Mevagissey pub hit by three floods in a week

A PUB LANDLORD has spoken of his heartbreak after floodwater poured into his boozer – the third time he has been deluged in his first week in charge.

Tony Ginn, owner of the Ship Inn at Mevagissey, was among many residents and business owners hit this week when heavy rain combined with a high tide to leave premises and homes under water.

Some were left furious that newly-installed flood defences failed to prevent the 6in-deep water from penetrating their properties on Wednesday.

"It's heartbreaking," said Mr Ginn, who took over management of the Ship Inn with his wife on October 11.

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"We even flooded on the changeover day. That was interesting. I was told it floods about three to four times a year, not three times a week."

It was hit worst on Wednesday morning at about 7.30am when he said the watering hole was four inches deep with floodwater.

"Luckily, it was more rainwater than the bad stuff," he said. "We managed to get it mopped and sanitised before we opened up."

But the plucky pub landlord's sense of humour wasn't washed away with the floodwaters, as he joked about relaunching the pub as the Flood Inn.

"As a gimmick we've decided to source cheap wellies online and put them on the walls," he said. "You can't cry about it, you just have to get on and live with it."

Newsagent Mevagissey News was also struck by the deluge on Wednesday morning, when their flood defences failed.

"We are furious about this board we were sold, it's rubbish – £600 we paid for it," said Carolyn Watson, from the premises.

"If Keith and I hadn't been here at 6am the water would've gone right through the shop. We had the shutter down as well as the board.

"We got towels and rolled the rug back and just did our best. It was very stressful."

Sue Ellis, owner of the Central Café, was one of the lucky ones, the water didn't get in.

"It was just up to our step," she said. "We were worried about the café but luckily there was nothing in there at all. "People are definitely scared. Someone called me at 7am to say, 'there's flooding, are you OK?' Everyone has been amazing; there's a real sense of wartime spirit in Mevagissey."

Chris Gilbertson from Mevagissey harbour office said the flooding always happens at this time of year due to an autumn equinoxal tide.

"The high tide and atmospheric pressure is combined with a heavy rainfall. It comes up through the drains at the lowest point in the village, which is the square.

"It's guaranteed to happen at this time every year."

Paul Gainey, from the Environment Agency, said: "We knew there was a spring tide and gusting gale force winds. We know of 20 properties that were flooded, but most of these were in Looe."