Shropshire café relocating to 'the most beautiful building in town'
The Tudor landmark survived Newport’s Great Fire
A Newport café is preparing for its next big chapter as it moves into one of the town’s most storied buildings.
In October 2023, Bobby's café moved into the Guildhall on Newport's high street after taking over the former home of Deli 45.
But now the team is getting ready to relocate into another one of the town’s historic buildings - Smallwood Lodge.
The Grade II-listed Tudor lodge is said to have been one of two buildings on Newport’s high street to have escaped the Great Fire of Newport in 1665.
Records state Smallwood Lodge was built around 1600 as a dwelling and extended in the 17th century before being re-faced in the 19th.
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For several years it was run as the Smallwood Lodge Tea Room, until then owner Jackie Walsh retired in 2025. Now, the team at Bobby’s is getting ready to move in.
Owner Rhiannon Lewis said she was excited to welcome customers back to “the most beautiful building in Newport”.
The current café will close on Saturday (August 29), with plans to reopen at Smallwood Lodge on September 19.
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