


Dale End Cafe, in Coalbrookdale, has been devastated by flooding in recent weeks, causing thousands of pounds damage.
The building was flooded three times in the last few weeks, firstly after a nearby brook rose dramatically on Sunday, February 16 – the day the team was supposed to be celebrating their second anniversary in the café – and then twice more when the River Severn burst its banks in the aftermath of Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis.
Owners Chris Harrison and his wife Sharon Shenton have seen a massive outpouring of support from the community who have helped with the clean-up effort and offered their services free of charge.
A JustGiving fundraising page was also launched online in a bid to raise £5,000 for the cafe, which has no insurance.
It was set up by Julie Ward, of Leegomery, who has been supported by the owners with her own fundraising events, and has now raised more than £3,100, with more than 160 people pledging donations.
#backtobusiness - how to take part
Let us know when your business is back in action after the floods
Let us know how people can help
Tell us about customers and residents who have gone above and beyond to help
We'll share the best stories with our readers and help Shropshire get back on its feet
TWITTER - use the hashtag #backtobusiness to share your stories with us
FACEBOOK - Visit our Facebook Community Noticeboard to share your stories
You can also share your stories using this form:
The cafe has also been loaned a mobile catering unit and is hoping to be able to reopen, offering a limited service, by the weekend.
Mr Harrison, 47, from Trench, said: "We are currently drying out. We are so grateful for the support we've had so far. "Over the weekend we were expecting another flood but it didn't happen.
"We have just had gravel donated so we can sort out the car park and someone has also donated a catering trailer, so we will be able to offer a limited service.
"We will be able to do takeaway butties and we are hoping to put some picnic tables out for people to sit outside.
"Since the floods we've had no income so this will help. It's really uplifting that so many people care about us getting open."
Ironbridge Antiques, Arts & Crafts was also flooded twice in the past few weeks and the water gutted its tea room.
Task today is to clear this lot out so a new floor can be put down pretty soon hopefully, #ironbridgealfie is supervising as usual👍 #shoplocal pic.twitter.com/89ciDbIYuY
— Ironbridge_AAC Nige (@IronbridgeAAC) March 4, 2020
The antiques centre at Merrythought Village has been able to reopen, but Nigel Byard, director of the company, says it could be another week and a half until the tea room is back in business.
After making an appeal for help on Facebook, Ironbridge Interiors came forward to offer a new kitchen for the tea room.
Mr Byard said: "We can't thank them enough. It's just amazing. We've also had someone offer to fit the floor.
"The antique centre is open. It's not perfect, at some point we will have to repaint the floor but it is tradeable.
"I'm hoping if we can get all the flooring done, we can reopen the tea room in a week and a half."
Anyone who wants to donate to the Dale End Cafe fundraiser can visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/daleendcafe?utm_id=60&utm_term=x898wadRR