More than a dozen people were involved in a disturbance in the centre of Brighton that broke up in the Old Steine when one was arrested.
Sussex Police appealed for witnesses to any part of the incident to come forward.
The incident appears to have started when four men were chased out of a flat in Gloucester Street, near the junction with St George’s Mews.
The three men in the flat chased the four visitors out of the building, believing that one of them had tried to take something.
An hour to 90 minutes later – at 6pm on Friday (19 November) – the four men returned as part of a larger group of ten men.
Some of the men were carrying pieces of wood.
After arguing with each other, the occupants of the flat chased the ten men as far as the Old Steine.
One member of the group was detained and then arrested by passing police officers on suspicion of aggravated burglary with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm (GBH).
Sussex Police said that the 21-year-old Brighton man was released on police bail pending further inquiries until 12 December.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.