Hospitality businesses at centre of London terror attack
Pubs and restaurants were at the centre of a terror attack on London on Saturday (3 June) in which seven people were killed and another 48 injured.
The attack saw a white hire van hit pedestrians on London Bridge at about 10pm, before three men got out and stabbed people in nearby Borough Market.
The van came to a stop outside the Barrow Boy and Banker pub before the attackers were seen stabbing people along Stoney Street near Brindisa restaurant, El Pastor tapas restaurant, the Wheatsheaf pub, Roast restaurant and Black and Blue restaurant.
Staff at the nearby Fish! restaurant in Borough Market are understood to have helped hide members of the public in its kitchens, while the London Hilton Tower Bridge was reported to have accommodated dozens of people in its lobby for the night in the aftermath of the attack. The Andaz hotel in Liverpool Street was also used overnight as a rescue centre for the less seriously injured.
The three terrorists were later shot dead by police.
In the wake of the attacks, several businesses close to where the attacks took place sent out their heartfelt messages to the public, and also updated wellwishers on their situation.
Fish! in Borough Market congratulated its staff for the way in which they looked after customers and members of the public:
The professionalism of our own staff and the police last night was astounding, thank you so much for keeping yourself & customers safe
— Fish! Borough Market (@fishborough)
It also confirmed that some people had taken refuge in the restaurant:
Staff, customers & people in the area that took refuge in the restaurant were evacuated safely, if we can be of any help please contact us
— Fish! Borough Market (@fishborough)
Brindisa tweeted:
We are all safe at Brindisa. Thank you all for your concern. Our thoughts & prayers go out to our community & the victims of this tragedy.
— Brindisa (@Brindisa)
Meanwhile, restaurateur Sam Hart, who owns El Pastor restaurant tweeted:
All the Tweets by Tacos_El_Pastor team are ok.
Thank goodness— Sam Hart (@samhartsgroup)
In a statement on Facebook, Roast restaurant said: "The team at Roast sends our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who tragically lost their lives or who were injured in last night's atrocity on our doorstep. Borough Market is a tightly knit community and we will not allow the actions of a few disrupt the proud tradition of serving some of Britian's finest food and drink. Please note that we are closed today and anticipate being closed tomorrow."
Meanwhile, a message from the Wheatsheaf pub simply said:
Many thanks for everyone's tweets. Very proud of all our staff! Our thoughts and prayers go out to all affected. Tweets by hashtag
— Wheatsheaf (@tweetsheaf)
This is the third terrorist incident on UK soil this year, after an attack on Westminster Bridge and the House of Commons left five people dead, and a bomb explosion at the Manchester Arena during an Ariana Grande concert last month killed 22 and injured 59.
Following this latest attack, Fish! restaurant had a message for Londoners:
Never has this been more appropriate than now, what happened last night is beyond fathom. pic.twitter.com/Zvo7r8HdsV
— Fish! Borough Market (@fishborough)
Hotelier Harry Murray also offered his condolences to victims on Twitter, at the same time passing on the government's protective security advice for pubs and clubs:
Tweets by hashtag ! Thoughts with all those affected by last nights terrorist attach Please pass attached advice Tweets by MasterInnHhttps://t.co/KK3cDL4LMW
— Harry Murray MBE (@hmurray9)
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