The story of the customers and staff who have been snowed-in for days in Britain’s highest pub has made headlines around the world. Hardy drinkers have been stuck at the Tan Hall Inn in the Yorkshire Dales since Saturday.
One of the castaways at the historic 17th century pub, which is situated 528 metres (1,732 ft) above sea level, is Angus Leslie. But he’s no stranger to the experience, as he works at a chef at the inn and has been stranded there before.
On Wednesday evening, after supermarket chain Aldi arranged for a delivery of supplies using a local farmer’s snowplough, he declared: “Thanks to Aldi we can now stay for longer. Bring on the snow!”
Just last month, Angus hit the headlines when he proposed to his girlfriend Maria Lowcock in front of hundreds of people at the end of the recent Yorkshire Post Tourism Awards event in Leeds.
READ MORE: Aldi delivers supplies to snowed-in drinkers at Britain’s highest pub on sixth day of epic ‘lock in’
The couple fell for each other during lockdown in 2020 when they lived in as caretakers at the Tan Hill Inn, which was closed for months due to the pandemic restrictions.
Angus, 55, who was wearing a kilt and full Highland regalia, caught Maria by surprise when he got down on one knee to pop the question at the black-tie bash.
He told the Yorkshire Post: “If you’re going to have to be locked in then the highest and loveliest pub in the land was quite a romantic place to spend it. I was very lucky to spend that time with Maria.”
The couple live together in the picturesque Dales village of Askrigg and Maria, 56, added: “I was not expecting it at all and when he guided me out of the crowd I was wondering what he was doing until he knelt down.”
Maria works front of house at the Tan Hill Inn’s sister pub, the Green Dragon near Hawes. The Green Dragon is used as a filming location in All Creatures Great and Small and has undergone a £250,000 refurbishment under the stewardship of Tan Hill Inn owner Andrew Hields.
More than 30 guests and staff were trapped in the pub at the weekend
(Image: PA)
As Britain’s highest pub, the Tan Hill Inn has seen people become snowed in overnight dozens of times over the years. It last hit hit the headlines in November 2021 when around 60 people watching an Oasis tribute band became stranded during Storm Arwen.
It even starred in the 2017 Waitrose Christmas advert showing a group of festive guests who go for a drink and end up snowed in for days.
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