Brawl erupts outside Sydney ice cream parlour

A man has been knocked unconscious after a brawl erupted outside an ice cream parlour in Sydney's south on Christmas Eve.

Witnesses told police the fight started when three men began arguing with another group of men who were sitting outside the Brighton-Le-Sands dessert shop about 11pm on Thursday night, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The verbal argument then turned violent, with footage filmed on a witness's mobile phone showing a man lying unconscious as some of the men throw punches at each other while another hits a second man lying on the ground with a chair.

An employee can be seen closing the shop's windows, trapping customers, including a terrified little girl, inside.

The unconscious man was later spoken to by police but refused any treatment.

He is expected to make a fully recovery, police said.

Police are searching for three men of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern appearance, aged in their 20s with dark hair to help with enquiries.

Anyone with information has been urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.