Worcestershire Vineyard’s Broadband Nightmare After Storm Babet

For over five weeks since Storm Babet struck on October 20, Six Ashes Vineyard, a small business near Bobbington, Worcestershire, has been plunged into a digital blackout, severely impacting its operations and financial stability. Owners Sarah and Robert Davies, who also run a glamping business on the rural site, have faced immense frustration and significant losses due to the prolonged broadband outage. The lack of connectivity has crippled their ability to process essential card payments, manage online bookings for future glamping stays, and communicate effectively with suppliers, jeopardizing upcoming festive season trade.

The Davies family has been in constant contact with BT Openreach, the network provider, and their broadband provider, EE, only to be met with repeated delays and rescheduled repair dates. Despite Openreach acknowledging the “escalated” issue and expressing regret for the “severe” damage caused by recent storms, the vineyard has endured multiple broken promises regarding reconnection. A new pole is reportedly required, a fix that has proven elusive for weeks, forcing the couple to rely on unreliable mobile hotspots in an area with poor signal. This ongoing struggle highlights the vulnerability of rural businesses heavily dependent on digital infrastructure.

The financial strain is palpable, with Mrs. Davies noting the loss of customers and revenue as bookings cannot be confirmed and payments are difficult to process. The vineyard, which started in 2020 and opened to the public in 2021 offering white and rosé wines, tasting tours, and a shop, is now struggling to maintain its viability.

Amidst the technical nightmare, the local community has rallied, demonstrating remarkable support. Customers have shown understanding and offered alternative payment methods like cash or bank transfers, providing a lifeline to the struggling business. However, the Davies emphasize that this unsustainable situation cannot continue, especially as they head into the crucial Christmas period. Their desperate hope is for a swift resolution to resume normal operations and mitigate the long-term impact on their livelihood and the local economy.

(Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgqg1x1pyxpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)