From the beginning . . .

It starts with a relatively rain-free camping holiday (in Northumberland, as it happens but this story could be set anywhere) in 2006, with my husband, and our daughter, age 9 and son, age 5. We looked forward to eating out as it was a break from cooking on the one burner camping stove. Sadly, we were often disappointed with the quality of food, poor service and lack of ambience.

So we thought about what we would like from the customers’ point view, and the idea for our 1920s tea room began to take shape. We all agreed fabulous home-baked cakes, chocolates and sweeties, home made ice creams and delicious treats would be required at all times.

Breakfast items that we always wanted but could never find, like boiled egg and soldiers and porridge.

Fair trade and free range where possible , and good quality meat from our local butchers. Excellent sandwiches and hot food for people in a hurry, packaged in recyclable and biodegradable where possible.

Gorgeous dressed tables with fine bone china and cake stands piled high with scrumptious delights an absolute necessity for the tea rooms. A ‘healthy choice cream tea’ was suggested by our friend and gardener Peter, as he is on a healthy eating diet and wanted us to look after his needs.

Before we opened . . .