There's no business like snow business

Pubs have been working hard to keep business ticking over despite heavy snow falling across much of the country.

Some pubs have even seen a boost to business with people unable to travel to work heading to the local for refreshments instead.

Sue Merrington, licensee at The Willows Freehouse, in Braintree in Essex, said she was "pleasantly surprised" by her lunchtime trade today.

"We have got quite a few in, it's no worse than a normal Monday lunchtime," she said. "I have heard of some pubs shutting for the day but you have got to do the best you can.

"People have ventured out to the pub and all of our regulars are in."

Meanwhile Kim O'Hagan, licensee of the Seckforde Tap in Woodbridge, Suffolk, saw a boost in trade on Sunday despite the heavy snow.

"We were busier than usual," she said. "It seems sometimes the bad weather brings them out."

The east of the country has been the hardest hit so far but other areas are bracing themselves for further downpours today.

Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations, said pubs in the north of England were preparing for more snow.

"The ones I have been speaking to in Barnsley and York haven't been badly affected yet. Some of them even got some extra business on Sunday night because of the snow.

"Opening hours have not been affected yet but that is expected to happen further north later in the week."

Email photos of your pubs in the snow to news@thepublican.com