Managers of five Hamilton bars that have banded together to keep out trouble-makers are tightlipped on their reasons for the move.

In a newspaper advertisement yesterday, Captain's Lounge, Hubie's Bar, Place's Place, Spinning Wheel and Swinging Doors management declared a concerted move to ban "anyone whose behaviour... is deemed to be disruptive'' from all five establishments.

The United Bar Owners Association advertisement read: "Our businesses provide entertainment and social interaction within the law and by implementing this policy we intend to ensure our customers enjoy our facilities free from disruptive and unsocial conduct.'' But Spinning Wheel manager Mr. Gladwin Ming refused to say what had prompted the move.

"We've been talking about it for some time,'' he said. "I have no comment to make except what was in the notice.'' He denied the United Bar Owners Association members had adopted the strong anti-violence stance because of problems renewing liquor licences.

Mr. Ming also refused to say whether managers would apply the ban by circulating lists of barred clients.

At the weekend a fatal stabbing took place on Court Street. And four months ago a shooting incident inside the Spinning Wheel left two teenagers with gunshot wounds -- one critically injured.

Place's Place manager Mr. Ivan Place admitted it was not the first time the group and others had attempted to band together to fight disruptive behaviour.

"We were together one time before (two years ago) and just decided to get back together again,'' he said.

But the original group, which included bars and other businesses, dissolved because of internal squabbles.

Yesterday Mr. Place declared he was prepared to back anything that would improve the quality of his establishment and comfort of his customers.

"We have brought some other people in with us,'' he said. "We're aiming for a lot of things but we've only been together for the past six weeks.'' Mr. Hubert Brown of Hubie's Bar and Mr. Melvin Dillas, manager of the Captain's Lounge on Reid Street, could not be reached for comment.