Floods put pubs under threat again

Publicans who fell victim to the summer floods have been dealt a further blow by the latest stormy weather, as previously devastated areas were flooded again this week.

Hard hit areas last week included Yorkshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire and Shropshire.

Licensee Kelly Wright said she was left feeling "devastated" and "frustrated" after her pub, the Haw Bridge in Tirley, Gloucestershire was ravaged again by flood waters last week, only eight weeks after re-opening following an extensive refurbishment.

The pub closed for around four months after waters from the nearby River Severn gutted the property in July. The bar was left under four feet of water and the entire contents of the pub were ruined.

The fresh deluge has further added to the misery with waters breaching the cellar and up to seven feet of water covering the beer garden, which has just had a £10,000 revamp. Freshly laid turf and new garden furniture has been washed away by the floods, although waters did not enter the bar area.

"We feel frustrated because we were hoping that in 2008 we could really go at it. We're sad that all the hard work we've put into the garden has been lost.

"If it's not a good summer it will be touch and go as to whether we will be here next year."

The Rose Revived in Newbridge, Oxfordshire narrowly escaped being hit for a second time last week, after being badly hit in the summer. Licensee Karen Lockley said that the garden, patio and car park were submerged but that the main pub had been able to stay open for business.