Storms ‘devastating’ for Horsham pub

The Boar’s Head on the corner of Worthing Road and Tower Hill has suffered a string of financial setbacks since severe weather battered the district just before Christmas last year.

It has been forced to close on numerous occasions including when power was lost for five days over the festive period.

The pub won around £300 in compensation from the power company charged with supplying its electricity.

Residential customers in the Tower Hill area have previously told the West Sussex County Times they had been awarded larger sums.

Days later the business suffered further frustration when one of Horsham’s major routes - Worthing Road - was closed after heavy rainfall flooded the area and caused a six metre culvert to collapse.

In the latest blight of this saga, a tree near the pub came crashing down on Valentine’s Day and knocked out power as couples enjoyed romantic meals at 9.30pm.

Candles were supplied and customers were in good spirits, but staff could not take payments on the night.

Assistant manager Jo Leaver, 34, said police removed the tree from the road and onto part of the pub’s front car park.

She told the County Times: “I’m angry. I’m absolutely fuming. It’s just been one disaster after another.

“It has been exceptionally devastating for the pub. We lost a lot of money. It’s cost thousands - lots and lots of double figures.”

Customers could not park because of debris in the car park, and when Jo got in touch with West Sussex County Council she claims she was told workers would not be able to clear it for days.

However, she said that after informing the council on Wednesday February 19 that the press was attending, workers swooped in to take away the tree faster than the County Times photographer could get to the scene.

She continued: “Obviously, the weather can’t be helped and we understand that. But it’s the lack of information we’ve been getting on the phone.”

The assistant manager estimated the business has lost between £35,000 to £40,000 since heavy rain and powerful winds swept across Horsham late last year.

A spokesperson for West Sussex County Council said: “The tree was removed from the car park about an hour ago by ourselves.

“It was a private tree that fell – but we cleared it as a goodwill gesture.”