Dozens of hapless visitors to Britain’s highest pub have been left stranded since the weekend, after ignoring Met Office warnings for snow.
Over 30 people who made the trek to the world-famous Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire, which is 528 metres (1,732 ft) above sea level, are still cut off by the snow today, along with six staff members. Despite their predicament, the guests still remain in high spirits, with some even finding the situation amusing.
The bizarre scene comes after amber “danger to life” warnings were issued by the Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency, with more than 4mm of snow per hour hitting Yorkshire over the weekend, and temperatures plunging to -11.1C in some parts of the country.
However, it is not the first time the seemingly unlikely scenario has happened. The pub hit the headlines in 2021 after 50 people were snowed in after the pub hosted an Oasis tribute band, the Mirror reports.
Staff have been working hard to clear a path outside, despite the freezing temperatures.
(Image: Tan Hill Inn / SWNS)
David Rowell, manager of the Tan Hill Inn, said: “Staff are a little tired, but other than that it’s all right. The staff that are currently here, this is day seven for them working here. This will be their third day stuck.
“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. We have three real fires, and obviously we run off a generator so the heating is on ‘constant’ at the moment.” The pub’s electric power comes from a generator and there is enough food for about a month – and around two week’s worth of beer.
The guests stuck inside have kept themselves entertained with cards and board games, with one young boy even keeping energy high with an improvised dance performance to the group he was travelling with.
Australian tourists Paul and Naomi Wright were due to be in London by now, watching a West End snow as part of a three-week trip to visit family in the UK. Instead, they are snowed in alongside their relatives and unsure whether they will catch their flight home on Saturday. However, they are in surprisingly good spirits.
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Paul, 52, said: “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 white-outs. 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.“
“The poor staff that are here were all meant to go out the other day, they’ve had to stay because they’re snowed in, and these guys are working from like five-thirty and six in the morning through to 11 at night. I’m sitting at the window at the moment watching one of them shovel snow off the steps so people can walk outside.”
Trapped alongside them is journalist Robyn Vinter, who made the trip to the pub from Leeds on Saturday afternoon. The 35-year-old had been staying in an eight-person bunk room.
She said: “The roads were clear when we arrived, a bit icy, and they’re steep, kind of winding roads, that require concentration at the best of the time. They were a bit icy, but now they’re completely covered in snow.
“Everyone’s in fairly high spirits, people have got things to get to this week, so everyone’s hoping we get out maybe tomorrow. Today might be a possibility because there’s another snow plough today and there might be a gritter.
“I don’t think I’m going to leave today because I’m in a Ford Fiesta, even though I have put all-season tyres on. We’ve had such a laugh, like last night and the night before, getting to know people. Everyone is very laid back, it’s very fun and very chill. The staff are so lovely, I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful the staff has been, they’re clearly knackered.
“They often stay over in the winter because none of them live nearby, they’ve been here some of them since New Year’s Eve, I think they’re pretty knackered by this point.”
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