Flooded pub could lose £10k over Easter - landlord

Swan Hotel landlord Luke Sturman, pictured with councillor Martin Allen, says the pub floor is under about five inches (12.7cm) of water

A pub landlord has said closing over the Easter weekend after his hotel flooded could cost him £10,000.

Luke Sturman, who runs the Swan Hotel on Waterside in Upton-upon-Severn, said water started to rise from a drain on Friday.

He said he contacted water firm Severn Trent for a temporary pump but crews did not arrive until the pub floor was under about 5in (12.7cm) of water.

Severn Trent said exceptional rainfall had led to the River Severn rising to "unexpectedly high levels".

The landlord says closing over the Easter weekend could cost him about £10,000

The water supplier added it was "very sorry" to hear about the flooding.

Mr Sturman said he had recently refurbished the bar area, which would now have to close over what was traditionally one of its busiest periods.

"It’s frustrating, disappointing and upsetting," he said.

“I think it’s going to be a miracle if we can open up for over the weekend.

"If we go on last year we’ll be down roughly around £10,000."

A Severn Trent spokesperson said: “As part of the multi-agency flood defence team, we supply a portable pump at the site to overpump river water overwhelming our network to the other side of the permanent flood defences.”

The provider added Environment Agency data on Thursday evening stated the river level would not breach 4.2m, below the 4.5m activation point for the pump.

"Sadly, the torrential rainfall saw it hit 4.7m, although that level is now receding," a spokesperson said.

Crews were dispatched to the site on Saturday and would "continue to offer the customer help and support", they added.

The Environment Agency said it had been monitoring the flooding, and was "in constant contact" with Severn Trent, and deployed its own pumps at New Street and Waterside to reduce the impact.

"Unfortunately one was vandalised overnight, however this did not result in the pub being flooded," the spokesperson said.

Local Green Party councillor Martin Allen said he was "disgusted" the water had not been drained before it reached the pub.

"I’m so angry about this and what I’m really concerned about is that we have more bad weather coming," he added.

Mr Sturman said rising water levels impacted on the pub "four or five times a year".

Severn Trent said it would continue to work closely with the Environment Agency to manage similar situations in the future.

The Environment Agency said once water levels had returned to normal it would work with partners on improving its response moving forward.