Birmingham drinkers return to city bars
Pub-goers in Birmingham are defying terrorists who struck with a bomb earlier this month by returning to the city centre bars and pubs.
Drinkers, many of whom were evacuated when the bomb went off, have refused to let terrorism beat them.
Although the city's streets have been quieter than usual, pub-goers and clubbers have vowed to carry on having fun.
One drinker said: "I was here when the bomb went off and it is very scary to think about it but I'm still out again. You can't let them beat you."
Another pub-goer, who celebrated her friend's hen night last weekend, said: "These sort of things happen and you've got to put it to the back of your mind."
There has been a heavy police presence around the city's pubs and clubs which is said to have eased the fear of terrorism - customers feel safer and are back out in force.
Thousands of drinkers were evacuated from outlets such as McCluskey's bar and Zanzibar nightclub, when the bomb exploded on November 3.
Fortunately the device did not detonate properly and no one was injured, although pubs and clubs suffered a big loss of trade - which is continuing now.
Springwood Leisure, which owns McCluskey's and Zanzibar, offered customers free drinks and waived club entrance fees on the first weekend after the bomb to tempt drinkers back into its outlets.
A spokesperson for Springwood said it was to compensate those who were evacuated and was an "act of defiance" against terrorism.
Pictured: Clubbers being evacuated from Birmingham's Peruvia nightclub
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Free drinks to entice pub-goers after Birmingham bomb (08 November 2001)
