Katherine family trapped in UK pub during snow storms

Imagine being trapped in a historic British pub for four days — that was the experience for one Katherine family these holidays. Read the details.

There are definitely worse places to see out a snow storm than an old British pub. Picture: Paul Wright

Forget the Top End wet season, wild January weather of a different kind has disrupted a Katherine family’s travel plans.

Paul and Naomi Wright, along with their son Declan, spent four days snowed-in at a Yorkshire pub, with 30 other customers and six staff, as snow storms caused havoc across the United Kingdom.

According to UK media, the group became trapped on Saturday when temperatures fell to -10C a huge difference to the 40C heat being felt back in their home town.

Mr Wright, who works in Katherine, and Mrs Wright, a teacher, were on their first trip to England.

“Visiting a new country — the home of our ancestors — has been amazing,” Mr Wright said.

There are much worse places to see out a snowstorm.

Paul and Fiona Wright enjoying a nip by the fire. Picture: Paul Wright

Fortunately for the Wright family, fate had taken them to the Tan Hill Inn in Northern Yorkshire, England.

“We choose the Tan Hill Inn because of its location — it is the highest pub in the Yorkshire Dales and has been operating since the early 1700s,” he said.

The family joined 32 other guests who had been trapped since last Saturday due to extreme weather conditions the UK government Met Office labelled as “extremely dangerous”.

Mr Wright made a snowman to pass the time. Picture: Paul Wright

“We have been to the snow in Australia but it is a whole different experience here,” Mr Wright said.

“Everywhere you see is just white snow.

“It covers everything — the snow piles are 4ft deep.”

Snow covered everything — including the equipment used to clear it. Picture: Paul Wright

The Wright family is set to travel home to Australia on Saturday, but with the Met Office forecasting -15C temperatures and “potentially the lowest temperature of the winter so far”, Mr Wright said they would be “playing it by ear”.