A pub in Jersey has been forced to close after severe flooding caused by heavy downpours, according to its licensee.
L'Auberge Du Nord in St John was inundated with water on Tuesday when intense rainfall hit the island. Licensee Angela McCafferty confirmed that clean-up efforts were underway, but it could take some time before the pub can fully reopen.
St John Constable Andy Jehan said the rainfall was unlike anything he had ever seen. According to Ms. McCafferty, the heavy rain began at around 16:15 BST, quickly overwhelming the pub.
"The water flowed through the pool room and the bar, rising about an inch and still coming in," she explained. "We had sandbags out, but all we could do was close the door as the rain kept pouring."
Ms. McCafferty described the flooding as relentless, with water levels reaching 15 cm (6 inches) inside the pub and 20 cm (8 inches) at the entrance. She noted that flooding is a recurring problem at the venue, and this time, the function room and kitchen were also affected, with water even rising through the drains.
Despite these challenges, she expressed hope that the pub might reopen for locals by the weekend.
Constable Jehan said that although the area's drains had been recently cleared, they couldn't handle the "sheer volume" of water. The fire service, infrastructure teams, honorary police, and local residents all worked together to respond to the flooding.
While the village has experienced flooding before, Jehan noted this was far worse than anything previously seen. He emphasized that despite preparation, such intense rainfall is difficult to manage and urged landowners to keep their land clear and for motorists to drive carefully during forecasted rain.