The 160-year-old riverside pub that's battling on after succession of tough challenges

Known as the Meadow for many years before a name change in 2019, the Water Rat is a pub of potential, friendly faces, good beer and warming meals.

Named because the new owners from the Ironbridge Pub Company were fans of Wind in the Willows, the pub has been a feature of the community in Ironbridge for decades and very popular with tourists and people travelling down the River Severn.

Landlord Lee Howard has been at the pub since the takeover and said that while locals still refer to it as the Meadow, the majority have slowly come around to the new name and enjoyed the refurbished interior of the pub.

He says: "There's still a few people who've come to us and said they preferred the old name, but they still love the pub and know that we don't have rats here, maybe a bit of the water that shows its face when the river flows which ticks off half of the name.

"They do come, as do a lot of people, because they know the food is good and they do appreciate the location the pub's in, plus when the new owners took over, they invested money as they felt it needed a refresh and gave it a modern update."

The refurbishment work saw the pub feature more light and airy areas for dining and overlooking the River Severn, as as panelled oak flooring and a bright and large bar serving a large range of beers.

It also included a mosaic of Ratty and Moley from Wind in the Willows, paying tribute to the original text and the new name.

However, just as the work was completed, there was a double whammy of issues as the River Severn burst its banks for the first time in 20 years, then the Covid-19 pandemic saw lockdown imposed and the pub closed.

While the pub was able to reopen and function during the pandemic and, subsequently, after restrictions were lifted, Mr Howard explains that it, along with a lot of others in the town, has suffered from a downturn in trade, partly due to Covid, but also due to seasonal factors.

He continues: "Ironbridge is a place that, for the people who are here, is very seasonal, so in the colder months, it's usually the locals who visit, along with a few tourists, but we are still living in the after-effects of Covid.

"Three years later, we are still suffering the after-effects, and we're not the only one in Ironbridge to suffer from it as there are some pubs who didn't make it out."

Despite the issues from Covid-19 and the change in traffic during the changes in season, Water Rat remains a popular venue for locals and visitors alike, with Mr Howard saying the food made a difference, as well as the atmosphere.

He says: "I think the support of locals have been top tier, but what we have to offer there is just simple, good country cooked food and a nice atmosphere, which really is welcoming to everyone.

"I think that's why people have been starting to come back and while it has been a struggle with not just Covid, but also keeping staffing levels and the consistency of the product, we're doing ok.

"It can be daunting sometimes, but we stick to our guns and keep it going and know that we can offer a nice product to people."

These products include local beers from breweries such as Three Tuns and a seasonal food menu which can be changed depending on what is selling well.

Mr Howard said the pub still had a future in the community and despite worries such as flooding and future health risks, the pub could still be the place to be for years to come.

He says: "We don't know what's around the corner as we could be flooded, which has happened in Ironbridge for the last three years, and we keep riding that wave.

"Obviously, there's also the issues of gas and electric bills and rising costs, but we just keep on banging out the product, give good service to people and just be that local pub that someone can come to."