Pub loses 'thousands' in damaged stock due to Storm Henk flooding

The Oliver Cromwell Pub in St. Ives, which is situated next to the River Great Ouse, suffered severe flooding in its cellar over the weekend, resulting in the loss of thousands of pounds worth of cask beer.

Leaseholder of The Oliver Cromwell, Jemma Ovenden, told The Morning Advertiser: “Friday (5 January), it looked pretty bad at the river, it was up and into the road slightly, but we’d seen it like that three or four years ago, so we weren’t that worried.

Damaged stock 

“Then Saturday (6 January) morning my husband and I woke up and the water had come right down to the front of the pub, we checked the cellar and it was completely flooded.

“It's damaged a lot of stock. We managed to get everything sealed and hooked up, but the water just kept rising and it was at the top step, it was nearly coming into the pub.”

The water levels have now started to come down and this is the first time the venue has experienced flooding like this, Ovenden added, and the pub has managed to continue trading.

However, the business, which is owned by Wells & Co's Brewpoint brewery, has also lost trade due to the flooding.

Major blow

“We remained open and just sold bottled beer and spirits and cider. We are quite food led as well but obviously we lost business because of it; some people just want to come to the pub and have a pint.”

The operator, who has been at the helm of the pub for the last four years, added customers had been “shocked” to hear about the damage, but that lots of locals had stopped by to “check in” and ask if the operators “need anything”.

She continued: “The brewery came in today (Tuesday 9 January) to discuss what they need to do building wise, but the cost of the casks is on us.

“It's not a good start to the year. January is tough enough; this is a major blow right at the beginning of the year.”