Jane Beaumont, who operates the Lockside Cafe alongside her children including son Chris Burntwood, has seen her business revenues fall sharply since a major breach closed a section of the Llangollen Canal in Whitchurch. According to BBC News, the waterway has been shut since the early hours of 22 December 2025, when a large embankment gave way, leaving two boats submerged at the bottom of a deep trench and a third suspended precariously over its edge.
The closure has devastated trade at the cafe in Grindley Brook, with Beaumont reporting a 40% decline in earnings as the absence of passing boats and canal-path walkers has eliminated a crucial source of customers. She initially feared losses could reach 70 to 75%, but community support has helped mitigate the damage. The Canal & River Trust has announced that the waterway is expected to reopen ahead of Easter, which would allow businesses and visitors to benefit from the start of the main boating and tourism season, though the timeline remains weather-dependent.
Beaumont expressed cautious optimism about the reopening schedule.
"I'm glad that it'll hopefully be open for Easter, so businesses can start trading again and the boats will be along, people will be along, and everything will go with the flow,"she told the BBC. She emphasised the critical importance of meeting the Easter deadline, as this period traditionally marks the beginning of the spring and summer trading season for canal-based enterprises.
How has the community responded?
Local residents have rallied around the affected business, helping to cushion what could have been a catastrophic financial blow.
"We've had massive support from the local community, they rallied around and supported us greatly,"Beaumont said. She credited this backing with reducing the projected trade loss from the initial 70 to 75% estimate to the current 40% decline.
"People keep coming back and coming back because people care about the cafe, and care about the family business. It's absolutely heart-warming to experience it."
Beaumont has operated the cafe for approximately 24 years with her son and daughter. When the breach occurred, she was away but rushed back immediately upon hearing the news. In June, after losing all summer trade, she organised a programme of events for the remainder of 2026 designed to attract customers, including a day featuring live music, mini markets, and fancy dress activities.
What happens if the Easter deadline is missed?
Beaumont warned that any delay beyond Easter could prove severely damaging to the business and the wider canal economy.
"Easter is usually when trade starts for the spring/summer season for the canal. If it doesn't open then, it will impact us more. If it is open later, I don't know what's going to happen,"she said. She described a further postponement as a
"big issue"for her operations.
In January, Julie Sharman, chief operating officer of the Canal & River Trust, indicated that the organisation had initially hoped to reopen the canal by the end of 2026. However, the timeline has since been accelerated. The embankment rebuild is scheduled to be completed before Christmas, with a concrete foundation to be laid in preparation for construction of the new canal channel. The next phase of work will commence after Christmas.
Campbell Robb, chief executive of the Canal & River Trust, said:
"Businesses, boaters and local communities can have increased confidence of this popular canal being open from Easter 2027. While there remains a huge amount of work to do, this marks an important milestone in bringing the Llangollen Canal back stronger and more resilient for the future."
What is the broader context for canal disruptions?
The Llangollen Canal closure reflects wider pressures affecting waterway infrastructure and canal-dependent businesses. Earlier in 2026, parts of the Grand Union Canal in Leicestershire were closed to boats for approximately 10 miles due to low water levels following a record dry spell. Canal users in the West Midlands have similarly warned that falling water levels are disrupting boating and trade, and have called on the Canal and River Trust and government to develop contingency plans for future droughts. These incidents underscore the vulnerability of canal infrastructure and the businesses that depend on steady water flow and visitor access.
The situation mirrors challenges faced by other businesses dependent on transport corridors. In July 2026, traders in Sanquhar reported significant losses when the A76 road closed for six weeks for repairs to the Tolbooth Museum, with a 50-mile diversion disrupting customer access. Similarly, businesses on Londonderry's Pump Street have described their area as a no-go zone due to a damaged listed building and prolonged street closure, demonstrating a pattern of infrastructure disruptions affecting local commerce across the UK.
