Flood-hit pubs count the cost of UK storms

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a number of new measures to help pubs and other small businesses hit by the floods including a £5,000 repair and renew grant and 100% business rate relief for three months.

The Publican's Morning Advertiser​ spoke to several pubs that had been badly affected by the floods.

Famous White Bear​

Darren Matthews, who manages the privately leased White Bear, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, told the PMA​ he stayed up until 3.30am on Sunday morning manning pumps to manage floodwater that was pouring into his cellar from the swollen Avon and Severn rivers.

But when he woke at 7am he discovered a pump had tripped and the bar was eight inches under water.

“We’ve got flood protection in place but the water came up so fast we were unable to cope with it,” Matthews said. “There’s a Travis Perkins over the road and the guys were brilliant. They brought some pumps over, we got the water down to about a half an inch and remained open.”

Matthews praised the ‘community spirit’ shown by his customers who turned up in wellies to ‘grab a pint and a broom’ at the same time to help with the clear up operation.

Flowing Spring​

The car park of The Flowing Spring, in Playhatch, Oxfordshire is currently four foot underwater. Fuller’s tenant Nick Willson said the car park had been flooded since Christmas day.

“Our takings are 75% down,” he told the PMA​. “Sonning Bridge is closed so we don’t get customers south of the river, which make up a good half of our customers. Passing trade is nil, we have no car park so we can’t get many customers stopping. We just keep soldiering on, we’d rather be open and take some money rather than none because our costs don’t go down.”

Royal Stag​

Kieran Manning, bar supervisor at The Royal Stag, Datchet Green, Berkshire said floodwater had not entered the pub but added the front door was locked and sandbagged. “We had a power cut last night and had to refund meals. We’ve been quite busy with the news crews and people are coming in in their wellies and waders.”

Cove House Inn​

Amanda Broughton-South of the Cove House Inn, Dorset, whose pub is set on the edge of Chesil Beach, Chiswell said several large waves took out the pub’s upstairs windows last Wednesday, which flooded the residential bedrooms.

“The back doors flew off, the back gates flew off and 15 tables and benches were broken up. We had to close for two days on Wednesday and Thursday but  managed to open on the Friday,” she said.

The Licensed Trade Charity's Support & Care service is available for anyone affected by flooding Tel: 0808 801 0550.​