Olympic pub joy cut short by terrorist attack

A huge shadow has been cast over London's Olympic triumph by the terrorist attacks in the capital this morning.

Celebrations in the hospitality industry have been cut short by the news.

Less than 24 hours before the blasts, pub industry leaders had been toasting the Olympic win at a Parliamentary Beer Group dinner in Westminster.

Stratford in East London will be the focus for much of the games, after the capital fought off a strong bid from Paris to win at the IOC meeting in Singapore last week. Some events will spread out of the capital to Berkshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and the Devon coastline.

Speaking last Wednesday, licensees in Stratford had welcomed the news. Melita Bourne, licensee at the Queen's Head, Stratford, said: "We rely on a lot of passing trade so the Olympics will be a good boost."

James Eales, licensee at the King Edward VII, also in Stratford, said: "The Games will be good for the redevelopment of the area. We're on the High Street so it will be right on our doorstep and we should get a lot of passing trade."

Among the other venues to host events will be Greenwich Park in South East London, which will stage equestrian events and modern pentathlon.

Martin Fogarty, licensee at the Richard I, Greenwich, said: "I think it will be a great boost. We already have a lot of tourists around here as it is. A few people were complaining that it would push up prices, but the main reaction was really positive."

Evidence from events such as the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 shows that pubs can benefit massively.

Business in Sport and Leisure (BISL) estimates that a typical sporting event can raise as much as £500,000 in peripheral spending, with 60 per cent of spectators spending an average of just under £50 a day.

Brigid Simmons, BISL chief executive, said: "Australia benefited from an extra 1.6 million visitors due to the 2000 Games. Business tourism increased both before and after the games."