House of Commons pub shuts after man is ‘glassed’

A notorious bar on the House of Commons estate received another black eye this week when a fight between two parliamentary staff on Tuesday night ended with one man being arrested for grievous bodily harm and the other man being taken away by ambulance after being “glassed”.

The Sports, as it’s called, is known for its hard-drinking and cheap alcohol. Staff can buy a pint for less than £3.50, The Sun says. Ex-MP Eric Joyce was arrested on suspicion of assault after a 2013 brawl there during a particularly violent karaoke night, reports the Daily Mail.

The pub, which boasts a pool table, darts board and TV, has been temporarily closed while the incident, which took place at 6.30pm on 5 December and involved two men aged 57 and 64, is investigated. The brawl apparently broke out in the alleyway outside the bar, which is often used as a smoking area, the Daily Mirror says.

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MPs plan to clamp down on the violence at the pub by bringing in an outside company to run it. They also intend to restrict guests and limit the pub’s operating hours.

The changes were announced after 25-year-old former bar manager Alice Bailey told The Sun she was pestered by up to 30 MPs for sex and groped by one of them during her four years working there. Some MPs “spent all day boozing” and “fancied their chances”, she said, because they thought they were “very important people”.