Holidaymaker's horror at ‘drunk gangs’ on Evesham riverside

Stuart Adair and his wife, Sharon, have been visiting Evesham by narrowboat for several years but the 53-year-old construction manager says he is now falling out of love with the town.

On their most recent visit, they had to move their boat after a group of around a dozen topless, drunk, men started gathering in Workman Gardens.

Mr Adair said: “I feel compelled to share our recent experience whilst in Evesham, a town we’ve visited many times in the past and which we absolutely love, or should I say loved in the past tense.

“I have family who live in Evesham and I enquired if my experience was an exception and was told that it's actually the norm now for the Workman Gardens area to be populated with groups of men drinking to excess.”

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The Adairs have been visiting Evesham several times a year for the last five years (Image: NQ)

The Adairs moored close to Workman Bridge on Thursday (June 22) while en route to Stratford-upon-Avon.

They said there were lots of people out enjoying the sun, including a group of men drinking.

“Assuring ourselves that we’ve never had an issue before we headed into town and had a thoroughly good time,” Mr Adair continued.

“On returning things took a turn for the worst.

“The gang of men now appeared to have grown significantly to around a dozen who all had their shirts off, appeared extremely drunk and were shouting at each other  

“Feeling somewhat exposed we immediately moved the boat to the very far end of Workman Gardens where we remained for the night, listening to the men shouting at each other for some time to come.”

Mr Adair said the following morning they found a “fair old mess” with cans scattered across the floor, and men gathering to drink, again shirtless, at 9am.

He says they visit Evesham several times each year and believe things are getting worse.

“We've noticed things steadily getting worse around Workman Gardens, however, this last time was a real step change,” he said.

"Whilst moored in Stratford we shared our experience with other boaters and the overwhelming opinion is that Evesham Workman Gardens moorings are now a place to avoid because of these gangs of drunks.

“We dearly love coming to Evesham so I hope someone, somewhere takes this seriously and sorts things out.”

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Stuart Adair had to move his boat from its usual mooring, near Workman Bridge (Image: NQ)

Mr Adair has not reported the incident to the police, but a spokesperson for West Mercia said anyone who experiences such behaviour should report it either online or by calling 101.

Meanwhile, the town’s mayor, councillor Alan Booth, said that while Evesham did have trouble with such behaviour a few years ago, it was his understanding the situation had improved.

He said: “We had trouble on Workman Gardens a few years ago, boaters then said that they wouldn't come to Evesham   

“This as far I know hasn't been the case in recent years. 

“As for drinking the guidelines are a bit hard to interpret, as we don't want to stop boaters enjoying a drink on their boats.

“I sincerely hope the boater enjoyed the rest of his stay in the town. I can only apologise to him.”