The landlady of The Fisherman’s Cottage riverside pub has said that Reading Borough Council threatened legal action if she served customers during flooding.

Mrs Cigdem Atkins, 49, owner of The Fisherman’s Cottage Pub on the River Kennet, says she has been suffering extreme business loss since the commencement of nearby building work to strengthen the riverside retaining wall.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) previously closed off access for “essential repair works,” making access to the riverside pub more difficult and allegedly leaving the venue missing out on crucial passing trade.

The building work is taking place on the path that crosses in front of The Fisherman’s Cottage.

Last month, the work on the riverside stopped due to the flooding of the Kennet and the path was reopened.

However, despite losing almost all of her Christmas bookings and reportedly thousands of pounds in profit since the work started, RBC officers allegedly told Mrs Atkins that she still was not allowed to serve customers because of the flooding.

“They were so rude to me,” she said. “They said if there was any water on the path outside my pub you cannot let customers in.

“This is ridiculous, my customers can just walk through the water if there is only a bit of it.”

Mrs Atkins said that a council officer told her that if they catch wind of her permitting customers into the Fisherman’s Cottage whilst the path is flooded they will take her to court.

The council has since confirmed that the repairs to the riverside wall will recommence in March. However, according to Mrs Atkins the council failed to tell her this latest update personally.

“The council has given us no information,” she said. “I found out that they were continuing with the work through social media.

“I am done contacting the council and pleading with them for help. We are all in a crisis, my customers too.”

Mrs Atkins said that the pub is usually quiet in the winter, so they have seen little business especially with the building work going on.

“Now when it gets sunny again and people will want to come out, the building work will start again and no one will be able to get here.”

A spokesperson for Reading Borough Council said: "Reading Borough Council expects the highest standards of behaviour from its officers and contractors and any complaints are taken seriously.

 “We have not been able to find a record of the telephone conversation referred to by Ms Atkins, but if she would like to provide more details by raising a formal complaint to the council this will be investigated further in line with our complaints procedure.”