A cruising restaurant in Warwickshire has been re-launched with emergency aid from Business Link in the West Midlands after last summer's floods left it high and dry.

Ashley and Ann Simons feared their business, then known as the Prince Regent 2 Cruising Restaurant, would be sunk after record rainfall left them with no option but to cancel half their summer reservations.

Ashley said: "We bought the business in 2006 and had only just started trading in the last quarter of the year. The 2007 season had just got into full swing when the rain came in May and continued throughout June and July.

The couple turned to Business Link adviser Anne Cumberlidge, who specialises in helping tourism operations in Coventry and Warwickshire.

They received aid with their marketing and with the cash flow, which helped to get the restaurant re-launched.

IT Futures at Wolverhampton University assisted with producing a new website at www.pr2restaurant.co.uk, and a PR specialist in leisure and tourism helped to promote the business.

And the restaurant, now known as the PR2, has been refurbished to widen its appeal to include a new, younger audience.

April saw the first of three re-launch parties as the Simons look forward to a new sunnier season ahead cruising through some of Warwickshire's prettiest countryside.

Ashley continued: "The support has been invaluable and we have had great help in making our business more attractive to tourism and other sectors, raising local awareness and re-branding."