Man left fighting for life after Great Barr assault

It happened outside Special Spices pub and restaurant, formerly known as the Asbury Tavern, at the corner of Bowstoke Road and Newton Road, Great Barr.

A 25-year-old man from Great Barr was assaulted, according to police, and fell to the ground suffering a serious head injury in the attack at around 9pm on Sunday.

He was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition today.

A 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault after being stopped in a vehicle in Birmingham by officers at around 3.45pm yesterday.

The man remained in police custody today where he was being questioned by police.

Detective Inspector Ian Iliffe, from West Midlands Police Force CID, said it was believed the fight may have started inside the restaurant.

"The assault took place outside the restaurant around 9pm, but we believe the altercation may have started inside," he said.

A police cordon was in place around Bowstoke Road and a police car parked outside the pub until late afternoon yesterday.

The pub reopened to customers last night.

One resident living nearby, who did not wish to be named, said: "There has always been trouble along here associated with the pub.

"We heard a lot of commotion on the night but it was only in the morning when I come out to go shopping that I saw all the police tape outside."

He added: "I just hope the injured man is okay."

The pub was formerly known as the Asbury Tavern. It was recently taken over and refurbished to be transformed into a pub with a restaurant serving Indian food and screens for live sport.

Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The assault happened during a weekend of violence across the region.

In a separate incident four people were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a 46-year-old man suffered serious head and leg injuries in an attack in a Wolverhampton street.

The victim is in a critical but stable condition in hospital.