A PUB brawl in which a man was partially blinded with a snooker cue on New Year’s Eve has been described by one police officer as “one of the largest pub fights I had ever seen”.

The disturbance at The Sandpiper pub in Mudeford has resulted in stricter controls on the hostelry’s licence following concerns from Dorset Police that “public safety” was being undermined.

Police were called to the violent disturbance at the pub in the early hours of January 1, where around 40 males and females, including the landlord at the time, were embroiled in a fight.

In a report to the licensing sub-committee at Christchurch council, police officers described “pool cues being waved in the air and fists and feet flying all over the place”.

The victim, who had been taken home in a “heavily intoxicated state” earlier that evening, was found in the pool table area of the pub with a fractured cheek bone and eye socket. He is now permanently blind in one eye.

Officers at the scene seized a pool cue that was broken into three pieces.

A statement from Dorset Police’s licensing officer, Caroline Wateridge, listed a number of “management failings”, which included the disconnection of the pub’s CCTV system, leaving officers with no footage of the incident, the obstructive nature of the landlord, and the demeanour of the staff, who continued to serve drinks throughout the fight.

She urged the council to consider the proposed conditions listed in the review pack as the “very minimum”.

Councillors implemented a number of extra conditions, opting not to take further action.

These include ensuring registered door staff are present during special sporting or entertainment events, making all staff aware of any banned people, senior staff attending Pubwatch meetings, and also installing a CCTV system.

Customers will also have to pay a £5 deposit to use the pool cues, which will now be kept behind the bar.

No arrests have been made in connection with the incident and police are still appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

The pub now has a new landlord.

A spokesperson for licence holder Greene King said: “We take the comfort and safety of our customers very seriously.

“Therefore following the incident on New Year's Eve at The Sandpiper, Greene King agreed to some additional licensing conditions at the review for the benefit of all of our customers.”