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English pub still to re-open for business today despite car crashing through it in the early hours

The pub landlord said the hard work to get ready to re-open had been undone by the incident.

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A PUB IN England has managed to open despite a car crashing into its front in the early hours, the landlord said.

The Swan Inn at Little Chart, near Ashford in Kent, will still be able to serve pints to customers outside despite the landlord being woken by the devastation at around 2am this morning.

Ray Perkins told the PA news agency: “It was absolutely devastating because obviously we were opening today.

“We’ve had everybody rally round and clear up the bar, every single glass has had to be washed again.”

He added: “We’ve got open, we’ve managed to open the pub – not inside, only outside.”

Perkins said he was “absolutely gutted” and “exhausted” by the incident, but was determined to open up for his customers.

coronavirus-sat-jul-4-2020 The Landlady of The Swan Inn in Ashford, Kent, looks at the damage to her pub Gareth Fuller / PA Images Gareth Fuller / PA Images / PA Images

He continued: “We’ve worked hard for the last god knows how many weeks now to get it ready for today.

“At 2am they basically nearly destroyed today for us, but that’s life.

“We just didn’t want to let anyone down because we’ve got 200 people booked to come and eat and drink outside and be merry on the first day of opening.”

Kent Police said they were called to the scene shortly before 2.25am alongside paramedics and the fire service.

Three 17-year-old boys inside the car were taken to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries.

One of them has been arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent and drink driving. He remains in custody.

Pubs across England have been allowed to reopen from today as the coronavirus lockdown restrictions were relaxed.

Restaurants, bars and cinemas have also been allowed to welcome customers for the first time in three months.

Pubs in Wales and Scotland must remain closed until later this month as the devolved nations are lifting their own lockdown rules more slowly, but hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes in Northern Ireland reopened yesterday.

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    Mute Honeybee
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    Jul 4th 2020, 6:08 PM

    They could always change the name from the Swan Inn to the Hole In The Wall.

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    Mute Joey Roche
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    Jul 4th 2020, 4:58 PM

    Some advertising

    107
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    Mute Martin Scaldbag
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    Jul 4th 2020, 5:32 PM

    @Joey Roche: I have to admire the British “get on with it” spirit.

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    Mute Crispy Brown
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    Jul 4th 2020, 5:13 PM

    Is there nothing happening in Ireland today at all??

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    Mute Michael Patrick
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    Jul 4th 2020, 7:02 PM

    @Crispy Brown: give it a rest

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    Mute Maalouf
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    Jul 4th 2020, 5:30 PM

    Them lads were eager for a pint!

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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Jul 4th 2020, 5:37 PM

    @Maalouf: cowen about?

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    Mute Berkieahern3
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    Jul 4th 2020, 8:19 PM

    @Maalouf: cowens!!

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    Mute IrishSportives.ie
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    Jul 4th 2020, 6:05 PM

    That pub should have been wearing hi viz. No wonder the driver didn’t see it.

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    Mute Noel Doherty
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    Jul 4th 2020, 6:01 PM

    Drive thru pint’s but no one told them it starts at 12pm

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    Mute Geoffroy Meynet
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    Jul 4th 2020, 8:29 PM

    “More open than usual” could be a good advertising slogan here.

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    Mute S U S I E
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    Jul 4th 2020, 6:39 PM

    Why is it that this news of interest to Irish readers?

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    Mute Michael Patrick
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    Jul 4th 2020, 7:07 PM

    @S U S I E: ah here give it a rest are we only allowed to get news from Ireland a bit of cop on would do you good

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    Mute Marie Broomfield
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    Jul 4th 2020, 5:48 PM

    They mistook the Pub sign for a road sign!

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    Mute Michael Wynne
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    Jul 4th 2020, 7:55 PM

    “The Swan Inn” Should be renamed “ The Car Inn”

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    Mute Berkieahern3
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    Jul 4th 2020, 8:19 PM

    Well that certainly sort out the required amount of air changes, to help fight Covid

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    Mute John Keane
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    Jul 5th 2020, 7:24 AM

    The dublin pub ‘The Hole in the Wall’ comes to mind

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    Mute Colm Flaherty
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    Jul 5th 2020, 7:37 AM

    Got some cash,
    Got some wheels,
    Took it out,
    Cross the fields,
    Lost control,
    In a wall,
    But we’re all right!

    1
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