'Chairs floating' outside Barnes Park cafe hit by half-metre flash flooding

A heavy downpour struck the city at around 2pm on Monday, July 25. One place to be affected by the deluge was the Coach House Cafe, in Barnes Park, beside the park’s playing field.

The flooding affected both the inside and outside of the cafe. Outdoor seating overlooks the children’s play area. However, the waters have since subsided and the cafe is expected to reopen soon. Water levels outside reached almost half-a-metre – around 18 inches.

One eye witness, nine year-old Lucy Thompson from High Barnes, told the Echo: “It was really heavy rain and misty and we could see chairs floating outside the cafe.”

It is not yet known how much damage was caused. The Met Office has forecast dry days ahead following a damp and mainly overcast Monday (July 25).