following heavy snowfall during Storm Arwen, which has lashed parts of the UK with heavy rain, high winds and snow.
By Monday, the group were still cut off by 3ft of snow, having spent third night in the establishment, with a load of food and booze and live music by an Oasis tribute band. Although many guests have been sleeping on makeshifts beds or mattresses laid on the floor, some of them admit they “don’t want to leave”, as continue to enjoy a buffet meal, quiz night and movies on a projector screen.
On Saturday evening, the guests expressed their gratitude to the seven members of staff by presenting them with a jar filled with around £300 in cash. They enjoyed a traditional lunch on Sunday before the bar was decorated for Christmas by the staff and the guests. It was followed by an evening of karaoke.
The guests claim that it has been a wonderful experience, with everyone looking after each other. “It’s just been lovely and everyone is in really good spirits… it’s a really good atmosphere,” Nicola Townsend, 51, said. “They’ve formed quite a friendship… like a big family is the best way I can describe it. One lady actually said ‘I don’t want to leave’.”
The managers of the pub hope the fallen cables which blocked the road out will be repaired by Northern Power engineers by Monday evening. However, the guests remain cautiously optimistic, as tens of thousands of houses remain without electricity in the wake of Storm Arwen, which has caused the “worst” damage to the North East’s power network in 20 years.
