500 pubs devastated by floods

Pubs and breweries are facing a race against time to save their businesses as floods devastated areas of the country.

In the wettest summer weather since records began, 500 pubs were under water with thousands suffering the knock-on effects leaving them with no water or electricity. Pubs in Gloucester were being urged to close amid health and safety fears.

The flood waters, which have caused destruction in parts of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire, were heading east with pubs in Oxford, Reading and Abingdon still on flood alert as The Publican went to press.

Many pubs were turned into community centres helping out stranded residents.

The New Inn at Claines, Worcestershire, became an overnight refuge for 30 people. Manager Robert Challis said: "We helped people who could not get home and we even had a couple stranded with a baby."

More devastating still is the lasting damage. Many licensees had invested thousands in refurbishing their premises ready for the smoking ban on July 1.

Amanda Green, licensee of the Canterbury in the hardest hit area of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, has a pub cellar contaminated with sewage.

She said: "We were under three feet of water but it has now subsided. The cruellest thing is we have just finished refurbishing and had done the beer garden. It's like armageddon."

Many publicans do not want to leave their premises, fearing looting.

Cherry Mason, joint manager at the Red Lion in Wainlode Hill, Norton, Gloucester, said: "We're stranded because of fears of looting. We've no water and sanitation problems, but we can't leave the pub because of the security issue."

Brewers and pub companies were desperately trying to deliver water in casks and tankers to 350,000 stranded people. There are 35 tankers being diverted to transport water to flood affected areas with Diageo and Anheuser Busch joining Coors, S&N, Carlsberg and Greene King in the effort.

Mark Hastings, the British Beer & Pub Association director of communications, said: "Many pubs are offering shelter and food to communities and the emergency services. However, the supply of drinking water must come first."