AN INDIAN restaurant that has hosted Russell Crowe, Bill Bryson and the England cricket team faces losing its alcohol licence after a university rugby team’s “hot curry” competition ended with vomit and urine flooding a cathedral city’s medieval streets.

Durham Police want Shaheen’s Indian Bistro stripped of its booze licence after its staff reportedly:

• Agreed to provide Durham University’s Castle College rugby team with “extra hot curry” but said they would have to eat it outside as it would make them sick;

• Spoon fed drunken students in the street with food so spicy it caused them “some distress”;

• Looked on and laughed as the students vomited, urinated and smashed glasses in the street and shouted abuse at and threatened terrified passers-by;

• Encouraged the students to play drinking games in the street; and

• When the police arrived, told the students to get inside the restaurant as “they can’t touch you if you’re inside”.

Sergeant Mick Urwin said his officers witnessed “piles of vomit” and students drinking cartons of milk to make themselves sick, while Sgt Kay Howarth, who was at the scene, told Tabbasum Khan, who at the time ran the curry house, what was happening was disgusting and Mrs Khan should be ashamed of herself.

The officers had to clean up the stomach-churning scene, with help from staff from neighbouring Lebanese restaurant Lebaneat but none, they say, from those at Shaheen’s.

The incident, which involved up to 35 students and happened at about 10.30pm on Wednesday, October 28, has prompted Durham Police to ask Durham County Council to seriously consider revoking Shaheen’s alcohol licence, which a licensing committee will do next week (Tuesday, March 15).

Shaheen’s, which at 48 North Bailey stands just yards from Durham Cathedral, can currently serve booze until 11pm six days a week and 10.30pm on Sundays.

Travel writer Bill Bryson took Hollywood star Russell Crowe there for dinner while he was Durham University's Chancellor and the England cricket team visited while playing at Chester-le-Street.

In a statement to the council, Mrs Khan, who since the incident has handed running of the venue to Babo Khan, condemns the students, saying they wanted to “cause as much havoc as possible”, but defends her staff, saying she is astonished at the police’s actions.

In his statement, Mr Khan said he questioned the “whole allegation” and accused the police of using Shaheen’s as a scapegoat.

The curry house has received some high-profile backing, including from Durham University Professor Emeritus and British Academy Fellow Robert Layton and former Durham City Council leader Sue Pitts.

The licensing hearing is scheduled for Tuesday (March 15) at 10am at Spennymoor council offices.