Lightning strikes plague beach bar

The old adage of lightning never striking twice is somewhat of a myth when it comes to the Divers Tavern in Broome.

The pub in Cable Beach has been battered by bolts so many times lightning conductors have been installed on the roof.

And this month was no exception when at about 8.40pm one Friday lightning struck the premises and fried the fronds of a palm tree leaving just a trunk rising from the ground, causing more than $15,000 damage.

Divers general manager Mick Wescombe said it was surprising that the tavern did not lose power considering how much equipment was affected by lightning.

“That was our biggest palm tree — we will have to replace that one eventually,” he said.

“(The sound control) desk system will have to be repaired or replaced and that’s a $15,000 system, we also had a racing satellite dish and our alarm system which has been repaired now.”

Mr Wescombe said although lightning strikes were not new to the tavern it would have an effect on business as the Beach Bar would closed until the end of February and all pre booked entertainment would be moved to the main bar.

“It’s very quiet at the moment but during the season we could have had three or four hundred people in there; there was 30 or 40 people there on Friday it’s not as serious as if it had happened during the tourist season,” he said

“Whenever there’s a thunderstorm going over Broome and heading out to sea, you can almost guarantee that Divers Tavern or the surrounding area is going to cop a lightning bolt.”