Snow brings mixed fortunes for publicans

Pubs around the UK experienced varying trading as a result of the bad weather conditions last week.

Heavy snow hit many areas across the country on Thursday, February 8, causing transport chaos and bringing problems dragging into the weekend trading time for pubs.

Jo Thompson, assistant manager of the Walkabout on Broad Street, Birmingham, said that torrential snow, coupled with the bomb scare that occurred in the city last week, had a 'horrendous' impact on business.

She said: "We lost £20-25k on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We took half of what we'd usually expect.

"On Friday night, everything was gridlocked. We had people in, but they weren't there to drink and were mostly just hanging around waiting to get out."

However, some pubs managed to weather the storm, particularly those located close to transport hubs, who took advantage of the scores of people unable to travel due to the bad weather.

Helen Bates, licensee at Kitty Flynn's in Cardiff City centre, close to the central train station, said they experienced "normal weekend takings" despite the snow.

Rural pubs often suffer dips in trade amid harsh weather conditions, but Claire Parsons, licensee of the Village Inn in Witchford, Cambridgeshire, was amazed at the number of punters who flocked to the pub in sub-zero temperatures.

She said: "I turned to my barmaid and said, is it worth opening? She said I shouldn't think like that, so we opened, and lo and behold we did 44 covers.

"I was gobsmacked. I've been doing this for 17 years, but it can still catch you out. It doesn't always follow the weather."