Police have accused a Spennymoor pub of misleading and obstructing officers after a man was left with life-threatening injuries in an attack over the weekend.
The owners of The Quinn's Inn on the High Street face a licensing review after the incident in the early hours of Saturday (November 22).
A 34-year-old man was left needing emergency brain surgery after an attack at the pub around 12.30am. Last night he remained in hospital.
Two men, aged 21 and 23, were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. They have since been released on police bail.
The future of the pub will be decided by Durham County Council's licensing Sub-Committee in a meeting at County Hall today (November 26).
The pub could be banned from selling alcohol or have its licence suspended altogether. The meeting is an interim hearing, and a full review will take place before Christmas.
Durham Police have brought the application for a licence review and are calling for a temporary suspension. The force claims pub owners "interfered" with the crime scene after the incident.
In a statement Superintendent Emma Kay says: "There is no evidence to say anyone from the pub has contacted the police/ambulance or being forthcoming with information.
"All the venue has done is interfere with the crime scene and obstruct officers, by giving misleading information.
"The venue has maintained the stance that it hasn't happened at the venue and took to social media to state it was nothing to do with the venue.
"There was blood where victim was lying which has been mopped by a member of staff who is seen to pick up what looks like a blood-stained paper towel from the floor. The mop and paper towel were disposed of in a public bin.
"The injured male sustained had life threatening injuries and remains in hospital.
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A police cordon was erected outside the pub for 19 hours following the incident with crime scene investigators were spotted searching the area.
It reopened the same day at around 7.45pm, and the pub previously said on Facebook the incident took place outside and remained "outside of their control".
Officers said they believe the incident was isolated and they are not looking for anyone else.
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