Snowed-in pub guests become 'friends for life'

Staff at a pub notorious for "snow-ins" say the latest group of stranded visitors had become "friends for life", after becoming trapped by the weekend's blizzards.

Twenty-three guests - including a four-year-old child and a dog - along with six staff members, have spent a fourth day hunkered down at Britain's highest pub, the Tan Hill Inn, after becoming trapped following heavy snow on Saturday night.

Pub manager Nicola Hayes said the group had passed the time at the isolated spot in the Yorkshire Dales playing games, watching movies, singing and dancing.

"It's like one big family here at the moment: we've all swapped numbers, swapped life-stories, we've laughed, we've cried, it's been amazing," she said.

Staff at the pub are used to accommodating stranded guests.

In November 2021 about 60 people got trapped by heavy snow at the inn - which is 1,732ft (528m) above sea level - after going to see an Oasis tribute band.

Despite amber warnings of snow, guests travelled to the pub on Saturday night and have remained cut off ever since.

Ms Hayes said: "We realised we're not getting out when we saw six-foot snow drifts across the main road in front of the pub."

She added she had also had to provide an alibi for some of her guests.

"Some of the customers were due at work yesterday so I've been taking selfies with them to prove they are stuck here with me," she said.

Ms Hayes said some of the guests were a little "tender" on Tuesday morning after "a big party last night".

"Everyone was very merry, we were dancing and singing, it was really good."

She said: "Yesterday we had a movie day and played games, sang and ate.

"We've a month's worth of stock on site so we have plenty of food."

Ms Hayes said she did not know how long the conditions would continue as snow ploughs were struggling to clear the drifts.

"It's getting from the A66 to us that's the issue. Only one plough came up yesterday and it struggled to get through and couldn't clear the full road.

"The snow drifts just drifted back behind the driver as soon as he cleared them."

Meanwhile, the pub manager has taught Paul Wright, an Australian on a three-week holiday in the UK, how to make his first snowman.

"He forgot the eyes at first, so we got him a carrot, put the nose on and he put some eyes on and gave it a little hair tuft," she explained.

Ms Hayes said guests were not charged for the extra time they stayed at the inn, but were asked to make a donation to the Mountain Rescue charity.

Reflecting on the snowed-in experience so far, she said she had "made friends and memories that'll last a lifetime".

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