Suffolk licensees fear trade drop after Hurricane Gonzalo hits region

21-Oct-2014 - Last updated on 22-Oct-2014 at 13:45 GMT

'View from the patio' at the Harbour Inn, Southwold

Suffolk publicans are concerned about a drop in trade due to flooding, as the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo sweeps across the region.

Nick Attfield, of the Adnams-owned Harbour Inn in Southwold, said the pub started filling up with water at 11pm yesterday until around 3am due to a combination of a tidal surge and strong wings.

He said he is hoping that the business will be able to open as normal tomorrow, ahead of next week’s half term trade.

Clean-up job

“The flooding was worse than expected. The wind really held it back – I’ve never seen a tide so trapped. We had about six inches of water in the kitchen and throughout the rest of the pub, so we had to evacuate everything,” he told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.

“My biggest issue is the impact it has on trading. It’s half term next week which is a big cash injection for us before Christmas, so that’s a worry. There are 20 people here at the moment for the clean-up job, including my staff plus people from Adnams, who have been brilliant. It’s a hands-on operation.”

Last winter, the Harbour was closed for around a week after a North Sea surge, predicted to be the worst for 60 years, battered the east coast.

Insurance worries

Attfield said flooding in the area seems to be on the rise.

“Last year we flooded only once but it was massive, the year before we flooded 12 times, and this one is an incredibly early start for us. My insurance premium has gone up dramatically, my excess has changed.

“I think my claim was one of the smallest on the East Anglian coast last year, but that could take a very profitable business down to absolutely nothing very quickly.”

A flood warning was also issued for Snape, Iken and the surrounding marshland this morning.

'Nightmare'

Garry Cook, who runs the Crown Inn in Snape, also owned by Adnams, said he hopes the flooding won’t be a repeat of last year’s “nightmare”, which led to the business being shut for 75 days.

“Everyone is unsure what will happen but I don’t think it will be anything like last year.

“We only reopened on 20 February so it took away all of our Christmas trade and parties. The water was only in the building for three hours, but the tide damage had been done. Adnams were supportive and when we weren’t trading we didn’t pay any rent but it was a nightmare.

“We’ll just have to wait and see about today.”