The Lord Morpeth on Old Ford Road, Bow, has been shut since 8 July after serious flooding caused by the burst main.
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Publican Laura Lythall said the historic pub, which dates back to 1848, had suffered tens of thousands of pounds in material damage, while lost trade was becoming an even greater concern.
The prolonged closure has also affected five members of staff.
Summer trade hit
Lythall said: “This could hardly have happened at a worse time for our business. Things are incredibly hard for pubs as it is and we were forced to stay shut throughout last weekend’s All Points East festival and the final World Cup games, which are trading days we can’t simply get back later.
“We have received no financial support or compensation from Thames Water to date, while every additional day that we remain closed increases the pressure on the business.”
The pub said it was calling for urgent engagement from Thames Water, clearer communication and a route to resolving the financial impact of the flooding.
Lythall added: “We want to reopen. We want our team back at work and we want to be serving our customers again. What we need now is urgent engagement, proper communication and a fair resolution so that a local pub does not end up paying the price for something completely outside our control.”
The pub has also launched a crowdfunding campaign to support staff during the closure.
At the time of writing, the campaign had raised £2,199, exceeding its initial £1,000 target and moving towards a £3,000 stretch target.
The fundraiser lets customers pre buy reopening drinks and food, including a pint, a staff drink or a pizza and pint offer.
The pub said insurance was covering physical repairs to the building, but added claims take time and do not cover the immediate loss of staff hours while the site remains closed.
It said: “This Crowdfunder is a direct safety net for our staff.”
Disruption
The case follows wider warnings from operators about the impact of utility works, road closures and infrastructure disruption on pub trade.
The Morning Advertiser (MA) recently reported calls from pubs for clearer communication, timelines and compensation routes where works cause demonstrable loss of trade.
Operators have warned disruption can hit footfall, deliveries and access, with businesses often left with limited financial recourse.
The Lord Morpeth said its closure came at a time when pubs were already under significant pressure from rising costs and falling footfall.
The MA has contacted Thames Water for comment.