A BAR'S licence has been suspended after a man had his skull and eye sockets fractured and nose broken in an 'appalling' Halloween weekend assault.

Merseyside Police are now appealing for witnesses following the 'serious incident' at Sherlocks Wine Bar in Birkenhead in the early hours of the morning, with Wirral Council having suspended the bar’s licence at a meeting earlier this month.

According to the force, they received a call at 3.20am on October 28 about an assault at the bar on Conway Street.

A man in his 20s reportedly sustained serious but non life-threatening injuries including a fractured skull, fractured eye sockets and a broken nose. He was treated at hospital before being released.

Enquiries remain ongoing into the circumstances, and detectives are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Merseyside Police detective inspector Mike Dalton said on Monday: “This was a serious incident of violence which has led to the victim receiving appalling injuries and the premises having its licence suspended until a full hearing later this month.

“We are keen to speak to anyone who saw the assault or has heard anything since, so we can identify those responsible and bring them to justice.

“Merseyside Police will continue to work closely with licensed premises across Wirral and Merseyside to ensure that those who enjoy our town centres are able to do so in a safe and enjoyable environment.”

Wirral council’s licensing department called for a review of the licence at Sherlocks Wine Bar after the incident, which it said involved “violence and disorder”.

The venue on its Twitter page claims to be the 'longest running bar in BirkenVegas.'

At the licensing act 2003 sub-committee at Wallasey Town Hall on November 2, Merseyside Police officials requested the bar’s licence be suspended after showing members CCTV evidence of the incident.

Minutes from the meeting also revealed the holder had no objections to police’s request, admitting that the venue had 'serious issues.'

The minutes, published this week after the press and public were exempt from the meeting, added: “The Sub-Committee also considered representations made by the Premises Licence Holder and his representative who, in light of the incident and his recognition that serious issues needed to be addressed, made no objection to the request of Merseyside Police that the Premises Licence be suspended.”

At the meeting, it was suspended with immediate effect pending a full review hearing. The bar is believed to have closed until the hearing.

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact @MerPolCC, call 101 with reference number 18400014987, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.