A SPORTS bar's opening night ended in acrimonious circumstances when a mass brawl left three men in hospital with head and facial injuries.
The fight began around 12.40am on Sunday morning in Bar Sport, High Street, Braintree, and spilled out into the road.
A 26-year-old is still in Broomfield Hospital after suffering serious injuries, but is now in a stable condition.
High Street was closed into Sunday evening while police forensic experts carried out investigations at the scene and was only reopened at 6.15pm.
Thomas Potts, national operations coach at Bar Sport, said: "We are assisting police with their inquiries and while there's an ongoing investigation we can't comment any further on the incident."
The bar, formerly The Silkworm, has undergone a six-week £300,000 facelift to include 15 different beers, two pool tables, table football, a dart board and 30 TVs showing sport from all over the world, including American football, boxing and football.
The bar is being run by franchisee Steve Winder with the support of his father Richard and 20 employees.
On opening the new bar Steve, 22, said: "When this opportunity arose to run a Bar Sport franchise I knew I had to take it.
"My father Richard has been running a franchise for the past 17 years and will be there to support me as well as the Bar Sport franchise team.
"I am a huge sports fan and the opportunity to combine my love of sport into a viable business is so exciting. It has been a lot of hard work but I can't wait.
"I am incredibly excited to be bringing something different to Braintree and I know there is a real buzz about the opening.
"As well as being a haven for sports fans, I also want it to be a venue for everyone so we will be hosting regular music and entertainment nights.
"We also want to be a part of the community and will be sponsoring local sports teams."
On Thursday night, fire-eaters and dancers from the Monster Mad Crew entertained punters during a VIP look at the new bar and grill then there was a ticket-only event on Friday, ahead of Saturday's opening.
Bar Sport was one of the first American style bars in the UK when it was set up in the West Midlands in 1998.
Braintree is the fourth in the franchise, with others planned in Southampton, Portsmouth, Derby and Nottingham, and will have a late license to stay open until 2am at the weekend.
Mr Potts added: "We chose Braintree because it's a town that's expanding and developing and we want to be a part of that.
"We will show pretty much any big sporting event that is happening and of course football at the weekend is a massive part of our sporting calendar."
An Essex Police spokesman said the investigation into what happened is still ongoing.
Anyone with information should call Braintree CID on 101 or ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
