Dancing Restaurant ‘l’AnneX’ in Saint-Pierre-de-Chandieu Faces One-Month Closure After Brawls
Saint-Pierre-de-Chandieu, January 12, 2026 – The Rhône Prefecture has ordered a one-month administrative closure for ‘l’AnneX’, a dancing restaurant situated in Saint-Pierre-de-Chandieu, southeast of Lyon. The decision comes after multiple altercations reported at the establishment, leading to concerns about public order.
Incidents Leading to Closure
The first significant incident occurred on the night of October 18-19, 2025. According to the Prefecture, a “general brawl” erupted, resulting in a “serious injury” to an individual who attempted to disarm a heavily intoxicated person wielding a knife. This incident necessitated the intervention of the gendarmerie.
A second altercation took place on the night of October 31 to November 1, 2025, involving two intoxicated customers on the restaurant’s parking lot, with one individual sustaining a bloody face.
Manager Disputes Prefecture’s Account
Michel, who has managed ‘l’AnneX’ with his wife Sandrine since 2023, offered a different perspective on the incidents. Regarding the October 18-19 brawl, he stated, “We immediately removed a man. While trying to restrain him, one of my employees was injured on the inside of his hand and needed a few stitches. But we were the ones who called the gendarmes, and it lasted less than 5 minutes. There were no blows exchanged, nothing; I don’t understand this exaggeration from the Prefecture.”
Concerning the Halloween night incident, Michel explained, “A customer wanted to hit his wife inside. We put him out, and he ended up arguing with another person we had refused entry to. They fought further away, near the Netto.” He denies that the fight occurred directly on ‘l’AnneX’s parking lot.
Lack of Communication and Impact on Business
The Prefecture cited “repeated” public order disturbances and claimed to have sent a registered letter to the establishment in November, which reportedly went unanswered. Michel, however, asserts, “We never received this letter. We never had a warning, and since 2023, everything has been going well. We don’t understand; we hired a lawyer and received a certificate from the mayor in our favor. This really jeopardizes our business… We’ve been in this industry since 1988 and have never had a single administrative closure.”
The administrative closure began on January 8, 2026, and will remain in effect for four weeks, preventing ‘l’AnneX’ from opening its doors during this period. This measure is intended to prevent further such events from occurring.
Broader Context of Administrative Closures in Lyon Area
This closure is not an isolated incident in the Lyon metropolitan area. Recently, other establishments have faced similar administrative actions. For instance, a bar in Lyon was urgently closed by the Prefecture due to causing significant disturbances in its neighborhood. Another restaurant, after being forcibly closed by the Prefecture, reopened but reported having only two customers, highlighting the severe impact of such closures on businesses.
The Prefecture’s actions underscore a firm stance on maintaining public order and safety in establishments open to the public. While business owners often dispute the severity of incidents or the lack of communication, the authorities emphasize the need to prevent any recurrence of violence or public disturbance.
The ‘l’AnneX’ case illustrates the ongoing tension between business operations and public safety regulations, with significant financial and reputational consequences for the establishments involved.
Source: https://actu.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/saint-pierre-de-chandieu_69289/pres-de-lyon-des-bagarres-sanglantes-eclatent-dans-ce-restaurant-dansant-la-prefete-sevit_63685030.html
