'It was mostly drinking games, but someone built a snowman’: Inside Britain's most bizarre lock-in
The first people freed after spending three nights snowed inside Britain’s highest pub have revealed they spent most of the time playing drinking games.
Couple Becky Longthorp, 36 and Gary Bimpson, 42, said their only concern was if the beer ran out during their stay at the Tann Hill, in the Yorkshire Dales.
The pair, who had planned to camp by the pub for a night, were among 61 people who hunkered down on its floors after becoming trapped on Friday night.
They were left stranded in the pub, situated 1,732ft (528m) above sea level, when storm Arwen brought down cable lines on roads and dumped 3ft of snow.
All the stranded guests have now left after the snow was cleared from the road to Reeth.
While some enjoyed the snowy conditions outside, Becky said most trapped punters played “drinking games”.
Speaking before they left on Monday, she said: “There was somebody who built a snowman, but if I’m honest, it’s been more like drinking games.
“There was a girl with a mini skirt and high heels and, she’s had them on for three days.
“So a lot of people who are here don’t have the gear to go out in the snow because they only came for a gig.”
Becky and Gary, from Hull, arrived at the Tan Hill Inn on Friday to see an Oasis cover band and had pitched their tents by early afternoon.
But during the evening, as the concert was in full flow, sports masseuse Becky realised that their accommodation would not be viable.
She added: “In the night, just after the Oasis gig, I went to check on the tent and it was flattened – it was ripped into shreds.”
Gary said: “You couldn’t see it – it was just like arctic conditions in a blizzard.
“At 2 am in the morning, we were trying to dig all the stuff out. It was absolutely crazy.”
While admitting to some “anxiety” during the following three days, the couple said they also embraced their unique situation.
Gary added: “We had a bit of a sing-along, and everybody got their guitars out last night, which has been a good bit of fun.
“It’s just been a good atmosphere really – good old British spirit and all that.”
Becky compared the incident to being like the ITV show I’m a Celebrity if it was held in a pub.
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Gary also thanked the Tann Hill Inn’s owners for their hospitality.
He said: “To be honest with you, the owners of the pub have been absolutely unbelievable. They deserve a bloody medal.
“There’s been quite a lot of responsibility on their shoulders – there's been quite a few people with an inability to get out, and they just took to it really, really well.
“Everybody in the pub feels very grateful for the hospitality that we’ve been shown.”
Fellow reveller Vicky Hogson posted to Facebook: "After the highs of being told we were going to be rescued yesterday morning… then the lows of being told .. nope, rescue ain’t happening we actually had a really good night last night.
"We had a delicious Sunday dinner with the biggest Yorkshire puddings I’ve ever seen, we were entertained by some impromptu acoustic singers.
"The gritters have finally made it up to us so we have attempted to drive home… we’ve already had to help push a van out a ditch so this could well be another adventure."
