A venue has been forced to stop operating as a nightclub after a vicious brawl left a man fighting for his life.

The man was put into a drug induced coma after being hospitalised with bleeding on the brain following the fight outside Villa in Epping on Sunday March 1.

The club had a number of tight controls imposed on it at a licensing meeting of Epping Forest District Council yesterday, including a ban on dancing.

It has also been announced that Balvinder Singh, part owner of Wanstead restaurant Sumo Fresh, is the new owner and director of the venue in Cottis Lane.

The nightclub’s license had been temporarily suspended following the brawl outside the club in the early hours of March 1.

Broken bottles, metal railings and planks of wood were all used as weapons in the fracas, with two stabbed men being taken to North Middlesex hospital, one with injuries to his buttocks.

When asked, Essex Police were unable to confirm if any arrests have been made following the incident.

At yesterday’s meeting, several conditions were placed on the venue’s licence, including a ban on dancing and glassware. 

The new owner will also be required to hold monthly meetings with police and the council to assess progress during the initial six months of re-opening.

The venue has operated as a nightclub since 2010.