Cheers as flooded pub is finally reopened (From Your Local Guardian)

Cheers as flooded pub is finally reopened

7:43pm Friday 24th August 2007 in

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A Purley boozer finally reopened today five weeks after it was devastated by floods.

The Jolly Farmers in Purley Road had its cellar flooded and its stocks ruined on Friday, July 20, when Croydon was deluged with rain as storms swept the borough.

General Manager Barry O'Shea said: "The cellar has had to be completely redone. It was under four foot of water in the height of the flooding and the whole pub was flooded through.

"All the stock got wiped out down there and we have had to replace everything. Thankfully we have a raised area where we were able to move the furniture to so we managed to save that at least. However, the floor, carpet and skirting boards have all had to be replaced on top of the stock.

“It was just unbelievable on the day as the rain was coming down Foxley Lane and seemed to be congregating in Purley Cross and particularly outside our pub."

Barry O’Shea

"It was just unbelievable on the day as the rain was coming down Foxley Lane and seemed to be congregating in Purley Cross and particularly outside our pub. It was coming in the bar and going through the floor into the cellar. I have been told that the drainage system down here is particularly awful so maybe that is what made it so bad here."

PAC Information Services in Brighton Road meanwhile is still some way off opening its doors again.

Owner Jude Ike said: "We will be able to start work on the shop in two weeks hopefully after the builders have put in their new estimate and the insurers accepted it. The trouble then is we have to remove all the stock and store it somewhere while the work is carried out.

"In the meantime we cannot do much more than wait, but at least it seems we will be able to open again."

Woodcote Interiors in Purley Road reopened shortly after the floods but has now closed again while it carries out refurbishments needed due to damage from the water.

Solicitors Carpenter and Co on the same road remains closed after most of their ground floor office was flooded.