Last cuppa poured as De Grey's closes in Ludlow

Saturday saw the final service at De Grey's in Ludlow. More than 40 members of staff lost their jobs.

The iconic venue has served tea and cake to customers from all over the world for nearly a century.

Staff at De Grey's carried out their last service on Saturday, with the tearoom packed to the rafters as long-time customers turned out to say goodbye.

The historic business, housed in a black-and-white picturesque timber-framed building in Broad Street, has been open for 90 years. It has attracted a celebrity fanbase, with TV presenter and historian Dan Snow just this month labelling its cream teas the "best in the world".

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

Retired Dave Evans, 74, from Craven Arms, has a special affinity with De Grey's and was determined to be there with his wife Beryl on its last day.

He said: "I have been going there for over 50 years, it was like the last supper.

"We have always gone there. I first started going there when I was a young kid, we used to have toasted teacakes in one of those silver dishes.

"It was like being at the Ritz for somebody from Craven Arms.

"It's a sad day and I would say it is definitely a big blow for Ludlow.

"I know young folk go to Costa Coffee and places like that now, but there are still a lot of visitors and tourists that come to Ludlow.

"They come from all over the world – and very often the first place they head for is De Grey's because they have heard about it and want to see it for themselves.

"They won't be able to now, because it won't be there, and that's really sad.

"I don't know why one of these top chefs don't take it on – with their name, and the De Grey's name as well, I think it would be a surefire hit.

"We were determined to go on the last day. It would have been lovely to have had toasted teacakes, but we went at lunchtime and so had a proper meal."

For Sandra Thomas, who was also there on Saturday, De Grey's is in the family.

Her daughter Victoria has worked there on a part-time basis in the cake shop for the past two years but, now, along with more than 40 others, is now looking for new job.

Mrs Thomas, 48, a pre-school worker from Orleton, said she often visited with husband David.

"It was very busy on the last day," she said. "My daughter works in the cake shop so we go and get cakes quite regularly and we like to pop in for a coffee and cake whenever we are in Ludlow.

"It's a very traditional shop, very English, and with what they wear.

"The staff are always very polite in there and I think the fact it is closing is a very big loss to Ludlow.

"My daughter has been working there part-time for around two years and she tells me De Grey's attracts a large number of tourists in the summer, from as far afield as Canada and America.

"The staff are all very upset about it. There are people who have worked there for over 20 years, couples who met there and fell in love. It's so very sad."

Rosanna Taylor-Smith, one of Shropshire's councillors in Ludlow, said she was "saddened" that De Grey's was shutting.

"It has won several awards and its closure marks the end of an era for a well-known and respected institution in Ludlow," she said.

"It has been a stalwart supporter of charity events for many years and employs a large number of people in Ludlow.

"The letting rooms are considered to be amongst the best in the town and include a ground floor room suitable for disabled people. Many young people start their working lives at De Grey's and the staff are very friendly, courteous and hard working so the closure and loss of jobs is a great loss to the town."

De Grey's owner Robbie Underhill said the closure was due to "significant competition from various fashionable and contemporary establishments".

He said the tearoom's "more formal and traditional service" had become less appealing and claimed the business had suffered significant financial losses over the past seven years.

De Grey's was put on the market for £1 million back in 2010 but the owners eventually had a change of heart over selling.

Pub giant Wetherspoon was linked with a possible takeover of the site on social networking site Twitter last month – but bosses of the chain have ruled out any interest in the building.