Restaurant chain in move for De Grey's in Ludlow

Tasty plc plans to open a Wildwood restaurant at the iconic black-and-white timber framed building in Broad Street and has submitted a planning application.

With its waitress service, old-fashioned uniforms and cream teas, Ludlow's historic De Grey's tearoom offered visitors from all over the world a slice of life in bygone days.

Now the only slice that will be served in this black-and-white timber-framed building is pizza after it emerged that a national restaurant chain has agreed a deal to take it on the empty site, after De Grey's closed in January after 90 years in business.

Tasty plc has submitted a planning application to make changes to the back of the listed building in Broad Street, and the plans include reopening the tearoom as a Wildwood restaurant.

Bosses say it will create up to 40 jobs and use locally sourced food.

But a town councillor has expressed concerns over the number of national chains moving into Ludlow.

Andy Boddington, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow North, said it was "good news" that the former De Grey's building was going to remain as a restaurant. He said with the summer and festival season coming up, the more food outlets there were in the town the better.

But he added: "I am disappointed that it will be another chain: Ludlow's reputation relies both on its historic buildings and the local businesses that occupy them.

"I am worried that our local businesses are being squeezed out by national chains who can stump up higher rents.

"The arrival of Tasty is not bad news. The restaurant will create jobs. But it will no longer be a magnet for tourists seeking something distinctive."

De Grey's tearoom attracted dedicated fans from around the world.

Days before its closure the TV presenter and historian Dan Snow described its cream teas as the "best in the world".

Others to have sampled the delights of De Grey's included Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, Hollywood actress Keira Knightley and TV presenter and author Stephen Fry.

When the closure was announced in January, De Grey's owner Robbie Underhill blamed "significant competition from various fashionable and contemporary establishments".

He said the tearoom's "more formal and traditional service" had become less appealing.

The site could become the 20th restaurant in the Wildwood chain, which offers a grill section, stone-baked pizzas and pastas. Most of the other venues are in London and the south of England.