A CONTROVERSIAL nightspot has closed after being forced to cut its opening hours following complaints about drunken violence.

Legends Cue and Sports Club in Market Place, Ringwood, has been linked to a number of serious incidents, including a double stabbing elsewhere in the town in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

The club lost its status as Ringwood’s only late-night venue at a meeting of the district council’s licensing sub-committee two months ago.

Following four hours of talks with police, the club agreed to close at midnight instead of 1.30am.

Owner Nicky Binden tried to carry on the club, but has now closed the business and put it up for sale.

Legends described itself as Ringwood's premier sports bar and night spot and its sudden demise has angered many of the 700 members.

Regular Peter Sutton, of Ringwood, hit out at the licensing meeting that led to the reduction in the club's opening hours.

“I’m 44, not an annoying youngster, and I’m appalled at the narrow-mindedness and, to be quite frank awful behaviour of so-called upright citizens,” he said.

Fellow clubber Philip Clark added: “It’s not Legends’ fault that people kick off and can’t control themselves when leaving the club.

“It’s sad that a decent club has had to close down because some Rambos just can’t control themselves.”

Earlier this year Ringwood councillor Barbara Woodifield said problems peaked at about 1.30am, when large groups of people gathering in the street resulted in a number of outbreaks of swearing and fighting.

The licensing sub-committee met on April 7 and was presented with a 133-page report listing police criticisms of the club.

Sergeant Tim Adams said: “Police were called to an incident where two people had been stabbed.

“One of them received life threatening injuries. The alleged offender had been drinking in Legends prior to the incident.”

But Ms Binden hit back at her critics in a separate report to the committee.

She said: “I do not agree with the allegations made against the club, which appears to be getting the blame as it’s the last place open.”

Ms Binden said the double stabbing occurred a mile away and took place an hour after the person allegedly involved had left Legends.