Flood pub back in business

Pictures of The Plough pub at Catcliffe marooned in six feet of water were beamed around the world.

Licensees Andrew and Sandra Rodgerson had only moved into the pub a few days before the nearby River Rother burst its banks and flooded the tiny village community for the second time in seven years.

Now the couple are putting last minute touches to their new-look pub before opening its doors to customers.

But Andrew, aged 44, is still waiting for a special commemorative plaque to mark the spot where the floodwater reached in his bar.

The couple moved to The Plough - their first pub - in May from Newark in Nottinghamshire after it had stood empty and boarded-up for 10 months.

They spent several weeks refurbishing the pub and finally opened on June 7 - but two weeks later they watched in horror as all their hard work disappeared under a torrent of muddy stinking water.

Former milkman Andrew said: "It was our dream having our own pub. After working nights as a milkman I was looking forward to the change. We spent weeks doing it up and were thrilled when we finally opened for business.

"But we were just stunned when the floods came. At first I thought the river would come over the top, across the road and under the front door. But it just came from underneath - we couldn't stop it and before we knew what was happening it was four or five feet deep inside the pub.

"I stood on the stage watching it creep across the car park, but when I stepped down I suddenly realised the floor was rocking about. Sandra had to be evacuated by boat but I waded out because I had to lock the door behind me."

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Three days after the floods, the water subsided enough to allow Andrew and Sandra back inside their home. They were met with a scene of utter devastation. Everything downstairs had to be thrown into skips.

A few days later Prince Charles visited the pub to see the damage for himself on his visit to flood-stricken Catcliffe to meet villagers.

Work started on refurbishing The Plough in August - and Andrew and Sandra were even set on as paid labourers by renovation experts Yorkshire Maintenance.

Andrew added: "It has been a trying time for everyone in Catcliffe. A lot of people were affected and it has taken a long time to come to terms with it. Everyone has had their own problems. But we just want to get on with our lives now.

"Pictures of The Plough and the flooded phone box outside have appeared all over the place. I had media people asking if they could come and film us for ages afterwards."

But Andrew says he is not worrying about flooding in the future. "If it has to happen it will happen. You just have to get on with things," he said. "I enjoyed my time as a milkman, but it was always my ambition to pull pints. We didn't let what happened put us off."

Sandra, 58, taking a break from vacuuming the carpets, said: "It has been really hard work.

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Got a view? Add your comment below. But we are now looking forward to opening again and are keeping our fingers crossed it doesn’t happen again.”