Video: The Crown Inn in Snape finally reopens after devastating December floods

Published: 4:27 PM February 21, 2014 Updated: 3:29 PM October 11, 2020

Garry and Teresa Cook are delighted to reopen The Crown at Snape. It has been closed since the beginning of December when the tidal surge flooded the whole pub and drowned dozens of turkeys on their land. - Credit: Archant

A Suffolk pub enjoyed brisk trade on its first day of opening since being engulfed by flood waters from a tidal surge.

Garry and Teresa Cook are delighted to reopen The Crown at Snape. - Credit: Archant

The Crown Inn was inundated with saltwater when the north bank of the River Alde overtopped in Snape on December 6.

Teresa with some of their new piglets that will soon be back on their land. - Credit: Archant

Despite the best efforts of landlords Garry and Teresa Cook, flood water still streamed inside the pub.

At one point the water level rose to three feet, ruining furniture and kitchen equipment.

The Cooks managed to move much of their varied livestock to safer ground, saving prize-winning pigs, goats, sheep, lambs, turkeys, ducks, geese and chickens. Although, most of the animals were spared, only five of the pub’s 44 turkeys survived.

Yesterday, the atmosphere was hopeful and celebratory in The Crown, where pints were being pulled and food served to customers for the first time since the flood.

Mrs Cook said: “It’s great. We waited so long for this day. It’s fantastic.

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“We lost absolutely everything in the flood but this is a new beginning for us and for The Crown.”

Mr Cook said: “It’s a bit like having a new business. We’ve got a nice new kitchen and we’ve changed the bar around to make more space for a drinking area. Now that we have reopened, we would like people to come along and support us.”