Assistant general manager of The Globe Tavern, Chris Williams, left the relative safety of the pub to drag an injured member of the public inside while the attackers were still on the street, before barricading everyone inside the pub.
Williams, who was in the cellar at the time of the attack, thought at first there had been a fight after “hearing a commotion”.
Cool head
A spokesman for the pub’s owner, Crafted Projects, said: “He ran outside the front door and saw someone was injured, but it soon became apparent what had happened.
“So he dragged him inside, while another injured person who had been stabbed followed him inside. He then locked the doors, turned out the lights and took everyone upstairs.”
At the time Williams said he “saw people bleeding” but quickly locked the doors to stop the attackers, who he could see on the street, from coming inside.
The spokesman said Williams instantly took control of the pub, which was busy at the time of the attack. Bar staff then attended to the two injured members of the public until paramedics arrived minutes later.
Messages of thanks
“We have had quite a few messages from police and customers who were there at the time saying thanks to Chris,” the spokesman added.
Duncan Townsend, the pub’s general manager, who was not working that evening, said William’s actions were heroic and that he is “particularly proud of him”.
Boris Bike
Later, after the police had secured the area, Williams helped a customer find his brother in law who had been injured – the two had been enjoying an evening together but had become separated during the attack. Williams found out which hospital the man had been taken to then went with the customer to ensure they were reunited, he then returned to the pub on a Boris Bike.
The pubco has said that although there are some emergency procedures in place, Williams mainly acted on instinct.
The company said it will look at putting more official policies in place to be prepared for every eventuality.
Brave staff
Across the road, staff at Young’s-owned The Wheatsheaf also came face to face with the terrorists, who attacked two staff members as they sought to protect customers and colleagues. Both were taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
Hospitality operators have been urged to gather at Borough Market this Friday (9 June) to show solidarity with businesses caught up in the terror attack at the weekend.