Pub puts up over 100 snow-trapped travellers in makeshift beds
The Jamaica Inn in Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, posted pictures on Twitter of makeshift beds spread across all areas of the pub.
Posts last night (31 January) and this morning showed beds set up in the main bar, as well as happy customers making the best of a bad situation.
One post, which showed groups of people crowding around tables and warming themselves by a fire, read: “We’re nothing if not resilient #Cornwall.”
Mother of all shifts
While another read: “A huge thanks to Sammy and everyone here for pulling the mother of all shifts this eve (sic).
“100-plus adults, four children under two and an 8-month-old with heart condition all off the road and into the warm tonight #Cornwall.”
Good morning from Jamaica Inn pic.twitter.com/7TJBGZOpBX
— Jamaica Inn (@jamaicainn) February 1, 2019
A further four people and two dogs arrived at around 2am, the pub confirmed.
Reports claimed around 12cm of snow fell in the area, making driving conditions difficult.
The pub’s manager, Sammy Wheeler, told Metro newspaper that they couldn’t turn people away, adding: “We know we can take more people, so we just thought why not?”
Jamaica Inn has 35 rooms
Jamaica Inn has 35 hotel rooms and had a stockpile of mattresses and blow up beds, which were all brought out for use.
Some of the hotel’s double rooms had up to five people in them, while staff accommodation was also used by customers.
Makeshift beds for people stuck on the A30 taking refuge. Sorry you got stuck, we're doing all we can to help pic.twitter.com/93n9EFe35C
— Jamaica Inn (@jamaicainn) January 31, 2019
Wheeler commended her hard-working staff who all went “above and beyond” to help stranded customers by working extra hours and ensuring everyone was as comfortable as possible.
She told Metro: “We’ve got the fires burning, people helping make beds and people are going out to get logs for us. People just seem to be making friends.”
