Aftermath of floods challenges licensees

Pubs and breweries in the North are coming to terms with the aftermath of the torrential floods which have battered areas of the country.

Licensees were dealing with water damaged properties, flooded cellars and ruined stock in the aftermath of the bad weather which forced many to close their doors last week.

The Angel in Ridgegate, Rotherham, will be closed for the next month after the whole pub was submerged under 12 foot of water for days.

Licensee Eric Naylor said: "Wetherspoons, our greatest rival, escaped because they are up the street. As long as we get the insurance money we'll be OK."

Dave Wickett, owner Kelham Island brewery and the Fat Cat pub in Sheffield, said he has no stock in his pub cellar and has lost three weeks' worth of beer. "What I worry about is whether the brewery consumers are going to come back to us," he said. "It's been a massive shock, I'd never given flooding in Sheffield a thought."

Nottinghamshire microbrewery Springhead Fine Ales was forced to abandon its premises and is looking for another company to brew for it under contract.

However, it was not all bad news - the Swan Hotel in Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire, was kept safe from the rising waters by flood defences. Licensee Nick Mossop said he had a lucky escape. He added: "The defences are just a temporary thing. We are not as busy as we would have been, but people weren't coming because of the severe warnings."

The Licensed Trade Charity has offered aid to flood victims. For more information, call 01344 884440