Take courage: pubs and restaurants on the frontline of the London Bridge attack are posting messages of love and strength

Pubs and restaurants caught up in the London Bridge attack on Saturday have taken to social media to post messages of condolence.

The terrorist attack – in which seven people were killed and 48 injured – took place on London Bridge and in nearby Borough Market, an area home to a vibrant community of restaurants and bars.

As the crisis unfolded, restaurant staff around the market acted with bravery. Florin Morariu, a Romanian baker at Bread Ahead on Cathedral Street, defended the injured from attackers, while diners and staff at El Pastor managed to push an attacker out of the restaurant by throwing chairs and bottles at him after he stabbed a woman in the chest. Fish! in Borough Market is understood to have helped hide members of the public in its kitchens. Customers have thanked waiters at Arabica Bar & Kitchen for ‘look[ing] out for us when they should have been helping themselves’. The Hilton Hotel in Tower Bridge is reported to have accommodated dozens of people in its lobby on the night of the attack. The Andaz hotel in Liverpool Street was also used as a rescue centre.

In the aftermath, venues are sharing messages of love online – and they’re testament to our city’s resilience.