Jimmy Hoyle: Backstage Bar owner bashed in his own venue
A Tasmanian publican’s “face has only just started to feel normal again” after several men savagely bashed him in his own venue at 3.20pm in the afternoon. See the shocking pictures and footage.
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A Tasmanian publican said his “face has only just started to feel normal again” after several men stormed his venue, knocking him to the ground and administering a series of savage blows.
Launceston man Jimmy Hoyle, owner of Brisbane St haunt Backstage Bar, has shared sickening footage of the violent incident and photos of the blood-soaked aftermath, including the gore-covered phone he used to call police.
Mr Hoyle told the Mercury the incident commenced about 3.05pm on Saturday, October 15.
CCTV footage shows three men scaling a wall in Sims Alleyway, beside Backstage. Mr Hoyle said he knew the intruders.
When Mr Hoyle and another staff member entered the alleyway to move a fridge, the footage captures him acknowledging his former patrons, giving them a hug and welcoming two of them into Backstage to show them recent changes to the venue.
Once inside, he said one of the pair snatched they keys off his lanyard and acted in a “jeering” manner, like there was an inside joke at his expense.
Mr Hoyle and another employee demanded the keys back, but when one of the pair pushed his employee, there commenced a wild melee involving punches and body slams into the floor, he said.
CCTV footage depicts Mr Hoyle’s employee fleeing the bar, before the two men also leave. Mr Hoyle said his employee suffered a broken toe, lacerations and bruising, which required treatment at the Launceston General Hospital.
He and his remaining two staff attempted to clean up, but the incident took a dark turn 15 minutes later when the initial trio returned with reinforcements.
Sickening footage obtained by the Mercury shows the group of men knocking Mr Hoyle to the ground and repeatedly punching the stricken man.
He fled to his office, locking himself inside to call police. His handset telephone remains caked in his own blood.
Mr Hoyle said he is set to make an official complaint to police in the coming days, having obtained legal representation.
Mr Hoyle, a colourful character around Launceston, said that during the incident, the men repeatedly brought up “salacious rumours” about his sexuality.
He said the incident has placed terrible strain on his business and mental health.
He said he was unable to open on Saturday or Sunday – $15,000 worth of trade down the drain – and had had a number of staff members resign and cancel shifts due to them feeling unsafe in the workplace.
“You can’t blame them,” he said.
“There’s ongoing reputational damage – it just adds to the salacious rumours about my sexuality”
Mr Hoyle feels like a man under siege. In addition to the assault, he said Covid difficulties and a rebrand of his venue at the end of 2021 – Backstage was formerly known as Phoenix – has left him $150,000 in the red.
That financial shortfall has been bridged by his terminally ill mother – “she believes in this business,” he said – who Mr Hoyle cares for, alongside his sister Jessica. Mr Hoyle said his father is also terminally ill.
Tasmania Police confirmed they attended Backstage Bar about 4.20pm on the day in question, in response to reports of a physical altercation. They say they are yet to receive a complaint.
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