Pembroke has faced widespread building damage following a flood in the College, leaving areas of multiple accommodation staircases, and the performing space of Pembroke Players remaining inaccessible, Varsity can report.

A recent update on Friday has revealed the College is now undertaking “costly” repair works, with the ground floor of BB and CC staircase, featuring multiple student rooms, as well as New Cellars, continuing to be inaccessible two weeks on from the initial incident.

This was communicated via an email seen by Varsity from the College Bursar to all undergraduate students.

This follows events of late October (29/10), when a blocked drain caused significant flooding.

Residents on the ground floor of two staircases BB and CC in Foundress Court were moved to alternative accommodation in Pembroke. Students on the upper floors of these staircases were directed to use alternative accommodation until 5.00 pm on Friday (31/10).

The music practice room, gym, computer room, and basement of Foundress court also remain off limits.

The Bursar stated in Friday’s email: “the teams are working incredibly hard to return us back to normal as quickly as possibly, and we thank you for your patience and co-operation whilst the works are being done”.

The inaccessibility of New Cellars, the performance space of theatre troupe Pembroke Players, led to them announcing on their Instagram that all New Cellars events scheduled for the upcoming weeks have been postponed until at least the 16th of November.

Now, following Friday’s update, events are likely to be further postponed as New Cellars remains out of access.

Co-Presidents Louisa Hailley and Flossie Bullion have stated that the “flooding has been truly unfortunate for our upcoming term of exciting productions.

“We are saddened to have to cancel these events, particularly as an organisation dedicated to supporting experimental and beginner student theatre.

“The Pembroke Players are working with Pembroke College to do our utmost to support the shows affected, and to start putting on productions again as soon as we can.”

The delays have so far affected three shows, Dead at the Apollo, Pussycat Venus, and Pigs, which all were scheduled to run between the 2nd and 9th of November.

Pembroke has commented: “Pembroke can confirm that there was a flood in Foundress Court on Wednesday 29th October. The cause of the flood was due to material being flushed through the waste system, which should have been disposed of in a bin.

“Immediate action was taken to relocate 15 students to other College rooms whilst the clear up and remediation work takes place. Due to the flood damage, the majority of the affected students will need to remain in alternative accommodation until the end of term.

“Staff and students worked together to pack up and move their belongings to their new accommodation. The clear up and remediation work is now ongoing.

“Unfortunately, this means that facilities in the basement of Foundress Court are out of action, which has impacted our Pembroke Players. The College is working with the Pembroke Players Committee to find alternative rehearsal and performance spaces in Pembroke.

“We are extremely grateful to our students and staff for the cooperation, patience, and agility they have shown this past week in dealing with the incident swiftly,” they added.