An Oxfordshire town pub shut for more than two months has no timetable for it to reopen after being hit with severe flood damages.
The Boat House pub in Wallingford has been closed for more than two months after it suffered flood damages when water from the River Thames burst its banks and rose over the back steps and into the building.
The pub announced its closure on January 6 and it has remained shut ever since.
READ MORE: City fast food chain intends to stay open longer
A spokesperson for Greene King said: “We are working hard to reopen the Boat House for everyone to enjoy and thank all our customers for their patience and understanding. We will be sure to let you know when we will be ready to open our doors again.
"While the works are ongoing, there are no timescales we can give at this stage, sadly. When we do have a re-opening date we will be happy to share it."
Staff at the pub had originally announced in a statement that the closure of the venue had been scheduled for a refurbishment "before April".
It is understood that due to commercial sensitivities the briefing was held in private.
Town mayor Daniel Beauchamp said: "I believe Greene King have been planning a refurbishment for a while - the flooding has perhaps accelerated those plans."
Mr Beauchamp said he did not know how badly flood water has damaged the pub, and was hoping to find out more from staff at Greene King.
READ MORE: Why congestion in Oxford must be tacked
He added: "I had a walk around the pub following the flooding to have a look at it, but I'm not a structural expert."
Following the flooding in January a number of boats were stranded on the river banks as a result of being moved, with some of them left perched at odd angles.
The Boat House has a 3.5 out of 5 rating on reviews site Tripadvisor but some reviewers have given it five stars following a visit.
Dave from Oxford said following his visit in December: "Wonderful pub in a beautiful location on the banks of the River Thames.
"Went for a couple of drinks and a bite to eat and will definitely be going there more often. The food was great - hot and fresh, and there’s a really good selection of drink available. The staff were polite and happy to help . Couldn’t find a fault if I wanted to."
Another diner gave a five-star review after visiting for a Christmas Day lunch, saying: "I think it’s very important to remember that those who work in hospitality on seasonal holidays are giving up their leisurely time with family, friends and good food - to ensure you and your family get to enjoy those comforts to the max and to say we had a good time would be an understatement."
Help support trusted local news
Sign up for a digital subscription now: oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe
As a digital subscriber you will get:
- Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website
- Advert-light access
- Reader rewards
- Full access to our app
About the author
Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here.
He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.
His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning.
You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here