THE manager of a Basingstoke pub where a substance attack occurred, leaving a woman with blisters, has been left in shock. 

The attack occurred some time between 9.30pm and 10pm on Saturday, February 10, when the 52-year-old woman was at the Golden Lion pub in Jay’s Close.

As she walked through the pub she had a substance thrown in her hair and on her back. It caused a burning sensation to her skin and for her hair to matt. 

Following the incident police said the victim was left extremely distressed by what happened and has reddening to her skin, blisters, and had to have most of her hair cut off.

The substance is not thought to be acid.

READ MORE: Substance thrown over woman in Golden Lion pub, Basingstoke

The manager of the pub Tracey Bowden, who was there at the time of the incident, has since spoken to a Gazette reporter about the horrifying ordeal.

She said that herself and two other members of staff where in the pub at the time and have all been left feeling shocked.

"The pub was really busy, we had a band playing, so no one really witnessed what happened but she [the victim] was very shook up", she said.

Tracey said the incident happened near the bar and the victim felt something wet touch her neck before realising the extent of the damage.

The pub manager told the Gazette that she followed the victim into the toilets just seconds after the attack. Tracey, who has been in charge for three years, gave her a damp cloth to put onto the back of her neck while waiting for emergency services to arrive.

Although Tracey, didn't see what happened she said the substance looked like a white powder and that the incident seemed spontaneous. 

She described the pub as a family pub and said she has never had to call the police to an incident at the premises before.

"I think we were just in shock because you don't expect to see something like this happen on your doorstep," she added.

She said she is surprised it happened because the pub is not far from the Northern Hampshire Police Investigation Centre, also in Jay's Close.

"People have been really supportive and we have received lots of messages asking if we are okay." she added.

A Hampshire police spokesperson previously said: "There was a band playing in the pub at the time of the incident and it was very crowded.

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"Were you there? The woman was wearing a leopard print top. Did you see her, or did you witness the incident? Did you take any photos or video footage while you were there? You may have caught the incident on your camera.

"The woman has been left extremely distressed by what happened to her. She has suffered reddening to her skin, blisters, and had to have most of her hair cut off due to the matting."

Two men aged 48 and 53, both from Basingstoke, have been arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and have been released on bail until Friday, May 10.

Police are still unable to confirm what the substance is and have since told the Gazette that investigations remain on ongoing.

You can provide information by calling 101 and quoting 44240061292, or by visiting the hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report.