More than 850 people have signed a petition calling for North Yorkshire Council to fix a leak which started after road resurfacing work.
The petition was launched by businessman Phil Hall, who runs the Black Swan Inn on Birdgate, in Pickering, with wife Jill.
Mr Hall says the problems which started in October last year have “finished” their business.
Water started leaking into their basement after road repairs.
Workers from North Yorkshire Council came to investigate and put up a roadworks barriers outside the pub.
Eight months later, the barriers are still in place.
Mr Hill told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We had to stop doing food because we had water from an unknown source coming into the building, and that’s contravening the food hygiene regulations.
“Consequently, we couldn’t pay staff and we had to let staff go in the winter.
“We’re also in a position where because of the barriers around the front of the building, people think that we’re closed.
Black Swan Inn, Pickering
He added: “We started two weeks ago trying to do food again, but the footfall is dire. North Yorkshire Council don’t seem to understand is that with this type of business, you can’t just turn it on and off — the reputation is your business.
“It’s finished our business, it really has.”
More than 850 people have signed the petition calling on the council to fix the repair.
The petition will be debated by members of North Yorkshire Council’s Thirsk and Malton area committee on Friday .
Mr Hall said: “We started a petition to try and encourage North Yorkshire Council to do something about the problem outside because it’s affecting the whole town.
“We also want the council to communicate with the businesses and the residents of the town to let them know what’s happening in some.
“We’re now getting into the big trading season and everybody’s concerned that the visitors to the town are going to be put off by the fact that we’ve got roadworks out there.”
A council report prepared ahead of the meeting states that the authority is about to install an in-kerb drainage system to collect any surface water outside the pub.
The report adds: “We are also looking to obtain listed building consent to work on a listed structure to put physical measures in place to install a water barrier below the footway level.
“This has necessitated obtaining the services of specialist engineers and engineering firms, which has added time to the development of the various
solutions proposed.
“Due to the length of time this is taking the benefits of reinstating the footway until a fully agreed and consented proposal is in place are being assessed. This will allow the traffic signals to be removed.”
The report states that the council submitted a proposal to deal with the water ingress with works inside the cellar, but this was rejected by the owners in early March 2026.
“It was thought that this would have enabled the public house to start operating normally again,” it adds.
