The shop, which was flooded when a Storm Boelo storm surge hit the seafront premises last month, has temporarily relocated to Stewart Associates, an architectural studio just a minute's walk around the corner.

Largs is one of Ayrshire agency Thorne's three branches. The team could potentially move into a trailer next month, kindly offered by If Only while the repairs continue. "We thought we'd only have to replace carpets and things like that, but instead, we're having to strip it back to the brick walls," Thorne told TTG.

The building is currently inaccessible, with the repair work now expected to involve replacing plasterboard, removing and replacing the kitchen and bathroom, and undertaking extensive flooring work.

Thorne said the cost of repairing the sub-floor alone could reach £100,000, although the damage will be covered by the building's factors insurance rather than her own business policy. However, delays agreeing a way forward and securing tradespeople have left Thorne uncertain about when the agency can resume normal operations.

"It's just the timescales that it takes them to do anything," she said, adding she felt frustrated by the lack of urgency from those overseeing the repairs.

Future uncertain as Christmas reopening ruled out

With the agency's original hopes of reopening before Christmas now off the table, Thorne has secured temporary office space for two members of staff at Stewart Associates until 18 December.

Thorne said she "wasn't sure" what the plan was beyond that date, but that she had received a "great offer" from If Only of a temporary trailer. "My only concern is that it is the middle of winter, and we're right on the seafront," she said. "I'm trying to secure something with bricks for my team."

The agency is currently working towards a February return to its permanent premises, although Thorne hopes this could be brought forward to January.

She is due to meet with the building's factors on Monday (9 November) to discuss the next steps, including whether her own team of tradespeople can undertake the work rather than waiting for contractors from further afield.

'We just needed that hug'

Thorne has been keen to recognise the support shown by the wider travel industry since the flooding. Suppliers and industry colleagues have rallied around the agency, offering everything from practical help to hampers, wine and messages of support.

The flooding has also destroyed much of the agency's shop fittings and equipment, including its promotional posters, display boards and televisions, with Thorne open to getting suppliers involved in merchandise initiatives come January.

She added she wanted to publicly thank everyone who had reached out, describing the the level of support as "phenomenal". "The number of people who messaged to say, 'Can we come and clean? Can we paint? What do you need?' has been really nice," she said, adding the support was particularly evident at the recent SPAA awards.

"People were coming up to us and offering hugs and buying us drinks," she said. "We really needed it, so thank you."