A NIGHTCLUB which closed following a knife brawl outside its entrance has been granted a new licence – after installing a knife arch at the premises.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Licensing Act 2003 sub-committee convened to discuss an application for a summary review-of-premises licence for Nocturnal and Switch.

It follows violent disorder outside the building on St Peter Street, Blackburn, in August, which was related to the upstairs Nocturnal nightclub rather than the ground-level Switch.

Nocturnal will remain closed but Switch, which had temporarily reopened, will be allowed to remain open on a permanent basis.

Licensing sergeant Gary Hennighan said a knife arch had been installed and the club would operate with reduced opening hours as well as stricter ID measures.

He added: “There have been no more incidents and they have been granted a licence to carry on operating.”

The affray involving 12 people which led to the review happened outside the building which houses the separate Nocturnal and Switch nightclubs in St Peter Street, at around 4.15am on Sunday, August 19.

A man has appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged in connection with what police described as a knife fight outside the building at around 4.15am on Sunday, August 19.

Stephen Hunter, 30, of Thornton Close, Blackburn, pleaded not guilty to violent disorder on August 19 and threatening a person with an offensive weapon, a knife.

He was sent in custody to stand trial at Preston Crown Court.

A 15-year-old boy, three 16-year-old boys and two men, aged 18 and 20, all from Blackburn, were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

Switch was unavailable for comment.