Staff finally leave ‘snowed in’ pub after being stranded for days

Staff who had been stuck in a pub for days after being “snowed-in” were finally able to leave on Thursday.

The Tan Hill Inn in Richmond, North Yorkshire, claims to be “Britain’s highest public house at 1,732 feet (528m) above sea level”, but for the best part of a week it was also the most difficult to leave.

Inclement weather meant 23 visitors and six staff were “snowed-in”, with the pub announcing on Sunday that weather warnings had forced them to serve “residents only”.

A further Facebook post on January 6 read: “Hello from a wintry Tan Hill Inn where our 23 snowed-in visitors and six staff are tucking into a full English and wondering how long their enforced stay will last here at Britain’s highest pub.”

Elle Applegarth (right) said the snow had been around four feet high (Elle Applegarth)

Three days later staff were finally relieved of their duties as Elle Applegarth, 25, from Washington, Sunderland, arrived to clock in.

Ms Applegarth, who works at the pub as a member of the bar staff, had managed to avoid the lock in narrowly.

“I think a lot of them had cabin fever,” she told the PA news agency.

“It’s all fun at first but then the reality kicks in, you have to keep on going.

“The thing is, the staff have to keep working once they’re here.

“I got here about 12.30pm (on Thursday) – everyone was just ready to leave. (Someone) started crying, and I was like ‘has it been that bad?’ and she went ‘no, I’m just tired now!'”

She added: “I had to leave early so I managed to miss getting locked in.

“The roads have been so bad. There are places where you can see it’s near enough four foot. The snow is just so high.”

The pub posted updates on social media during the ordeal (Elle Applegarth)

The pub’s Facebook page kept the public up to date on their situation, with posts about making snowmen and the plight of the residents and staff earning thousands of interactions.

One post detailed how Aldi managed to deliver supplies to them after a “red wine and banger shortage”.

The pub’s social media said that a number of guests had been able to leave on Tuesday, but it was not until Thursday that the staff were able to make their own exit.

“It looks like the cavalry have arrived! The last stretch of snow drifts are being cleared in the dark this morning – in freezing temperatures by our ‘Highways heroes’,” read a post from the pub, alongside a video of a tractor clearing snow.

A video from Ms Applegarth showed her arriving for her shift as staff and a guest left the venue.

She said: “The atmosphere, everyone (was) dead upset and ready to go!

“Normally when I come in the pub it’s busy and full of people, whereas now it’s not.

“We’ve walked in and the pub is spotless. The housekeeping’s all been done!

“We’ve just quickly had a wipe over things, and so me and two other girls have been sitting by the fire having hot chocolate and marshmallows!”

A post from the pub’s Facebook page read: “Well, we’re off for a cuddle from our loved ones and a relaxing break. The new staff are in (we’ve left them some Malbec and a sausage) – and we are still closed!

“We’d like to thank you all for your support during our snow-in, it touched our hearts. And thanks in advance for your future support to Tan Hill Inn.”