This is the astonishing moment when waiters punch and batter tourists outside a cafe in Venice’s iconic St Mark’s Square.

The video footage, recorded by an English woman, shows seven white-jacketed waiters turning on holidaymakers over their right to use the cafe’s seats.

Local media named the venue as Gran Caffe Chioggia, where a single bottle of Coca Cola costs EUR 13 (GBP 11.31).

In the 13-second-long clip, the bow-tie-wearing waiters can be seen lifting up tables as if to ram the tourists off of their terrace as chairs go flying in the brawl.

Two men are punched and shoved out into the square while two others follow them during the Wild West-style fight on 21st September.

Even one of the kitchen hands in a blue apron wades in to punch one of the men in the back.

Other cafe customers can be seen jumping up and fleeing, leaving their coffee behind at the tables.

The brawl erupted after cafe staff stopped tourists who had not ordered any food or drink from using the restroom, reports revealed.

The video reached more than 87,000 views after it was posted on Facebook on 24th September, sparking comments from social media users.

Facebook user ‘Alberto Lazzarin’ said: “That place can now also close its doors, and all the waiters [can get] fired, it is not a good advertisement for Venice . . .”

Then user ‘Mirella Filippelli’ commented: “The drums with a violin background is a pleasure.”

And ‘Sergio Zanon’ added: “Let’s all go home, we’re sick of seeing our cities in the hands of foreigners.”

The cafe’s owner Sebastiano De Zotti has not disclosed any details of the incident so far

The cafe is often criticsed in travel websites like trip adviser for its high prices and rude waiters.

One recent one-star review describes the staff as” disinterested and surly”.

Another headed ‘Worst Experience Ever’ says: “We brought icecream & they didn’t allow us to sit at a table. Don’t go here!!!”