Cambridgeshire licensees quit trade after business washed away

Licensees Teresa Pope and Roger Harrison left the Three Tuns in Wisbech on Saturday (2 November) after losing thousands of pounds worth of stock and earnings when a nearby water main blew a hole through the cellar wall and filled the basement with water in August last year.

Pope and Harrison, who have been running the Elgood’s Brewery leasehold for 20 years, were immediately forced to leave the pub due to fears that it might sink and were unable to return for three months, while the building was repaired.

Since then, the pair have both been in hospital due to stress and over-working, and Pope said they are no longer able to run the business.

Loss of custom​

“Our customers are lovely, but they are fickle people. Three months is a long time and there are lots of cheaper pubs in the area, so that was it. Only 10% of our customers came back once we reopened,” she told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser​.

“We’ve lost thousands and just can’t keep going.”

Pope said Anglian Water has paid compensation for loss of stock and covered the rent while the pub was closed, but they will not pay for loss of earnings or trade.

'Heart-breaking'​

“Twenty years of hard work just got washed away in five months,” she added. “It’s such a shame.

“It’s heart-breaking to have to walk away.”

Elgood’s Brewery said it is actively looking for new tenants. Estate manager Robyn Hotson added: “Roger and Teresa were there for 20 years. It is very sad for us that they can no longer keep running the pub and we thank them for their loyalty and hard work.”

Compensation​

Antony Innes at Anglian Water said: “We’re very sorry for the flooding and disruption to the Three Tuns caused by a burst water main last year. Ever since this happened we’ve been working to put things right and to compensate both the tenants and the brewery.

“Last month we agreed a compensation payment to Mrs Pope for the water damage, loss of stock and the interruption to her business. This was the amount submitted by their loss adjuster.

“We have also been working with the brewery, which owns the pub, to put right the structural damage so the business could reopen. Regrettably, the extent of the damage meant the pub was closed longer than was initially hoped. The interruption of business for this extended period was reflected in the compensation paid to the tenants.”

Further compensation is being considered, he added.