A manager has spoken out to defend his venue after the latest in a string of violent incidents.

Two 23-year-old men were left with head injuries after they were attacked in LuXe, Loughton High Road at about 1.15am on Sunday (January 24) after celebrating a birthday.

LuXe has been repeatedly criticised for being linked to a number of assaults, and by neighbours who claim it creates noise and disturbance in residential roads.

However, a manager - calling himself ‘Gavin’ and refusing to give a second name – has said LuXe is no different to other venues and is not a violent place.

He said: “People seem to have this misconception, it is not true that we do not care about people’s safety.

“We have never wanted this label – we are family people trying to operate this business.”

In October last year LuXe lost a battle to stay open as a night club and was told to remove DJ equipment, ban dancing in parts of the venue and stop charging for entry – or face a potential prosecution from Epping Forest District Council.

Months on, it still advertises paid events running until 2.30am with booked DJs and is yet to face any action from the council.

“We never have operated as a night club, we are a bar,” said the manager.

“We no longer use DJ decks.”

He also claimed a ‘no-dancing policy’ was in place, and said people had been “given people over to the council” for breaking the rule.

Stephanie Moody, 56, lives close to the venue and called on the council to close it down to stop violence and other issues.

She said: “We are disturbed here every weekend, and it is unacceptable if it continues.

“I cannot understand why it is on the corner of a residential area.

“I do not know what the council can do, I just wish they would do it because as residents we are really getting fed up with it.”

David Linnell of campaign group and political party the Loughton Residents’ Association (LRA) said the group is “very disappointed but not surprised” that the council has not taken action to close LuXe down.

A spokeswoman for the district council said: “The Planning Inspector upheld the planning enforcement notice, accepting that the building was being used as a nightclub and that this use should cease by the end of November 2015.

“We have carried out investigations and are seeking legal advice as to whether the current use and activities at the premises amount to a breach of the enforcement notice and whether to proceed with a prosecution.”