Bristol Wetherspoon pub car smash: Police make arrest

A car smashed into the front of the Wetherspoon pub in Kingswood in the early hours of Sunday morning

A man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving after a car smashed into the front of a Wetherspoon pub in Bristol in the early hours of this morning (July 9).

Two door staff were injured and taken to Southmead Hospital after the car - a black Nissan Note - ploughed into a stone pillar at the Kingswood Colliers pub in Regent Street at around 1.30am.

It happened at the pub’s closing time and there were many people in the area. Avon and Somerset Police, Avon Fire and Rescue Service and South Western Ambulance Service all attended.

This morning, the pub was back open, but the stone pillar was missing. Wetherspoon spokesperson Eddie Gershon told Bristol World that the company’s thoughts were with the two door staff.

Now, police have issued a statement to Bristol World in which they said a 32-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. The man was initially taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary before being taken into police custody, where he remains this afternoon.

The force also said that the driver and two other people in the vehicle that smashed into the pub all fled the scene before the arrival of police.

The statement, in full, reads: “Detectives are investigating after two pedestrians were injured when a car left a South Gloucestershire road and collided with a pub. The incident happened at about 1.20am today on Regent Street in Kingswood.

“The driver of the car, a black Nissan Note, left the scene prior to police arrival along with two other people who were also in the vehicle. A 32-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. He was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary to be checked over by medical professionals before being brought back to police custody where he remains.

Emergency services tend to the car which smashed into a pillar at the front of Kingswood Colliers pub (Submitted picture)

“The two pedestrians attended Southmead Minor Injuries Unit following the incident. The car, which caused damage to The Kingswood Colliers pub, has been recovered. Anyone who witnessed any part of the incident is asked to contact us.

“We’re particularly interested in hearing from anyone who saw the car prior to the collision as well as anyone with dashcam, CCTV or mobile phone footage of it. If you have information or footage which could help, please phone 101 and provide the call handler with the reference 5223163379.”