Flood-hit licensees keep beer flowing

Licensees in Cornwall hit by last week's floods have managed to keep their pubs open despite seeing their properties submerged under feet of water.

Pubs managed to keep the beer flowing as regulars waded in to help with the big clean-up, which is still in progress a week after the violent storms.

The flooding hit St Austell, Bodmin and elsewhere, closing roads and forcing residents to leave homes.

St Austell Brewery marketing director Jeremy Mitchell said: "The floods have been very localised but all our pubs have remained open, although many licensees face a big clean-up."

One St Austell tenant, Kim Barker, who runs two pubs, saw both damaged by the floods.

The Ship Inn at Mevagissey and her second pub of the same name, in Pentewan, stood under feet of water following the storm.

"It was as if lightning struck us twice," said Barker. "The Mevagissey pub was worst hit and shut for a day.

"But to make matters worse we are not insured at Pentewan because we are in a flood zone.

"All our cellar stock was destroyed so we have lost a lot of money, but I have to say the brewery has been fantastic and I even got an affectionate cuddle from the Prime Minister," she said.

David Cameron visited the Pentewan pub last Friday where he met Barker, and other residents.

Another licensee, Malcolm Putko of the Western Inn, St Austell, faced a race against time to make sure a wedding booked for last Saturday went ahead.

"The carpets were saturated but we managed to clean them sufficiently well for the wedding to take place.

"We had two other events booked and they went ahead. The customers, particularly the wedding guests, were very understanding.

"We could not even consider cancelling and were determined that everything would go on as planned."

Storms evoke memories of Cockermouth deluge​

The Cornish storms came almost 12 months to the day that floods devastated the town of Cockermouth in Cumbria.

Most pubs in the northern town's Main Street took a direct hit, forcing some to close for up to six months.

Lake District brewer Jennings, which lies at a point where two rivers meet, was also forced to close, for more than two months.

The Fletcher Christian pub was shut by licensee John Reid for a month before opening on a temporary basis pending a total refurbishment.

The new-look pub finally opened its doors in June and has now become one of the town's most popular venues.

"We went for an entirely new contemporary look, which has gone down very well with the locals," he said. Reid secured reduced rent and barrelage discounts from landlord Enterprise Inns.

Neighbouring pub the Bush closed for six months for what host Joe Fagan described as "a complete re-building job".

He added: "The floods had laid waste to the whole bar, everything had to go, the plaster, the floor, the bar, even the doors.

"It had to be stripped so it could dry out and, thankfully, it has.

"We have had a good six months since getting back to business, so it's a case of all's well that ends well, I suppose."