Landlord who went viral reveals £20k flood impact
BBCA pub landlord whose video went viral during floods has said the impact of the last week's devastation had so far cost him £20,000.
Andrew Goodall, landlord of the Rose and Crown in Severn Stoke, Worcestershire, was filmed drinking a pint while sitting waist-high in flood water.
The video attracted more than a million views on social media with comments ranging from "legend" to "typically British".
Mr Goodall has now told BBC Hereford and Worcester there was a “hell of a lot of work” left to do, but that he hoped to reopen next week.
He said: "The only way we can start clawing that [£20,000] back is to get the doors open as quickly as possible."
He confirmed the sandbags and damp-proof membrane would remain in place as he was concerned about further flooding in the coming months.
A flood alert remains in palce for the River Severn through Worcestershire, although levels are falling.
Mr Goodall also called on the Environment Agency (EA) to get on with the delayed construction of the flood defences in Severn Stoke.
He said people’s livelihoods were being put at risk as a result of the delay.
“We can’t keep going through this – five times in three years. Many business owners would have walked away a long time ago,” he said.
The EA said it had paused work until the spring, pending the agreement of an affordable price with a supplier.
It said affordability of the scheme was a "key challenge" but that it had not given up.
Despite the challenges, Mr Goodall said he has been able to keep going because of the support from the community, which included the "amazing" response to the viral video.
"They allow you to carry on even though you’re tired, cold and wet… you get your self-esteem back and away you go," he said.
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