A pub landlord posed for ‘the most British photo ever’ – as he enjoyed a beer in his underwear despite 40ft stormy waves turning his seafront boozer’s terrace into a ‘swim-up bar’.
Rob Braddick visited The Fairway Buoy in Westward Ho!, Devon, around 7.15am on Tuesday morning to find sea water filling its cellar and flooding his outdoor seating area.
NewsBut the 52-year-old calmly poured a pint of Mahou and stripped down to his boxers to pose for a photo in the strong winds.
The hilarious snap shows him sipping his beer despite the floor being flooded and a large plant pot having fallen in front of him.
He posted the tongue-in-cheek image and a video to social media where he reassured followers the bar had survived being flooded and joked it now had a ‘swim-up bar’.
‘The most British photo ever’: Pub landlord Rob Braddick visited The Fairway Buoy in Westward Ho!, Devon, around 7.15am on Tuesday morning to find sea water filling its cellar and flooding his outdoor seating area
Waves crash against the The Fairway Buoy pub in Westward Ho!, Devon on April 9
On Monday night The Environment Agency issued a flood alert for the coastal areas of North Devon, including Westward Ho!.
The Met Office also gave a yellow warning for high winds and torrential rain in the area. The Environment Agency warned people in southern England to ‘please stay away from coastal paths, piers and promenades’ as dangerously strong waves struck.
Hundreds of areas were on flood watch – with the Environment Agency imposing 216 alerts for ‘possible’ flooding and 105 warnings for ‘expected’ flooding in England.
Natural Resources Wales had 13 warnings and 24 alerts in place, while the Scottish Environment Protection Agency activated seven warnings and 14 alerts.
Businessman Mr Braddick has since claimed the image could be the ‘most British photo ever’ and sums up Brits’ resilience to have a good time whatever the weather throws at them.
Mr Braddick, from Westward Ho!, said: ‘It’s like the most British picture ever.
‘It’s quite relatable because it shows the British resilience of having a good time no matter what the weather is like.
‘I really enjoyed that beer but it was brisk so luckily I had a towel in the car.
‘It was a cold wind but the beer was cold and nice. I just wanted to raise a smile.
‘The waves were probably 40ft waves that were hitting the wall, going straight up in the air and coming down.
‘I’ve lost a few chairs down the promenade and onto the beach but everything is okay.’
Videos clips show the giant waves battering the The Fairway Buoy but luckily there was no damage to the bar area.
Rob Braddick stands outside his Devon pub The Fairway Buoy on a much sunnier day
Videos clips show the giant waves battering the The Fairway Buoy but luckily there was no damage to the bar area
Mr Braddick says they’re the second-tallest waves he’s seen outside the pub in 25 years of running it.
One commented: ‘Good job there is no damage but no doubt it will take some clearing up.
‘Only you could make something a bit positive out of the situation, especially after the work and expense there recently.’
A second said: ‘I’m glad there is no damage! But like the thought of a swim-up pool!’
A third said: ‘Love it! Fair play. You actually are absolutely nuts!’