'This is a big thing': Woman, 23, excited to launch new Shropshire tearoom
“My mum said to me, ‘Bea, you can do this.’”
A new independent tearoom is set to launch on the Shropshire-Cheshire border later this month.
Combermere Park Tearoom, which is located at Park View Business Centre near Whitchurch, will be opening to customers on November 19.
Bea Pickett, 23, is the local entrepreneur behind the new business.
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She described the experience of finally getting ready to launch the operation as “surreal”.
Before getting the keys to the tearoom, Ms Pickett, who trained in professional bakery at Reaseheath College, ran Be Happy Cakes, a small baking and catering business.
“For me, this is a big thing, coming from being a sole trader,” said Ms Pickett.
She added: “To go from such a small little thing that I thought was just doing a couple of brownies here and there for customers to actually having a place of my own, for me that is just what I have always wanted to achieve.
“So to be able to do it when I am 23, it just feels a little bit surreal.”
Ms Pickett’s new tearoom will have family at the centre of it, making the operation even more authentic to her.
“I have got my mum working for me as my manager - my brother is coming here to work.
“I love spending time with family, so it is going to be very family-orientated, which is just even more special.”
The tearoom will be open from 8.30am to 4pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.
Afternoon teas will be the business’s main selling point, Ms Pickett said, as well as offering morning tea and light lunches.
Cakes of all forms alongside sub roll sandwiches will also be available.
Ms Pickett hopes to make Combermere Park Tearoom one of the many sought-after spots for afternoon tea in the area.
The 23-year-old said there were some nerves around starting the new venture, but these were quickly dispelled after some words of wisdom from her mum.
Ms Pickett said: “I kind of got through that once my mum said to me, ‘Bea, you can do this.’”
Work is underway to make sure the tearoom is fully fit for customers on its big opening date in two weeks.
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