Car crashes through Aldgate pub wall

Customers and staff had a lucky escape when a car ploughed into the side of a pub - with its heroic manager pushing a friend to safety.

A sofa, a sideboard and bricks were sent flying into the middle of The Bell, in Middlesex Street, Aldgate, at around 11.15pm on Friday - but miraculously nobody was hurt.

However, circumstances could have been a lot different had pub manager Tommy Unwin not got up from where he was sitting moments before the crash.

The 26-year-old had gone outside to say goodbye to a friend and managed to spot the oncoming vehicle, which was travelling at speed.

“I could see the car coming from behind her,” he said.

“It mounted the pavement and I threw her out of the way, then I jumped out of the way myself.

“If I hadn’t gone out to speak to my friend, she wouldn’t have seen it.”

A police spokesman confirmed the driver, an elderly man, had lost control of the car and although emergency services were called, he wasn’t arrested.

Inside, bartender Claudia Natullo, 22, saw the drama unfold.

“I couldn’t believe what happened,” she said.

“I was just serving a customer and this huge car smashed straight through the wall.

“A candle holder on the ledge flew metres into the air and nearly hit someone.”

Tommy explained that although the pub was relatively busy, it was a quieter Friday night than normal.

“I think the England game the night before was the reason why it was so quiet,” he said.

“It probably saved a couple of lives.”

Despite the damage caused to the Victorian pub, Tommy is hopeful it will be open again soon.

He explained that they hoped to erect a partition to allow part of the pub to open within the next few days, but that it would take weeks to fully repair it.

Pub owner Glyn Roberts, 41, added: “I’ve never seen anything like it in my 21 years in the business.

“I’m just glad no one is hurt. Hopefully we’ll be up and running again soon.”