Aussies snowed in at remote English pub aren’t complaining

London: Several Australians are among about 30 people snowed in at Britain’s highest pub after an Arctic blast swept across Europe, sending the mercury tumbling well below zero and blanketing much of the country.

Customers who had trekked to Tan Hill Inn in the remote Yorkshire Dales, which is 528 metres above sea level, have been holed up in the world-famous pub along with pub staff since being cut off on Saturday.

Bar manager Nicole Hayes shows Australian guest Paul Wright how to build a snowman as a remote Yorkshire pub was cut off for three days and counting after snowstorms across Britain. Credit: Tan Hill Inn

Temperatures fell to minus 11.1 degrees in some parts of Britain over the weekend. The UK’s Met Office and Health Security Agency issued amber “danger to life” alerts for northern England ahead of the blizzards.

More than 4 millimetres an hour fell over Yorkshire over the weekend and into Monday, following torrential rain late on New Year’s Eve and into New Year’s Day, leading to homes being evacuated in many parts of the north-west.

Tan Hill Inn management said there was enough food for about a month for visitors and around two weeks’ worth of beer. Those locked in, including a four-year-old child, have played cards and board games to keep entertained, while a young boy performed improvised dance routines to the group he was travelling with.

Paul and Naomi Wright, holidaying from Katherine in the Northern Territory, expected to be watching Harry Potter on London’s West End on Monday as part of their three-week trip visiting family in the UK. They aren’t sure they’ll make their flight home on Saturday.

Members of a Mountain Rescue team help to clear cars from a snow drift near Ribblehead, in North Yorkshire, England, as large parts of the UK face heavy snow and freezing rain.Credit: AP

Paul, 52, who is also travelling with his 22-year-old son, sister-in-law, four-year-old nephew, and two friends, said he had never seen real snow before this holiday.

“I think it’s hilarious, I love it. I’ve seen generated snow in snow fields in Australia, but nothing like this in regards to whiteouts,” he told news agency SWNS.

“Driving through Scotland and York, the amount of snow we’ve seen covering everything is unbelievable, we can’t believe how white everything is. There’s a lovely group of people here, the people that run this place are so warm and welcoming and friendly.

Customers have played cards into the night after being snowed in for three successive days. Credit: Tan Hill Inn

Paul said the “poor staff” were working from about 5.30am to 11pm.

“As well as making my first snowman, I’m getting a liking for the huge Yorkshire puddings and the Tan Hill bitter. The staff have been amazing. They are working so hard. We offered to wash the dishes but they weren’t having it.”

The historic inn, dating back to the 17th century, made international headlines in 2010 and 2021 when around 60 people were trapped for three nights amid a powerful extratropical cyclone, Storm Arwen, after travelling to see the Oasis tribute band No Way Sis.

Manager David Rowell said the staff were “a little tired”, but the pub had three fireplaces, enough beds and the generator was running.

“I’ve managed to avoid snow-ins in the past, but it’s caught up with us eventually, so it’s my turn this time.”

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