Pub staff praised for professionalism in aftermath of Ealing bomb

The licensee and staff from a pub in London's Ealing Broadway, close to where a terrorist bomb exploded last week, have been praised for their professionalism.

Barstaff at the Town House were shown making sure customers were safe on television footage of the bomb blast, captured by a cameraman who was recording a karaoke night at the pub.

The car bomb, which has been linked with terrorist group the Real IRA, exploded shortly before midnight on Thursday evening, near to the pub and opposite a busy Burger King restaurant.

After the blast there was confusion among drinkers in nearby pubs as they received messages to leave the building, then messages to stay. But staff at the Town House which was damaged in the explosion, were shown calming their customers and telling them what to do.

The advice they gave included telling customers to move away from the windows, which had been broken in the blast.

Graham Goodwin, from industry watchdog The Portman Group, said he had been struck by the staff's professionalism when watching the video footage of the explosion.

"It was an excellent example of what to do in those circumstances," he said.

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR), which is based in Ealing High Street, close to where the bomb exploded, had to abandon its building until Monday afternoon.

Chief executive Nick Bish said: "We're actually on the other side of the shopping centre - about 200 yards as the crow flies, from where the bomb went off.

"I think the police were being ultra-cautious but we're back to work now."

The area is slowly getting back to normal, with shops and businesses beginning to reopen. However the shopping centre and the area around Ealing Broadway tube station is still cordoned off.