said. Officers responded to reports of a “teenager robbed at gunpoint” just after 11.50pm on June 28. Police said no one was found with serious injuries, but a machete was recovered following a search of the area that led to the arrests.

Earlier this month, West Midlands Police said it had “serious concerns about the furtherance of the venue’s licensing objectives” and Oryan’s license needed to be reviewed by the council as “a matter of urgency”.

A “quick” review following last month’s violent incident led to the cocktail bar’s opening hours being reduced to 9pm. Owner Ryan Ottley was also told the venue could only operate as a restaurant as an “interim” measure by the council’s licensing sub-committee. Those restrictions were lifted following the committee’s decision on Tuesday (July 30).