The W Hotel, Wardour Street, Chinatown, where police came under attack on Sunday July 10

A FIVE-STAR luxury hotel’s operating licence was hanging in the balance yesterday (Thursday) after a belts and bottles bar brawl left police officers and security guards with serious injuries.

Police came under attack and had to make “a tactical withdrawal” before returning to douse party goers with incapacitating PAVA spray at the W London Hotel in Wardour Street, Chinatown.

The night turned ugly after the music was shut off with violent scenes that saw five security guards hospitalised and police officers hit “by missiles”.

There was uproar at the promoter event that was attended by many “customers wearing ankle tags”, according to a police report included in evidence at a licensing committee.

“The number of injuries to a grievous bodily harm level requiring hospitalisation was significant and this is an active investigation with multiple suspects still outstanding,” said a report to the committee.

The seven-storey, 192-room W London hotel is aimed at the high-rolling customer boasting Chesterfield chaises longues, tea room and popular burger restaurant and night club.

But police reports submitted to the licensing hearing show how a promoted night descended into chaos and had to be shut down on July 10 around 10.30pm.

Two officers had found a man “punching others with a belt round his fist” and later came under attack with glass bottles before using PAVA spray and baton strikes “in an attempt to contain the violence, a police report said.

“Officers continued to have bottles and glass thrown at them and had to leave the venue to retreat to safety.”

The police report said witnesses had raised concerns about whether the night should go ahead after door staff reported that “customers might behave inappropriately due to the fact many were wearing ankle tags”.

Five door “supervisors” sustained injuries which included chipped teeth, lacerations to the head and “severe bleeding”.

Police had called for a suspension of the licence pending a full hearing to reduce the risk of “further serious violence or disorder”.

A report from an officer said one “topless white male” in his 20s to 30s was the main aggressor and was attacking different people.

The event was shut down and switching off the music caused more arguments.

During the melee, opportunist thieves stole two tills with around £960 and two iPhones.

The organisers had said a previous event by the same promoter had been trouble-free.

The Heart of London Business Alliance, in a letter to the council in support of the venue, had said: “The hotel is a fully engaged member of Heart of London (the Business Improvement District for London’s West End) and we have had an excellent working relationship with them, from the management through to the concierge and security staff.

“Having worked with the hotel since it opened, I can honestly say that they make a positive contribution to our area and that it is a professionally run business.

“They have been very supportive and proactive in a range of activities over the years, have hosted events and have attended many of the meetings we have held. We engage and meet with them regularly, at all levels of their team both locally and from head office.”

A spokesperson for W London added: “We are currently taking part in a licence review process with Westminster Council.

“The safety of our guests is at the heart of everything we do, and we will not allow our guests or staff to be threatened or assaulted on a night out.

“Our team continue to work closely with the police and licensing authority while we carry out a thorough review of our security and events policies.”