Tottenham Court Road pubs continue trading following siege

The Rising Sun and the Jack Horner remained open despite a section of the road being sealed off by police following reports that a man had stormed into an office wearing gas canisters and threatened to blow himself up.

Scotland Yard set up a 300m (1,000ft) cordon and sent a hostage negotiator to the scene amid reports the man had held people hostage inside a building several floors up. A man has been arrested and taken away by police.

Gary Hammond, manager of the Rising Sun, whose front door is on the edge of the cordon, told the Publican's Morning Advertiser: “A lot of people were coming in, including a lot of reporters, asking what’s going on but I think a lot of people might have gone home. It’s business as usual but the main streets are empty. It’s cordoned off from the front door but people can still go under [the tape] and get in.”

However, the incident has failed to dent trade at the Jack Horner, located 300-400 yards away from the police cordon.

General manager Ben Relph said: “It’s generally busy because it’s the last Friday in the month and payday. I haven’t spoken to any police or had anyone come in. We’ve been keeping up to date with information on the news. People are waiting at the Goodge Street end and waiting for the problem to resolve or evolve.”