Britain’s highest pub snowed in with 30 punters years after 60 had been trapped

The stranded guests staved off cabin fever by playing card and board games – and one young boy even put on a show with improvised dance as others went outside and built a snowman

More than 30 punters are facing a third night trapped under mounds of snow in Britain’s highest boozer. Despite dire weather warnings, the brave drinkers ventured to the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire – which is is 528 metres (1,732 ft) above sea level – on Saturday night.

It comes as temperatures fell to -11.1C in some parts and the Met Office and UK Health Security Agency issued amber “danger to life” alerts ahead of the blizzards. The pub, which also operates seven guest rooms, made global headlines in 2021 when 60 people got stuck in the pub after watching an Oasis tribute band.

Manager David Rowell, 43, said: “Staff are a little tired, but other than that it’s all right. The staff that are currently here, this is day seven for them working here. This [Monday] will be their third day stuck.

“I’ve managed to avoid snow-ins in the past, but it’s caught up with us eventually, so it’s my turn this time. We have three real fires, and obviously we run off a generator so the heating is on ‘constant’ at the moment.”

The pub’s electric power comes from a generator and there is enough food for about a month – and around two week’s worth of beer. Those locked in have played cards and board games to keep entertained, while a young boy performed improvised dance routines to the group he was travelling with.

Australian tourists Paul and Naomi Wright were expecting to be watching Harry Potter on London’s West End by now as part of their three-week holiday visiting family in the UK.

Instead, they are still stuck in the inn and remain uncertain they’ll make their flight home on Saturday. Paul, from Katherine in the Northern Territory, said he had never seen real snow before his holiday – with temperatures at home at around 30C.

The 52-year-old, who is travelling with his wife, his 22-year-old son, sister-in-law, four-year-old nephew, and two friends, said: “I think it’s hilarious, I love it.

“I’ve seen generated snow in snow fields in Australia, but nothing like this in regards to white-outs. Driving through Scotland and York, the amount of snow we’ve seen covering everything is unbelievable, we can’t believe how white everything is.

“There’s a lovely group of people here, the people that run this place are so warm and welcoming and friendly. The poor staff that are here were all meant to go out the other day, they’ve had to stay because they’re snowed in, and these guys are working from like five-thirty and six in the morning through to 11 at night.

“I’m sitting at the window at the moment watching one of them shovel snow off the steps so people can walk outside.” Journalist Robyn Vinter, 35, is also stuck after making the journey from Leeds on Saturday afternoon.

She said: “The roads were clear when we arrived, a bit icy, and they’re steep, kind of winding roads, that require concentration at the best of the time. They were a bit icy, but now they’re completely covered in snow.”

Robyn, who had been staying in an eight-person bunk room, added: “Everyone’s in fairly high spirits, people have got things to get to this week, so everyone’s hoping we get out maybe tomorrow. Today might be a possibility because there’s another snow plough today and there might be a gritter.

“I don’t think I’m going to leave today because I’m in a Ford Fiesta, even though I have put all-season tyres on. We’ve had such a laugh, like last night and the night before, getting to know people. Everyone is very laid back, it’s very fun and very chill.

“The staff are so lovely, I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful the staff has been, they’re clearly knackered. They often stay over in the winter because none of them live nearby, they’ve been here some of them since New Year’s Eve, I think they’re pretty knackered by this point.”

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