MA team survey defiant flood-hit pubs

Licensees in Tewkesbury and Evesham remain defiant despite being hit by the devastating floods - which forced one to live on his pub roof.

Gerry Boazman's White Bear pub in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire was hit by four foot of flood water.

Boazmann and his family were stranded on the roof for three days.

Despite the flood now retreating, the pub is still under a foot of water and has left utter devastation in its wake.

I could be miserable but what's the point. Its happened now. It was quite bad for a while - I couldn't find the Magners!​Licensee, Gerry Boazman

Surprisingly, the bar is open offering free drinks to locals and emergency services wading in to the pub.

"We can't save anything - its all ruined,"​ he said. "I could be miserable but what's the point. Its happened now. It was quite bad for a while - I couldn't find the Magners!" ​

Greene King manager Keith Travers has had to shut the Bell Hotel in Tewkesbury because there is no running water.

"We escaped the worst of the flooding but this is our busiest time of year and we can't let any rooms out or do any food without water," he said. "I hope to open a bar today and have ordered in portable toilets and plastic glasses."​

Ye Olde Bear had its garden completely submerged by the flood water. Its cellar is still under a foot of water.

Spirit Group manager Paul Wallis said: "We have had to shut because there is no water. We were handing out free food to everyone but that has gone now and we can't wash any plates or glasses."​

Ian Phillips of the The Berkley Arms, a Wadworth tenant, has been trying to clear his cellar of water for the last three days.

"It's like a swimming pool down there - approximately 126,000 litres has come in,"​ he said.

"Wadworth has been excellent, they've been filling up nine gallon barrels with water and distributing them to all their pubs. They've bent over backwards for us."​

Punch tenant Alan Booth is also the Mayor of Evesham in Worcestershire.

He fears his Angel Vaults pub may be shut for up to six months.

"The biggest challenge is getting the pub dried out. The whole place needs to be replastered. We stayed upstairs because there has been problems with looting." ​

His wife Carolyn added: "I think the cellar is collapsing."​

The Fish and Anchor in nearby Offenham has managed to get part of its bar operation open.

"Its damage limitation," ​said licensee Steve Brittain.

"The cellar is condemned and the restaurant won't be open for a long time but we are a customer focused business. If we shut for four weeks, we would lose all our customers. Its survival - the Dunkirk spirit." ​