Popcorn, pints and a pooch’s birthday: life snowed in at the Tan Hill Inn
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What happened when 33 people were unable to leave? The Guardian’s north of England correspondent joins them. 4pm. I have picked up the Guardian and Observer photographer Gary Calton en route from Leeds to the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire. This is a story I’ve been hoping to cover for years and I’m surprised it’s actually happening. We listen to the Spice Girls as we navigate the steep and winding Yorkshire Dales roads, arriving just before the sun sets. We settle in with half a pint of stout each and get chatting to the overwhelmingly friendly punters, many of whom are excited to see either the Rag ‘N’ Bone Man tribute act or the Citroen 2CV car meet that is supposed to be happening tomorrow.
![[Robyn Vinter]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/09/13/Robyn_Vinter_NextGen_Byline_template_V2.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
7.30pm. The Rag ‘N’ Bone Man act calls to say he won’t be able to make it, followed by the Citroen 2CV car meet. 8.30pm. The pub gets word that the main northern road, the A66, will be closed at 10.30pm. Anyone not planning to stay the night should leave. The Met Office’s amber warning for snow is about to come into force and it is scheduled to last for two days.
![[A snow-covered picnic bench outside the pub]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/593626fbd5dda2999181a6c2271c939a4907b329/0_298_6720_4032/master/6720.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
9pm. The Tan Hill Inn is ringing with laughter and everyone is in exceptionally good spirits. Conversations get deeper, confidences are shared, memories are made. There is a great deal of novelty to being snowed in at a pub and tonight we are all confident it will not wear off.
![[A snowplough outside the pub]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e479876e6ee245759d0970db4ec66e85e50e3a9c/0_136_5500_3300/master/5500.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
11.45pm. At this point I’m not sure whether we’re in a lock-in or whether we’re just locked in. Thankfully there are enough beds for everyone and there are plenty of strangers willing to share rooms. From our bunk room, I can hear a group of women from Durham having a sing-song in their camper van long into the night.
![[A giant teddy bear joins children sledging]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/664af7840a90bdc6d0ae67e6ad23ae3a5cd1cf18/0_135_5500_3300/master/5500.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
