24 hour media coverage about severe flooding in Somerset and Gloucestershire could do more harm to the South West’s recovering hospitality sector than the flooding itself, according to sector experts Colliers International.
Hotels director Simon Wells said many pub and hotels businesses had been lucky enough to escape the devastation witnessed around the Somerset Levels, Dawlish, Tewkesbury and Gloucester – but were still seeing reduced footfall as people stayed away – not just from their village pub but from the region as a whole.
He said: “Listening to a number of our clients over the last few weeks they have all told me that the high levels of media coverage about the flooding on the Somerset Levels is affecting their trade, even if they operate in entirely different areas.
“Without seeking to diminish the impact or effect of the flooding, the fact is it is still confined to a relatively small area of the South West.
“There is certainly concern among publicans and hoteliers that the non-stop coverage we are seeing is having an effect well beyond the flood impacted areas.
“I went down to Cornwall for a two day trip last week via North Somerset and Devon and did not experience any problems at all. In fact, Mevagissey (pictured above) was absolutely stunning, the harbour was full of colourful fishing boats and it was a real delight.”
Carrying on regardless
Colleague Peter Brunt said many of his clients had demonstrated typical resilience by carrying on regardless – even when their properties were situated in known flood risk areas or - in some cases – up to the back steps in water.
He went on: “It is important we do not lose sight of the fact our present pub and hotel network has survived the worst downturn since the war and is just beginning to enjoy the first fruits of the recovery. From what we have seen our resilient and resourceful owners will still be here when the weather has finally, thankfully, returned to some kind of normality.
“We have first-hand experience at Colliers International of the impact of flooding on pubs and are ready and able to advise owners on the business insurance issues which many will be facing once the floods have receded.”