A Stevenage bar which the local council tried to shut down following reports of alleged spiking and assaults is "safe", its owners have insisted.

Hertfordshire Constabulary's legal team claimed Lounge 72 in High Street has been linked with a stabbing and a 100-person brawl.

Police asked Stevenage Borough Council to review the bar's premises licence, and after a hearing on Thursday, January 12, a panel voted to revoke it.

But Lounge 72's legal team is appealing the decision, which means the bar can temporarily remain open until a fresh decision is made in the magistrates' court system.

A bar spokesperson said: "We would like the general public to know that we are appealing the decision.

"Whilst the appeal is in progress we continue to trade as normal.

"Lounge 72 is a safe place to visit, and we promote the licensing objectives of public safety.

"Public safety is and always has been our number one priority to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all of our customers.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy on any anti-social behaviour plus implement tough searching and ID scanning measures, and slight adjustments implemented to our opening nights to improve the measures already in place."

At the January 12 hearing, councillors found Lounge 72 failed to prevent public nuisance, prevent crime and disorder, uphold public safety and protect children from harm – four of the "licensing objectives".

Police logs show six reports of suspected spiking, seven reports of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and three alleged rapes at the Old Town venue since July 2021 – when the bar opened.

Councillors heard that a stabbing took place within or outside the venue on October 22, 2022, and that on November 20 the same year, staff helped deal with an incident where male attendee punched a woman so hard she suffered a broken jaw.

A sergeant described "the most frightening thing she has ever experienced in 30 years of policing", when she found herself amid a 100-person brawl on April 16, 2022.

Oral sex was captured on camera at the venue, which is not licensed for sexual entertainment, and circulated widely on social media in October last year.

Lounge 72's legal team declined to take part in the Stevenage licensing hearing, but written evidence put forward by the licensee claimed staff had increased security measures after each incident, with extra CCTV, stab-proof vests and gloves, security wands and radios.

But Sergeant Chris Adshead said: "The police have lost confidence in the premises and its managers' ability to fulfil their licence and its conditions."

A Stevenage Borough Council spokesperson said: "The Licensing Committee met earlier this month.

"Following an investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary and hearing at the committee meeting, a decision was made that the premises licence in respect of the Lounge 72 premises should be revoked.

"The minutes of the meeting are on the website, and Lounge 72 has the right to appeal."