After a blizzard cut off the building, dozens of customers who stopped for a drink at Britain’s highest altitude pub got more than they bargained for. 

Sixty-one people woke up on Monday at the Tan Hill Inn in the Yorkshire Dales, 270 miles (435 kilometres) north of London, after their third night there. They have been unable to leave since Friday, when a late-autumn storm dumped snow and strong winds, causing power lines to fall and roads to become impassable.

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The pub is located at a height of 1,732 feet (528 metres) above sea level and is used to being cut off by bad weather. Since then, a tunnel has been dug from the pub’s front door, but the roads are impassable due to damage to power cables. 

Staff had planned movies, a quiz night, and karaoke for the stranded guests, according to manager Nicola Townsend. They’ve also been entertained by Noasis, an Oasis tribute band who have been stuck at the pub since their Friday night performance. 

“They were in really good spirits,” Townsend said of the guests.

“They’ve formed quite a friendship … like a big family is the best way I can describe it,” she said. “One lady actually said ‘I don’t want to leave.’” 

Townsend said she hoped people would be able to head home later Monday once roads had been cleared.

One of the guests, Martin Overton, said the atmosphere was “very good” with “plenty of beer available”.

His wife Stephanie added, “I’m quite chilled about being stranded, it’s quite exciting but we’re missing our son who is with his nana. I am wondering how long we will be here for though.”

The effects of the severe weather have continued to cause havoc elsewhere in North Yorkshire. 

Power cables had fallen in places like Hunmanby, Kilburn, and High Birstwith, according to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. 

Hundreds of people have been left without power as a result of dozens of power outages, and most trains between York and Scotland have been cancelled due to the closure of the East Coast Mainline between Newcastle and Edinburgh. 

Staff from North Yorkshire County Council, as well as emergency and utility services, continued to work together to deal with the storm’s aftermath, according to the council. 

According to a spokesperson, services were conducting checks on people who may require additional assistance, particularly in areas affected by power outages.

With inputs from Associated Press