St Austell: beer deliveries will get through floods

St Austell Brewery has re-assured customers they will get their beer — despite flooding in the area.

But one pub is facing an uphill struggle to clear water in time for a wedding this Saturday.

Areas of Cornwall including St Austell, Bodmin, Par, Luxulyan, Lostwithiel, St Blazey and St Blazey Gate were hit by flash flooding after heavy rain and gale force winds hit last night.

Several main roads, including the A30 have been closed.

But St Austell marketing director Jeremy Mitchell said the brewery had been unaffected. "We are lucky because we are on a hill," he said.

"All deliveries are getting through as we are using some alternative routes."

Mitchell said St Austell had only had one report of a flooded pub at the moment — the Western Inn in St Austell.

Wedding dash​

Tenant Malcolm Putko said it was the fourth flood the pub had been hit by in three years and the ninth in 11 years.

The pub was flooded by about six inches of water and is now working hard to get the pub open this evening — especially as it has a wedding booked in for Saturday with a six-piece swing band and a charity comedy evening on Sunday.

"You've just got to keep trading," he said. "We'll strip out the carpets and see if we can clean them or whether we have to replace them.

"It is having a big effect on our insurance premiums, which are now sky high at a time when we can ill-afford to pay them."

Putko said St Austell had been "more than helpful" with the BDM and maintenance manager having already been in touch.

"I'm sick of the flooding," he added. "The council just spent £35,000 on drainage here but it has been about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

"I don't usually get upset but the funds they have spent have not a made a difference and now there will be public spending cuts.

"Where does that leave us?"