Corfe Mullen pub reopens after severe flooding (From Bournemouth Echo)
When news happens text pix and video to 80360. Start your message with BE then leave a space.
Corfe Mullen pub reopens after severe flooding
12:00pm Saturday 6th October 2012 in News By Diana Henderson
BACK BEHIND BAR: John Marsh, landlord of the Coventry Arms at Corfe Mullen, which has finally reopened after an extensive renovation following it being flooded out in July
A COUNTRY pub which suffered severe flooding in July when the River Stour burst its banks, has only just re-opened its doors.
The 15th century Coventry Arms at Corfe Mullen took two months to dry out after water started seeping up through the drains.
By morning the ground floor was completely flooded, ankle deep, and landlord John Marsh had no option but to close the doors for what turned out to be a substantial period.
He had no idea it would take so long to welcome locals back in but the opportunity was taken for a major refurbishment with a substantial investment from Enterprise Inns.
“It was a blessing in disguise,” said John, who had only taken over the tenancy of the Mill Street pub a few months before. “Without the flood this never would have happened.”
The wooden floor has been replaced by stone, the bar reduced in size and lifted up on feet, to reduce the impact of any future flood from the river at the bottom of the garden.
John and wife Marie, who live there with baby daughter Harriet, 18 months, were able to choose colour schemes for indoor decor, the outside of the pub has been repainted and the fisherman pub sign replaced with a cockerel.
“I didn’t know what the locals would think about it,” said John, who re-opened on Wednesday. “Everyone loves it, they thinks it’s really nice, homely and warm.”
Having missed the summer and any passing trade from the Olympic sailing at Weymouth, he is now hoping to make up.
“The pub was run down,” he said. “We have brought it back to its prime.”
Comments(3)
boyerboy
says...
6:08pm Sat 6 Oct 12
tackletart
says...
5:50pm Sun 21 Oct 12
harrythered wrote:I remember Val & Les, she was a handful! I played darts for the team when I was 16...have quite a few pints then ride my motorbike home..... bit differant now.
Of course the old Coventry Arms had stone floors anyway and regularly got flooded. All Val and Les (the landlady/lord at the time) did was put wellies on and serve any like minded customers. When the water went down they just put the chairs back out. Whoever designed the extension with wooden floors and carpets was an idiot.
Great days then, not posh like now but real atmosphere, good old days
harrythered says...
1:11pm Sat 6 Oct 12