An armed bandit pistol-whipped a punter during violent hold-up at Boatrowers Hotel, Stockton

The pubgoer suffered a suspected broken jaw after the gun-toting bandit stormed the popular Stockton pub.

The State’s robbery squad is on the hunt for a violent gunman who pistol-whipped a punter, causing a suspected broken jaw, when he held-up the Boatrowers Hotel at Stockton.

The popular watering hole on the banks of the upper arm of the Hunter River was targeted on Tuesday night, when the suspect armed with a pistol stormed the Fullerton St premises about 9.45pm.

The gunman threatened an employee and some patrons with the gun while he was demanding cash.

He then attacked one of the patrons, a 35-year-old man, striking him across the face with the firearm and kicking him in the head.

The Boatrowers Hotel at Stockton. Picture: Google maps

The victim needed hospital treatment for his injuries.

The gunman fled with a few thousand dollars in cash.

Newcastle City detectives were called and a crime scene was set up to investigate what is the first Hunter pub robbery for some time.

Once quite prevalent across the region, pub robberies have become a thing of the past due to increased security and surveillance and several significant strike forces which put a dent in the area’s armed robbery ranks.

But the vicious nature of Tuesday’s robbery has prompted a significant response from police, with local detectives joined by the specialist investigators from the robbery and serious crime squad.

Several phone calls to the Boatrowers Hotel on Wednesday went unanswered.

Any information regarding the robbery or the suspect should be forwarded to detectives at Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.