At the time of publication, the Met Office had issued yellow warnings for snow and ice across the UK, including in the north-east, East Midlands, London, the south-east Yorkshire & Humber and Northern Ireland.
There were also yellow and amber warnings issued across Scotland as well as flood warnings in the south west. Overnight temperatures on Monday 5 January dropped to as low as -10°C in some places.
Some pubs felt the freeze more than others, with some forced to close early while those less affected manged to stay open despite the ice-cold temperatures.
Staff safety
Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars Cholmondeley Arms was one of many venues to close.
The pub, which has previously been crowned the Great British Pub of the Year at the Great British Pub Awards, announced on its Instagram page it would be closed on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 January due to the snow.
“Due to the snow on the roads, for the safety of our staff and guests we have decided to close today and tomorrow. Apologies for any inconvenience, and we’ll see you later in the week. Stay safe and warm”, the post said.
The Clough Hall pub in Stoke-on-Trent was also forced to close its doors due to the adverse weather.
A post on the pub’s Facebook page explained: “To ensure the safety of our staff and customers, we have made the decision to close tonight at 7 PM. Your safety is our top priority!
“Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. We appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again soon!”
Winter wonderland
Meanwhile, the Fountain Inn at Ashurst in West Sussex described the snowy day as “dreamy”, sharing a video to its social media of ducks being fed on the pub’s icy pond.
Elsewhere, the Old Dog pub in Thorpe, Derby, urged customers to check its social media pages before heading out in to the cold as the extreme weather could force the venue to close.
A post on its Instagram page said: “It’s a winter wonderland out there, but the roads are clear! Come shake off the snow and snuggle up by our roaring fire.
“We should be open all week, but please check our socials before heading out. If the weather turns nasty, we might need to close.
“Our team’s safety comes first - can’t pour pints if we’re stuck in a snowdrift! Huge thanks for all your support over the festive period - it’s been lovely seeing all your faces new and old having such a brilliant.”
- Has your pub been affected by the snow? Contact rebecca.weller@wrbm.com to share your story.
