An historic Tynemouth pub that took “one hell of a beating” in Storm Arwen can once again be seen in all its glory after being shrouded in scaffolding for the past three months.
The Gibraltar Rock overlooking King Edward’s Bay had stood up to the worst the weather could throw at it for more than two centuries until Storm Arwen hit on November 26 last year.
The storm, which carried a rare red weather warning, battered the North East coast with winds consistently in excess of 90mph, ripping off much of the Gibraltar Rock’s pantile roof and smashing windows.
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Since then the pub – the only one in the UK believed to be named the Gibraltar Rock - had been swathed in scaffolding, affecting takings after an already difficult two years on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now the scaffolding is finally down following the replacement of the roof, and owner Billy Robinson is looking forward to what he hopes will be a great summer after battling through the pandemic and this winter’s back-to-back storms.
He said takings last weekend were already up as the sun shone and visitors were once again encouraged to step over the threshold of the pub, which boasts spectacular views along the North Tyneside coast.
He said: “It’s been an horrendous last few months. About 40% of our revenue has gone since that last Saturday of November in the aftermath of Storm Arwen. No-one wants to go into a pub that’s covered in scaffolding. Two years of battling through the pandemic and then to be hit with that. It’s crazy. But since the scaffolding has come down we have already seen our takings go up.”
The pub is not fully open, however. The first floor still remains closed having suffered extensive rain and wind damage when the roof came off.
But Mr Robinson said the plan is to be back to normal for April 23. “Hopefully, by Easter time we will be fully ready and can look forward to a trouble-free year.”
He hopes to capitalise on a pandemic trend that seems here to stay – al fresco eating and drinking.
He said: “We had a pavement license last year and when the Covid restrictions were lifted we did great business. But you can’t have people eating outdoors in winter, and when Storm Arwen hit and we had to close the first floor, we lost half of our business."
The pub is also looking to capitalise on its location and has plans for an outdoor bar. Mr Robinson said: “We are planning an outdoor bar and are hopeful that people will once again want to sit outside and make the most of our spectacular position overlooking King Edward’s Bay and Tynemouth Priory and Castle.”
The Gibraltar Rock is one of Tynemouth’s oldest pubs. It dates back to at least 1822 with its current name thought to owe its origins to the Peninsular War fought in the early 19th Century in the Iberian Peninsula between Britain and the invading forces of Napoleon’s France.
Mr Robinson believes it was the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers – who had fought in the early years of the war – who named the pub the Gibraltar Rock when they were stationed at Tynemouth Priory and Castle in 1837.
