Visitors to the White Cross pub in Richmond were left no option but to arrive by boat yesterday as the River Thames broke its banks. The cosy riverside establishment in Surrey has a special high-tide entrance in case of flooding but even this was inaccessible on foot. The much-loved pub regularly gets cut off, usually about five times a month, but yesterday’s was a very high tide. The occurrence is a welcome excuse for the regulars who relish more time in the pub away from DIY jobs at home but it’s perhaps not so favoured by stranded office workers seeking to get back to work after a boozy lunch. The Travel PR team is planning an after-work drink when the waters have subsided!
The Thames is known often to flood at high tide near Richmond Bridge, but visitors – and their cars – are often caught out. Local businesses are prepared for high water levels via reference to tide timetable books. The tide rises and falls due to the rotation of the earth and gravitational pull of the moon. Exceptionally high and low tides - Spring Tides - occur at the time of the new moon (or the full moon) when the sun, moon, and earth are approximately aligned.
Was 2009 the year the British fell in love with holidaying at home again, or was it a blip on the radar while we tightened our belts before jetting off to the sun in 2010?
The Brits embraced the idea of a staycation last year, keen to do our bit to keep the economy afloat by spending money at home and saving on flights, but 2010 has started with murmurs of discontent amongst UK holiday providers. They believe that this year could be an “annus horribilis” as travellers are once again swayed by the lure of foreign travel. The increasing strength of the pound also makes visitors from overseas less likely to plug the gap in the market and the tourist deficit of £17 billion is certain to grow even wider.
We had a chat with Simon Tregoning, MD of Classic Cottages who represents over 600 cottages across the West Country. He takes the view that 2011 is the year when the UK will make a recovery for domestic tourism and has genuine concerns about 2010. Classic Cottages is a well-known accommodation provider with clever marketing, an award winning brochure and a loyal clientele, but there must be concerns for some of the more niche providers out there and Visit Britain must be worried too.
Nobody wants to see a repeat of 2009, the bankers threw our savings away, the government tightened the noose a bit more and the Met Office couldn’t tell a snowflake from a Cadbury’s (Kraft?) Flake. The year ahead should be a welcome return to form for tour operators offering overseas travel but let’s also give domestic tourism a chance, there is so much to see in the UK.
We dropped in on friends in Cornwall last week for the day (a nano-break!?) to take in some sights and have lunch at just one of the incredible restaurants near Newquay, another reminder of the reassures in our own backyard.
Viking Hellas Airlines (www.flyviking.gr), the Greek airline associated with Viking Airlines AB of Sweden, is pleased to announce the launch of a new three-times weekly scheduled service from Manchester to Athens, Greece, with effect from 1st February 2010, with convenient onward connections to three Iraqi cities.
Passengers from Northern England are set to be served with a new direct service to Athens from Manchester. With fares starting from as little as £59 one-way, inclusive of taxes and charges, Greece has never been more accessible. Current flight routes to Athens from the North West require at least one change of aircraft with other European carriers. Viking Hellas has established agreements with Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines to provide convenient connections to their Athens flight networks. This provides passengers with the opportunity to connect in Athens to and from other Greek cities, the Greek Islands, the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
Also on 1st February, Viking Hellas will commence weekly scheduled services from Athens to the cities of Erbil and Sulaymanyiah in the Kurdish Government Region of Iraq and the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad. Flights are scheduled to provide seamless connections to and from Manchester services, providing passengers from the north of England with the fastest possible journey times between the north of England and Iraq. Fares from Manchester to Iraq, connecting in Athens, start from as little as £545 return, inclusive of taxes and charges.
Roger Gatt, Commercial Director of Viking Hellas, announced the services, commenting: “We are delighted to be launching our first scheduled services from Manchester and expect the Athens route to be a great success. Manchester Airport has welcomed our new services and they are supporting us as we prepare for launch. We also look forward to working with travel agents to improve travel options from the north of England to Greece and beyond.
There is considerable demand for Iraqi services from the UK due to the sizeable expatriate community that currently has very few options to return home; this new service is a lifeline for them. Viking Airlines AB has operated flights from Sweden to the country for a number of years without incident and we are pleased to be providing another option for travellers to Iraq.”
Andrew Harrison, Manchester Airport’s Commercial Director said, “It’s great news that Viking Hellas Airlines are starting their first scheduled service from Manchester Airport, complementing the extensive charter programme already operated. Athens is a strong destination with high year round demand. Viking Hellas will offer a variety of connections ranging from the Greek Islands to several points in Iraq thus giving the North West region an even greater choice.”
Flights will operate from Manchester on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from Athens to Manchester on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Viking Hellas is planning to increase frequency to four flights weekly by adding a Tuesday departure from Manchester and a Wednesday departure from Athens with effect from March 2010.
All routes can be booked at www.flyviking.gr
Fares include a 20kg baggage allowance, allocated seats and complimentary in-flight meals. Passengers will also be able to purchase snacks, refreshments and duty free from an extensive in-flight bar. Extra legroom seats will be available for a small supplement.
Viking Hellas was established in Greece in Autumn 2009 and has headquarters in Athens.
Viking Airlines AB was established in 2003 and has headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden
Viking Airlines AB operates Boeing B737-800 Next Generation and B737-300 which will be used to launch Viking Hellas scheduled services until its own Airbus A320s are delivered in Spring 2010
Fares from Manchester to Athens start from £59 one way, including taxes and charges
Fares from Manchester to Iraq, connecting in Athens, start from as little as £545 return, inclusive of taxes and charges
Special, low price add-on fares are available with Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines to/from destinations served from Athens
Viking Hellas Manchester Flight Schedules
Manchester - Athens
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
Depart Manchester VQ701 at 1330 hrs Arrive Athens at 1930 hrs
Athens - Manchester
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
Depart Athens VQ702 at 0930 hrs Arrive Manchester at 1130 hrs
Viking Hellas Connections to Iraq
Athens – Baghdad
Mondays
Depart Athens VQ753 at 2100 hrs Arrive Baghdad at 0100 hrs*
Baghdad - Athens
Tuesdays
Depart Baghdad VQ754 at 0300 hrs Arrive Athens at 0500 hrs
Athens – Erbil
Fridays
Depart Athens VQ717 at 2100 hrs Arrive Erbil at 0100 hrs*
Erbil - Athens
Saturdays
Depart Erbil VQ718 at 0300 hrs Arrive Athens at 0500 hrs
Athens – Sulaymaniyah
Wednesdays
Depart Athens VQ735 at 2100 hrs Arrive Sulaymaniyah at 0100 hrs*
Sulaymaniyah - Athens
Thursdays
Depart Sulaymaniyah VQ736 at 0300 hrs Arrive Athens at 0500 hrs
After bringing us the likes of Simon Cowell, Osama Bin Laden, Jordan and Jedward, the Noughties are almost over. But what were the Destinations of the Decade – stunning new places that are now firmly on the tourism map – and what will be the holiday hotspots of the Twenty-Tens/Oh-tens/Teenies/Tenties/Tenners? We asked some of our expert clients:
**The Noughties**
The trend of the decade: Staycations
“Of the many holiday destinations British travellers have turned to in the past decade, our own backyard, the UK, has fared especially well as its appeal broadened. The profile of Cornwall, in particular, has grown since 2000 partly due to a rash of new attractions, from the Eden Project to high-profile celebrity restaurants like Fifteen: Cornwall, while Newquay has become synonymous with Britain’s new found passion for surfing. New air links have made Cornwall more accessible for residents across the country, and an increase in accommodation options – from the green to the ultra-luxurious – mean everyone is catered for, and at a higher standard than ever before. Long live the staycation!”
Simon Tregoning, MD of West Country expert Classic Cottages (01326 555 555, www.classic.co.uk)
The short break of the decade: Unknown Italy
“As people worked longer hours throughout the decade, they felt the need to get away more frequently – and short breaks consequently exploded in popularity, with Italy leading the way. Although Venice, Florence and Rome remain the classic choices, the likes of Sicily and the art cities of northern Italy – such as Bologna, Mantua and Ravenna – have enjoyed a steady rise in visitor demand. Just when you think you’ve seen every great Italian town or city, there’s always another one to seek out.”
Ted Wake, Director of Sales & Marketing of short break specialist Kirker Holidays* (020 7593 2283, www.kirkerholidays.com)
The short/mid-haul holiday of the decade: Morocco
“Ten years ago the short break really took off: and, after Paris and Madrid, the exotic appeal of Marrakech suddenly registered. Just three hours away existed a cultural vortex – a land of souks, sorcerers, spas and sun, and a very cost-effective one at that. Beyond Marrakech lay similar jewels; packed into a relatively small country were ski resorts and high mountains, beaches, first-class golf-courses, Berber villages and the most scenic of desert-scapes. Announced in 2001, King Mohammed VI’s ambitious Vision 2010 tourism plan saw eight million visitors to Morocco in 2008, a 400% rise on 2000’s numbers.”
Steve Diederich, is VP of UK Sales & Operations for Travelzest Plc, incorporating The Best of Morocco (0845 026 4588, www.realmorocco.com)
The ski resort of the decade: Kicking Horse, in British Columbia
“Kicking Horse Mountain Resort started life as Whitetooth Ski Area, run by local volunteers in the town of Golden. In 1999 it was bought and hugely upgraded, reopening in Dec 2000 under its new name. Back then, few people knew of it: today Kicking Horse has worldwide renown for its powder, challenging skiing and 4,133ft vertical drop, second in Canada only to Whistler Blackcomb, and also as a fine option for beginner or intermediate skiers. Bring on the next decade, too: there’s newly a ten-year, $300 million development plan in place to expand Kicking Horse by 1750 acres.”
Richard Rice, MD of Ski Safari and committee member of AITO Ski (020 8744 9280, www.aitoskiholidays.co.uk)
The safari of the decade: Botswana’s Okavango Delta
“In the 1990s, the Okavango was still split up into the Moremi Game Reserve and a number of hunting areas – and tourism to the Delta was relatively small. The last decade has seen a steep change: Southern African safaris are no longer the poor relation of East Africa trips, and the Okavango has turned from a backwater to the continent’s ultimate safari destination. From 2000 onwards, small, often fabulous lodges began arriving in areas previously reserved for hunting: gradually, over the last decade, we’ve seen many of these change to be photographic concessions, where hunting is no longer practiced. Safaris are now firmly established in the Okavango as a much more humane money-spinner.”
Chris McIntyre, MD of Africa specialist Expert Africa* (020 8232 9777, www.expertafrica.com)
The adventure destination of the decade: Vietnam
“Options for the traveller to Vietnam have expanded dramatically in the past decade. There have been vast improvements in the transport and hotel infrastructure, while enterprising locals have introduced an array of ways to see their destination: now there are luxury junk cruises around the incredible karst scenery of Halong Bay, tribal homestays and trekking in the North and Central Highlands, cycling holidays along the Mekong Delta, cookery schools in Hanoi and Hoi An and all sorts of volunteering trips. Combine these with beautiful landscapes, beaches, popular cuisine and a tropical climate, and it’s a winning combination. The icing on the cake is that Vietnam has consistently offered excellent value for money.”
Peter Crane, Product Director of adventure expert Explore* (0844 499 0901, www.explore.co.uk)
The Latin America trip of the decade: Oaxaca State, Mexico
“During the past decade, more and more people have been discovering Mexico’s rich interior, heading beyond the commercial beach resorts to find colonial cities, elegant architecture, culinary treats and congenial people – all elements which can be found in the state of Oaxaca. In the city of the same name, live performances take place in the main square, chic boutique hotels offer first-class accommodation and grasshoppers fried in chili make for unusual meals. In the country, Zapotec rugs are hand-loomed as they have been for centuries and the tombs of Monte Alban offer arguably Mexico’s best archaeological site. It’s easy to see why enquiries for travel to Oaxaca have risen so steadily over the past decade.”
Lloyd Boutcher, Director of Latin America specialist Sunvil Traveller* (020 8758 4774, www.sunvil.co.uk)
And what’s coming next?
**The Twenty-Tens/Oh-tens/Teenies/Tenties/Tenners**
Zimbabwe – Chris McIntyre
“With the Mugabe era likely to end in the next few years, Zimbabwe’s tourism industry is poised to bounce back, and the good news is that its environments are generally in great shape. The wonderful national parks are all situated on land that’s difficult or impossible to farm, so they remain largely untouched, while much of the game is apparently in good shape, too – even if a few areas have had high levels of hunting. Recent news has been very encouraging: an apparent upsurge of visitor numbers in 2009, and now a much less unstable, dollar based economy. Once an effective protection plan is re-installed and development returns to the country’s people, I can see it taking off fast in tourism terms. Zimbabwe used to have vastly more visitors than either Botswana or Namibia – and it can do so again.”
Chris McIntyre, MD of Africa specialist Expert Africa* (020 8232 9777, www.expertafrica.com)
Colombia – Peter Crane
“After years of civil unrest and conflict, stability has been restored in Colombia – and mainstream tourism seems likely to follow. Most emblematic of the country’s new era is the city of Medellin: once famed as the home of Pablo Escobar, it’s now a vibrant tourism stop, as new museums, parks and direct flights to Florida attest. All around are new options, however: from plantation stays and jungle trekking to eco-beach retreats and even medical tourism. Officials have boldly estimated 30% annual increases in visitor numbers and it’s easy to see why: put simply, Colombia is the one Latin American destination with every kind of landscape – from beach to mountain, rainforest to plantation.”
Peter Crane, Product Director of adventure expert Explore* (0844 499 0901, www.explore.co.uk)
India for skiing – Richard Rice
“While the likes of Japan, Mongolia and Chile are likely to emerge as viable ski destinations in the coming ten years, and Russia will host the Winter Olympics in 2014, we feel that India’s slopes will be the hottest draw of the next decade. The Kashmir paradise of Gulmarg is already well-established as a resort, but now there’s talk of Doodpathri and Aur at Pahalgam following suit, and of New Zealand-style heli-skiing at Sonamarg. Tourism is always involving in India – with ever-improving flight services from the UK – and skiing seems likely to be the next big sector.”
Richard Rice, MD of Ski Safari and committee member of AITO Ski (020 8744 9280, www.aitoskiholidays.co.uk)
Scandinavia – Noel Josephides
“Scandinavia remains Europe’s last great wilderness, offering dramatic and diverse scenery, excellent food, warm and welcoming people, surprisingly good summer weather and an unexplored, untouched appeal. It is good value – the pound has held up comparatively well against the Swedish and Norwegian currencies, unlike the euro – and it’s so close: flights to Stockholm for example are just 2.5 hours from London. From a short-haul perspective, Scandinavia seems the obvious choice for the discerning traveller in the twenty-tens.”
Noel Josephides is MD and co-founder of short-haul specialist Sunvil Holidays* (020 8758 4758, www.sunvil.co.uk)
Burma – Derek Moore
“Lots of the potential new destinations for the next decade are places that are currently marginal for tourism due to restricted access. North Korea, Zimbabwe and Iran are all ripe for more mainstream tourism if they see internal changes in the coming decade – and especially Burma. This may not necessarily mean a change in regimes but an awakening to the potential earnings of tourism. Burma has a fascinating Buddhist tradition, pagodas stretched down the dreamlike Ayeyarwady, miles of beaches and the cultural idyll of Mandalay. Despite such unlimited potential for visitors, it will open up slowly, perfect for small tour operators rather than mass market operators.”
Derek Moore is the Chairman of AITO (020 8744 9280, www.aito.com)
South-Eastern Mediterranean – Ted Wake
“Perfect for discerning travellers balancing a sense of adventure with an urge for warm sunshine, the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean will prosper as a short break and longer-stay destination in the next decade. Recent infrastructure improvements and the emergence of high-quality, often quirky accommodation in the likes of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel amount to an unforgettable cultural experience.”
Ted Wake, Director of Sales & Marketing of short break specialist Kirker Holidays* (020 7593 2283, www.kirkerholidays.com)
*This company is a member of AITO – the Association of Independent Tour Operators. AITO comprises 140 independent and specialist travel companies providing an unrivalled collection of holiday ideas that cover every corner of the world. Consumers booking with AITO can be assured of 100% financial security, high-quality holidays and excellent personal service. Visit www.aito.com for further information. Richard Mellor
Meeting in the week of the Copenhagen climate summit, the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) Council endorsed a number of sustainability measures, including a plan for the whole membership to sign up to their sustainable tourism criteria during 2010.
“Whereas there is a core of our membership that is in the vanguard of sustainable tourism practice, there are others who do not see this as central to their business practice,” comments Roger Diski, Chair or AITO’s sustainable tourism group. “By the middle of the year, all tour operator members will be expected to have achieved a minimum standard which includes reviewing their practice and setting targets for sustainability.”
To facilitate this, AITO Council also agreed a memorandum of understanding with the Travel Foundation. The two organisations will share material and intend to work jointly on projects. AITO is now considering ways of encouraging more AITO operators to contribute to the work of the Foundation. The Travel Foundation’s new Greener Business Guide will become required reading for every AITO tour operator.
In 2010, AITO is also going to encourage tour operators to support TICOS, a carbon reduction scheme which has been developed specifically for the organisation. At present TICOS has 16 schemes in tourism destinations which are active or ready for funding, all of which combine verifiable carbon reduction with clear socio-economic or developmental benefit to communities in those destinations. Click here for for more information or visit www.aito.com. Ian Bradley
On 13 December, the new Brussels-Amsterdam high-speed line launches and trains from Brussels to Cologne switch to a high-speed line. London to Amsterdam will take four hours, 15 minutes. It’s just as quick as flying – the check-in is only 30 minutes and of course you travel city centre to city centre. The prices are comparable too – according to the man from Seat 61, a return ticket costs from just £89 pp. Couple that with the chance to lower your carbon footprint and sit back and relax and watch the world go by (that old adage ‘the journey is part of the travel experience’ certainly applies here), for those short hops to Europe, maybe it’s high time to let the train take the strain. Sarah Belcher.
It’s now a time-old tradition: an airline comes along and wows us gullible public with what it insists will be the interior of its shiny new A380/787/777 - bowling alleys, private bedrooms and casinos - yet the reality never matches the hype. No doubt you know exactly the publicity loving red-engined airline I mean. So what does the future really hold for airline seating?
Aviation prides itself on being one of the most innovative industries around, with serious technological leaps on a regular basis, yet economy seating has remained constant for 40 years in terms of appearance. Now, however, there seems to be a revolution afoot with a few schools of thought on the way forward for seating - side by side with backs to the window, (the Ryanair option) bar room style and finally an alternate elevated option.
The side by side choice is a tried and trusted military option for transporting troops. Needless to say, Air Forces are organisations not typically recognised for their in-flight service so we’re not expecting much from this layout. Unsurprisingly the designers (Design Q) predict a 50% increase in passengers but they neglect to mention if this also means a 50% leap in comfort - somehow I seriously doubt it. They do claim a 30% reduction in fares is likely due to the higher density and insist that it is perfectly suitable for flights less than two hours. Close your eyes and you can imagine you’re on your way to Helmand. The military experience really does seems a viable option for anyone on a budget, especially when you bear in mind the battle for an aisle seat.
The side by side seating option
Staying with the budget theme, earlier this year Ryanair announced to the media that it was considering standing seats for passengers, despite the fact that this idea was originally discussed at least three years ago. Unfortunately for Ryanair, there seems to be no benefit for installing such “seats” as even if they save space, the airline already uses the maximum capacity of their 737-800 aircraft with 189 seats so what’s the point? Free publicity as always seems to be the prime motivation but as with most Ryanair initiatives, it seems to be a money-making exercise and no more.
The Ryanair "seat" of the future
If you want a proper seat, then you pay more than the poor souls who are standing behind you. Perfect: another way to squeeze the punters by the family jewels. However, never let it be said that Ryanair doesn’t have a sense of humour as they reportedly put this video up on their own site, thanks to a Dublin radio station.
Finally we come to the most futuristic concept, the Flex Seat by Jacob Innovations. A quasi double-decker system where every other row is elevated allowing for leg room for the seat behind it which is at conventional height. It looks fantastic, allows far more recline space and even has plenty of space for hand luggage. The elevated seats are reduced from four to three to make room for the steps on each side. It’s long on passenger comfort but short on revenue for airlines if the amount of seats are reduced - unfortunately it might not have a long term future. That’s a real shame considering the cattle conditions we have to put up with at the moment.
The elevated seating option by Jacob Innovations
As business class seating gets ever more luxurious and complex, economy seating remains relatively constant. The in-flight entertainment aspect of the product has changed for the better but the pitch, width and comfort is no better than when the 747 was launched. Will we still be stuck in the same seating in another 40 years? I hope not, but I also wish that we are not all standing up with wistful thoughts for the days when we actually had a seat! Ian Bradley
School children in Berlin individually designed and painted 1,000 dominoes – probably twice the size of the children themselves – and were arranged in curves and lines close to where the wall itself stood; a transient and see-through barrier to remind people that, just 20 years ago, East and West Germany were separate entities, with communism one side and capitalism the other – and, terrifyingly, death by shooting if one dared to try to cross the dividing wall. Lech Walesa, whose Gdansk-based shipyard union, Solidarity, lead the way in ending communism in Poland, pushed over the first domino yesterday evening, at approximately the time that the wall itself started to fall 20 years ago.
The past 20 years have seen huge changes worldwide to the political scene, often felt to be for the overall good, so it was strange to hear an East German woman interviewed on Radio 4 saying that she preferred the old system, when her children were guaranteed jobs and there was some sort of stability and predictability about life. I’ve heard similar interviews with Russians who crave the good old days, too – but, of course, for every person missing the old regime, there are probably many others who are relishing their new freedoms.
Today, the last divided city in the world is Nicosia, or Lefkosia as it’s now known, split between the Greek Cypriot south and the Turkish north. The barrier dates back to 1974, when the Turks invaded Cyprus, so it’s been there 35 years now and is guarded by barbed wire and armed soldiers. How long will it be, I wonder, before that wall falls, and what will the trigger be? Turkey is aiming for European Union membership, but the wounds still fester on both sides of the barrier and many have lost family property and land in the dispute, so it won’t be an easy one to solve. However, the signs of movement are there – people, both locals and visitors, can now cross at various check points from south to north and vice-versa. Let’s hope that a fair solution can be reached and that Turks and Cypriots can again live peaceably together, as they always used to do. Sue Ockwell
The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO, www.aito.com) slams the Government for its insistence that APD (Air Passenger Duty) is an environmental tax.
The introduction of increased level of APD (Air Passenger Duty) charges on Sunday, 1st November highlights the lack of transparency in the government’s environmental policy and misleadingly targets travellers under the guise of an eco-tax. This coming Sunday will be a black day for travellers as costs are expected to rise significantly, especially on long haul travel.
Treasury Minister Lord Myners has admitted that APD is “primarily” designed to raise money while Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has admitted revenue raised by APD is not “ring-fenced” for environmental schemes. Just to further rub salt into the wound, APD is calculated against the distance between London and the capital city of the country concerned and not each individual city. This brings about the farcical situation where a flight from London to Cairo (2,100 miles) qualifies for Band B (2001-4000 miles), the same as a flight from London to Los Angeles (5,400 miles), despite the fact that it is less than half the distance.
Derek Moore, AITO Chairman (Founder & Associate Director of Explore), comments: “Using the environment as a pretence for raising revenue for the Treasury and targeting travellers is a very short-sighted policy. Many AITO travellers are eco-conscious and happy to play their part, through carbon offsetting and contributions to related projects, but they take issue at having to hand over additional funds in the form of a stealth tax when even Government Ministers admit they cannot guarantee that the money raised will go towards environmental schemes. At least when the Conservative Government introduced APD in the early 1990s, it clearly admitted that it was a tax-collecting proposal.”
AITO very much advocates environmental awareness and requires all 140 members to engage in Responsible Tourism. AITO also operates a ratings scheme – very useful for interested customers - with members awarded between one and five stars based on their environmental performance. AITO members operate a large number of environmental projects around the world where they make a telling contribution to local communities. Ian Bradley.
Scriptwriter, comedian, novelist, TV presenter, actor and playwright – Michael Palin is a man of many talents. Judging by the audience questions at his recent appearance at the National Theatre to promote the second volume of his diaries, it would seem that many of us now associate him with his adventurous travels for the BBC more so than any other aspect of his long and illustrious career. I wonder if the BBC will ever commission another Palin series now that Around the World in 80 Days – this time for Children in Need – is in full swing? Palin remains as popular as ever and it would be a shame not to see him on our screens in a travel capacity again. Sarah Belcher
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Flooding in Richmond forced drinkers to arrive by boat at the White Cross pub yesterday
Friday, March 5th, 2010Visitors to the White Cross pub in Richmond were left no option but to arrive by boat yesterday as the River Thames broke its banks. The cosy riverside establishment in Surrey has a special high-tide entrance in case of flooding but even this was inaccessible on foot. The much-loved pub regularly gets cut off, usually about five times a month, but yesterday’s was a very high tide. The occurrence is a welcome excuse for the regulars who relish more time in the pub away from DIY jobs at home but it’s perhaps not so favoured by stranded office workers seeking to get back to work after a boozy lunch. The Travel PR team is planning an after-work drink when the waters have subsided!
The Thames is known often to flood at high tide near Richmond Bridge, but visitors – and their cars – are often caught out. Local businesses are prepared for high water levels via reference to tide timetable books. The tide rises and falls due to the rotation of the earth and gravitational pull of the moon. Exceptionally high and low tides - Spring Tides - occur at the time of the new moon (or the full moon) when the sun, moon, and earth are approximately aligned.
Camilla Colley
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