A PUB which had its drinks licence suspended after a fight broke out during its World Cup coverage, will not be screening the rest of the tournament.

The Blue Anchor, in Bridgen Road, Bexley, appealed against the 28-day suspension at a Bexley Council licensing sub-committee hearing, but owners the Orchid Group, said they would not dispute any of the evidence against the pub.

Solicitor Lisa Sharkey told last week’s hearing as a result of the fight, in which a door supervisor was smashed over the head with a bottle, both the pub’s designated premises supervisor (DPS) and area manager had been suspended.

She agreed: “There were serious management failures.”

Ms Starkey said the pub management had not ordered enough plastic glasses, nor arranged enough door supervisors when it screened the first England game, using 3D televisions and a marquee in the pub garden, and had allowed too many people in.

She admitted over the past three months the pub had attracted younger customers and there had been an increase in incidents.

As a result, the company had been trying to set up a meeting with Bexley police.

Ms Starkey said the Orchid Group had decided remove the marquee and not to screen any more World Cup games.

It would also be employing a new DPS approved by the police, and had installed a new CCTV system in the pub.

She said the company would also limit numbers in the pub and employ more door supervisors at weekends.

As a result, the sub-committee agree to reduce the suspension to 14 days, and the pub will not reopen until a new DPS has been appointed.