Inn Collection Group pubs rise to the challenge as snow hits

About 7,000 homes and businesses lost power after heavy snow in Cumbria caused widespread disruption over the weekend.

Police announced a major incident on Saturday evening, with about 200 vehicles marooned and stranded people forced to use temporary accommodation. 

Some 120 Inn Collection Group rooms were booked across nine properties in the space of two hours as towns and villages found themselves snowed in.

The Wateredge Inn answered a call for help from Windemere Lake Cruises and offered up rooms for staff stranded at the Waterhead Pier.

Furthermore, the Angel Inn at Bowness kept its fires burning to offer a warm space for anyone seeking shelter.

Around a dozen people took up the offer, and the team offered up two rooms left by vacant guests to make sure nobody was stuck in vehicles overnight.

The Angel Inn closed at 2.30am after a final sweep of the town. Heavy snowfall continued overnight, but the roads were accessible by the morning.

The Angel general manager Sarah McIntosh said: “Saturday was one of those moments when communities like the Lake District come together and we stepped up where we were needed to help.

“We were busy as it was, but we were fortunate to have a few rooms spare that people were able to book and get out of the cold with the open fires in the lounge room roaring, we were able to provide some welcome warmth.

“With the nearest official refuge up in Windemere, those conditions needed those of us in Bowness to come together and all the hospitality businesses combined to make sure people were safe and looked after.”