Business as usual

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 22 July 2005

One day on, it's business as usual across the borough
 
Businesses and visitor attractions in Hammersmith & Fulham have reacted to yesterday's incident at Shepherd's Bush tube station by announcing to the public: we are open for business and looking forward to serving you.

Offices, shops, hotels, restaurants and theatres across the borough have opened their doors and welcomed customers, often going to great lengths to ensure that the 'show goes on'. The Novotel London West in Hammersmith gave a full refund to any guests who were unable to get to the hotel last night, and between midnight and 1.00am found rooms for 32 local residents who had been evacuated from their homes by the police and the council. Denis Rollet, director of sales, adds: "Business is definitely back to normal today, with meetings and conferences being held as usual. As for security, we always run a tight system, co-ordinating everything with the Metropolitan Police, so we are not doing anything in particular to change that."

The Bush Theatre on Shepherd's Bush Green, meanwhile, managed to put on a performance last night despite being cordoned off until after six o'clock and having to usher ticket-holders over to two local bars while the theatre was being prepared.

Fiona Clark, Executive Producer at the Bush Theatre, says: "The police very kindly moved the cordon back by two feet so that we could open the theatre and we just carried on as normal. We sent our patrons over to the Vesbar and the Bush Bar & Grill for a drink, then called them back before curtain up and found we had almost a full house, with people coming from as far away as Sutton in south London to see the show. So we remain absolutely open for business and are looking forward to previewing our new show After The End before it goes to the Edinburgh Festival."

John Lawrence, manager of the Hammersmith & Fulham Chamber of Commerce, says: "We strongly reinforce the message that it is business as usual in the borough. Here at the Chamber of Commerce we have spent a great deal of time in recent months encouraging businesses to implement extra security measures, and can already see that this is having an effect. As a result, businesses are really doing their bit to make Hammersmith & Fulham a safe place to work, shop or simply go out and enjoy the great attractions that the borough has to offer."

Catherine Knight, the borough's visitor development officer, says: "We're very lucky to have a fantastic range of leisure and business facilities here in Hammersmith & Fulham, all of which are continuing to serve local residents and visitors alike. The council's Towns & Tourism team therefore want to urge people to come to the borough and find out exactly what's available. If you're interested in culture then we've got four theatres, two cinemas and a host of live music venues; if you like shopping then check out the wonderful antiques stores in Lots Road, Fulham, or the vibrant Shepherd's Bush market; if you're into sport then come and visit Chelsea FC, or play tennis in the park, or watch the rowers on the Thames. And don't forget to take advantage of the borough's great range of hotels and its award-winning restaurants, like The Gate, the River Cafe and Patio."

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