Thousands of pounds lost to Storm Bert, says Oxfordshire pub
Flooding forced the pub to shut for nearly two days
A pub in Oxfordshire says they've lost thousands of pounds due to flooding and heavy rainfall from Storm Bert.
The flooding was at ankle-deep height, forcing the pub to close it’s doors to customers for nearly two days.
"It was just a case of watching it happen"
Ryan Borrow, a manager at The Lion in Wendlebury, said: “We were about half a foot underwater behind the bar, it flooded straight into the kitchen as well, so all the electrics had to be turned off.
“We also flood from underneath as well as through the doors, so it was just a case of watching it happen.”
It’s the second time that the pub has flooded in the last couple of months and Wendlebury village often floods multiple times per year, according to Mr Borrow.
He added: “So, it is something we have to plan for.”
Although, that doesn’t soften the blow, as Mr Borrow says the impact is “absolutely gargantuan, since a day’s trading is thousands of pounds out of our takings for the week.
“But, luckily for us we’re owned by a bigger group it’s not so much of a struggle but for an independent pub, you would be done for.”
"Something needs to be done about it"
Yesterday, staff arrived at the pub in the early hours of the morning to help clean up the mess from the flooding.
However, Mr Borrow says that he feels most for some of the people in the village, he said: “The amount of damage that it’s caused to the village around here because that’s people’s homes, all their electronics, carpets, everything. So, something needs to be done about it and stop it in future.”
More than a dozen flood warnings remain in place in Oxfordshire on Tuesday, with rivers including the Cherwell, Thames and Ock affected.