Car crashes into Wetherspoon pub in Bristol - injuring two door staff

A car smashed into a stone pillar at the front of a Wetherspoon pub in Bristol, injuring two door staff who were both taken to hospital.

Witnesses have told how they heard a ‘loud crash’ and saw a vehicle crashing into the front pillar outside Kingswood Colliers pub in Regent Street, Kingswood, and hitting some people outside.

The incident happened at around 1.30am this morning (July 9) - as people were leaving the pub at closing time. A 32-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving - read full statement from Avon and Somerset Police here.

In a statement issued to Bristol World, Wetherspoon said two door staff were taken to hospital after it was believed a car lost control and went into the pillar at the front of the pub.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “ Our thoughts are with the two members of door staff, their family and friends. We trust that they make a full and speedy recovery from their injuries.”

The pub is back open today, but the pillar outside the front is missing with debris on the floor outside. Mr Gershon said the pillar was ‘purely decorative’ and that the pub was structurally safe.

The incident led to pictures and comments being circulated on Facebook, with many users concerned over the speed of the car before it hit the pub’s pillar. People were also worried for the door staff.

Terri Paisey-Rogers was walking toward the pub to be picked up by her husband after leaving a nearby nightclub called Rumours. She said: “All of a sudden I heard a car speeding but noticed it was driving the wrong way down the high street then I heard and seen a loud crash and it had knocked the pillar down and some people outside.”

The pub was built in around 2000, with the site previously being a market. Its name is to commemorate the underground workmen who made the area famous. It is rated 3.8/5 on Google.

Avon and Somerset Police released a statement this afternoon. It said a 32-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. Read the full statement here.

The force is appealing to people who saw the car prior to the collision. Anyone with information or footage should phone 101 and provide the call handler with the reference 5223163379.