Noah's Ark to provide relief for flood victims

Yet while January is usually his quietest time, Malcolm Godwin says trade had “never been as bad” as it right now.

Because even though the sandbags were gone and he was back open four days after the Boxing Day floods, the knock-on effect for his business, and many more around him in the city centre, has been dire.

Tourists have been staying away, and those who unfamiliar with the historic winding streets of the city are avoiding the area around his pub on Cumberland Street due to flooding along the river walkways.

That is why he was particularly pleased to pour the very first pint of a new Yorkshire-brewed beer that will donate 10p for every pint sold to community flood funds, including those in York, Calderdale and Leeds - and drive publicity for those hospitality businesses who are still suffering almost a month after the deluge.

Mr Godwin said: “We’re just 100 yards from the River Ouse, and most of our customers get to us via the river along King’s Staith - so even though we were open the Wednesday after the floods, because tourists who don’t know the city use the river walkways, and they are closed, business nose-dived.

“If it wasn’t for the skips on the street you’d never know we’d been flooded here. We’re back open for business.”

According to York Council, 157 businesses were flooded. On Wednesday, the Yorkshire Post reported on how tourism bosses in the city said businesses had a “very difficult” start to the year. But it is hoped that with the groundswell of support for both businesses and residents affected by flooding, that tide will soon turn.

Masham-based brewery Theakston’s hopes to raise thousands of pounds for flood relief with its Noah’s Ark Ale, while prompting landlords to hold their own fundraising activities.

T&R Theakston Ltd executive director Simon Theakston said like so many across the country, he was moved to help after watching “with horror” the devastating affect the flood waters had on communities across the north and in Scotland.

“Many people have not yet been able to return to the homes or re-open their businesses,” he said. “We wanted to do something directly to help, and so decided to do what we do best and to create a new brew to help raise funds to directly aid the affected regions.”

The Two Ridings Community Foundation, which is hosting both the York and North Yorkshire flood appeals, said the response of the public had been “outstanding”. The North Yorkshire appeal, which launched just a fortnight ago, is close to reaching £100,000, while the York appeal has exceeded £516,000 - and there is potential for both to double with match-funding from the Government’s £2m Storm Eva funding pot.

Chief executive of Two Ridings, Jan Garrill, said: “We’ve had huge support from big business like Nestle which gave £100,000, but we’ve also had donations of just a few pounds from people all over the world.

“York has a special place in people’s hearts and the pictures of what happened after Christmas moved people to help.”

The fund is already giving out grants, and most applications are dealt with by the next day, but more support is needed. Anyone wishing to apply to the fund, or to donate, can visit www.trcf.org.uk, email [email protected] or call 01904 435277.

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