Identify please.

wiskers2245

Can anyone identify this bush for me? It's outside my work place but no one knows what it is.

Fire

Does it have spikes?

wiskers2245

no.

Fairygirl

It looks like Blackthorn - so , yes, it will have spikes 
The spikes are often tucked away a bit - in the more mature growth. The outer growth can be quite soft. The sloe berries can be used in gin.

wiskers2245

Oh, I only looked at the surface of the bush that'll be why I didn't see the spikes then. The berries look like smaller versions of my Opal plums. Can I eat them? as they are?

wiskers2245

Just found them on Google. Thanks for the help Fairygirl.

Loraine3

they are very bitter and are best used to make sloe gin.Ideally they need a frost to soften the skins but can be put in a freezer overnight then used. 

BobTheGardener

You can use them to make 'sloe gin' but they are bitter and rock hard.  If they are softer and sweeter, it could be damson but does look like blackthorn.

Fairygirl

I wouldn't try it! They're very sour and don't always agree with humans. Some people can eat them but they're  poisonous. 
If the bush gets regularly pruned, it may not really be producing the thorns it's famed for, as the constant new growth is fairly soft. 

Silver surfer

Fairygirl said:

 they're  poisonous. 

Fairygirl, 
Prunus spinosa ...common name Blackthorn ..produces a fruit called sloes.

According to this site the leaves and stones are poisonous...but not the fresh of the berries.

This applies to all Prunus.....Almonds, Apricots etc 
Moral..don't eat the stones.

http://www.naturessecretlarder.co.uk/wild-food-useful-plants/blackthorn-sloe-prunus-spinosa.htm