Karaoke bar where man died shut down for three months

Alcohol was sold as music played and customers danced at a karaoke bar following an alleged attack on a man whose death at the venue sparked a murder investigation, a town hall licensing meeting heard.

Shane Cullen suffered ‘catastrophic injuries’ in an alleged assault at Blues Cabaret and Karaoke Bar in Ashton-under-Lyne on Saturday, July 11, a Tameside council meeting was told. 

Police and paramedics battled to save the 31-year-old, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, councillors heard.

Greater Manchester Police previously said Carl Cooper, 36, of Smallshaw Lane, Ashton-under-Lyne, had been charged with murder; two counts of common assault; and assault. A preliminary trial date has been set for January 11, 2027.

Police applied for a review of the venue’s premises licence following the incident. Documents published online ahead of the town hall meeting, penned by PC Craig Foley, said the force had serious concerns, including around ‘significant failings in management, supervision, compliance and leadership… before, during and after’ the incident.

The meeting itself was held in private, but PC Foley’s statement detailed GMP’s concerns. He wrote: “Whilst the tragic loss of life is the catalyst for this review, the police case is not based solely on the fact that a violent incident occurred. Violence can unfortunately occur within any licensed premises.”

He went on to raise concerns about security, saying door supervisors were outside during the incident and ‘had no effective view of events occurring inside’. PC Foley said a bouncer ‘observed’ a separate alleged assault outside ‘without intervening or acting’.

That, he said, was considered a ‘serious failure’. “Police officers arrived within minutes and immediately commenced life-saving treatment alongside members of the public,” PC Foley wrote.

“Despite the severity of the situation, alcohol sales continued, music continued to be played and customers continued dancing and congregating around the area where officers were administering CPR.

“No member of management took control of the premises. The music was not stopped, the lights were not raised, alcohol sales were not ceased and customers were not evacuated. 

“Police officers were ultimately required to clear the premises themselves to create a safe working environment for paramedics.”

PC Foley raised concerns about the initial availability of CCTV footage, which he said was ‘of poor quality’ and ‘failed to meet the standards’ of licence conditions.

Officers, he added, were told better quality footage was ‘accessible only through the DPS’ [designated premises supervisor] partner, who was not present’.

“The fact that the DPS did not have immediate access to the primary CCTV system is unacceptable,” PC Foley wrote. “It delayed and hindered a live murder investigation.”

When that footage was obtained, the date and time settings were incorrect, PC Foley said, adding: “This demonstrates the system had not been properly maintained, checked or managed as required under the licence conditions.”

Concluding, he wrote: “Taken individually, each of these issues would be concerning. Taken collectively, they paint a picture of a premises where licensing conditions have not been effectively complied with, where management oversight has been lacking and where public safety has not been adequately prioritised.

“We have concluded that there are no [licensing] conditions that would provide sufficient confidence that this premises can operate safely and uphold the licensing objectives.

“The failings identified are not isolated technical breaches. They are fundamental failures of management, supervision and leadership that contributed to an environment in which serious violence occurred and where the emergency response was subsequently hampered.”

The venue’s licence was temporarily suspended in the wake of the incident. On Thursday (August 6), councillors decided to further suspend the licence for three months, allowing for a ‘full reset’ of the business.

Conditions were added to the licence, which must be followed when it resumes. They included a reduction in the hours alcohol is served, to 1am; an increase in the number of SIA-registered door staff on duty to three after 10pm; the removal of the designated premises supervisor; CCTV improvements; and mandatory searching of customers.