Gallery: Canalside pub in Brewood opens laundrette

However, thanks to an inventive pub landlady, canal holiday-makers now have a place to wash and dry their clothes, as she has opened a laundrette inside her pub.

Annette Hughes, aged 48, has lived above the The Bridge Inn, High Green, Brewood, with her family for the past two years.

Ever since she moved in, Annette noticed there were a great number of people holidaying on the canal who would end up getting soaked by the rain.

She said: "I felt so sorry for them, I really did. I said to my family, we've got to do something, we can't leave them soaked to the bone like this. It even got to the point that I was offering people the chance to dry their clothes in my dryer upstairs."

That's when Annette had an ingenious idea – to open a mini laundrette in her premises for the soaked through to use and dry out.

"I pitched the idea to the brewery and said 'look, these people need somewhere to go' and they agreed that it was a good idea.

"If they stay and have a drink while they're waiting, then all the better."

The laundrette, aptly called the Bridge 14 after its location on the canal, opened on Friday.

Already Annette has had one customer – a man from the village armed with his duvet. There's no other laundrette facilities in Brewood," Annette added. "So people are coming with their larger linen and things because we've got industrial-size machines.

"Obviously there's a bonus in getting people through the doors, but the laundrette is in a separate room, so no one will have to wait around in their undies."

The laundrette will be open from midday until 11pm, seven days a week.

Its introduction has been welcomed by pub-goers.

Posting on the pub's Facebook page, Sharon Richardson, said: "Fantastic idea for us boaters. Well done."

Viv Sparrow, added: "Fantastic, it looks amazing. Am so pleased finally a good use for the old store room. Good luck with it."