The owners of a Leicestershire pub have revealed they have “lost everything” after chest-high flood water swept through the premises. The Italian Greyhound, in Great Glen, was one of hundreds of properties affected when record-breaking floods hit the county this week, with emergency services responding to more than 380 calls in 24 hours.
Owners Cimi and Yanela Kazazi – who helped to rescue a woman who had become trapped in her nearby car – told LeicestershireLive today (Wednesday, January 8) that they were first alerted to the deluge at around 5am on Monday (January 6), when a neighbour called to warn them about rising water levels. Within hours, the water was more than a metre deep, and the pub’s beer garden and the surrounding area were completely submerged.
Today, with the help of villagers, they are cleaning up the “devastation” wreaked by the filthy water. Mrs Kazazi said: “We have lost everything, all the stock, beer, food. The water in the car park was up to my husband’s chest. It’s heartbreaking to see, but the community response has been so warming. The humanity is incredible.”
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This morning, more than a dozen volunteers were working throughout the pub – moving furniture, cleaning the kitchen and sorting glassware. Inside the pub, the scale of damage became clear as volunteers worked to salvage what they could.
Bar supervisor Chloe Tinger, 26, paused from mopping to describe the scene. She said: “When I saw Main Street, I knew the pub was going to be bad. It was just devastation everywhere.”
The impact has been felt across the village’s tight-knit community. Laura Wilkinson, 47, who owns a cafe in Great Glen, told LeicestershireLive: “It’s devastation when you look around. For me, as a local business owner, all my customers are neighbours. People are absolutely mortified, shocked.”
Cafe owner Laura Wilkinson, 47
(Image: Dylan Hayward)
The response extended beyond the village itself. Kristina, who did give her surname, took time off work and travelled from Leicester after seeing videos of the devastation online. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it,” said the 43-year-old as she helped sort through water-damaged items. “I called my manager and asked if I could help out my friend instead of going to London today.”
Among those assessing the damage was resident Paul Marcus, 63, who revealed the extent of the village’s ongoing battle with flooding. “A neighbour has had to replace her car twice in the last eight months,” he said, shaking his head. “The waters destroyed my car, though my property narrowly escaped. Others weren’t so lucky.”
Local resident Paul Marcus, 63 narrowly avoided flooding at his home
(Image: Dylan Hayward)
Mrs Kazazi described it as their third and worst flood to date at the pub. She fought back tears as she surveyed the damage.
The pub faces thousands of pounds worth of damage
(Image: Dylan Hayward)
The Kazazis have urged well-wishers not to start fund-raising campaigns, instead asking people to donate to the community hall or church. “We just need hands to help, not money,” Mrs Kazazi added. “There are others in the community such as the church or community hall who need financial support more than us.”
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