Floods hit pubs...again

Licensees suffered yet more floods misery over the weekend barely 12 months after last year's monsoon, which forced hundreds of pubs to close their doors.

The flash floods, which hit areas of the north east, north Yorkshire, Gloucester, Worcestershire and parts of Wales on Saturday were, however, less intense and did not cause the same widespread damage.

But many pubs still bore the brunt of a three hour deluge which submerged cellars and flooded ground floor bars and trading rooms.

One of the worst hit towns was Morpeth in Northumberland where the flash foods forced four pubs to close.

Host Lindsay Cowan who runs the Old Red Bull with partner Dean Henderson said the ground floor of the pub was under four feet of water after three hours of intense rain.

"It all happened so quickly, one minute we were keeping the water at bay and the next the floodgates had opened," she said.

"All the stock in the cellar is lost and practically every piece of furniture and equipment in the bar, lounge and kitchen damaged.

"The water level however dropped very quickly but on Monday we still had no electricity so when we will re-open is anyone's guess," she said.

In nearby Gateshead regulars at the Fox & Hounds near Greenside battled with licensee Karen Burnett to stop the rising water but to no avail.

The pub was under three feet of water and forced Burnett to close up on what should have been the busiest trading day of the year when the local agricultural show was due to be held.

More than 60 guests attending a wedding at the Honest Lawyer at Sunderland Bridge near Durham had to evacuate the building when two nearby rivers broke their banks.

Areas of Worcestershire were also badly hit notably in Tenbury Wells where the town's main street became flooded.

In nearby Bransford flooding hit the village for the second year in succession although licensee David Swinburn said the problems were not as severe as 12 months ago.

Swinburn, who runs the Fox Inn, said the flood water remained in the pub only for a few hours,

"Last year it was over the bar but its not as bad as last time and we hope to be open by the weekend," he reported.

One of the worst hit villages of last year's floods, Upton On Severn in Worcestershire, escaped the worst of the weather thanks to flood defences which managed to keep the water at bay.

• Check the flood warnings in your are by visiting the Environment Agency​ website.