New business venture suits daughter to a tea

An 18-year-old has achieved her ambition to open her own tearoom after helping her mother for six years.

Michelle Simpson has opened Teacups Tearoom in Saracens Head Yard, St Mark’s Place, Newark, serving drinks and snacks, which are freshly made to order.

Her mother, Denise Simpson, opened Teapots Tearoom in The Arcade six years ago after looking for a new venture.

Denise said they had moved from West Sussex and rented a house in Balderton while they looked for the ideal place to live and work.

“We kept searching and then realised that we really liked Newark,” she said.

The premises in The Arcade were used as a jumper shop at one stage and still had a lot of shelves on the walls.

“It was a case of either having to take them down or finding something to fill them with,” said Denise.

Her sister, Jackie Roughton, suggested filling the shelves with teapots. The idea worked and gave the business a name.

The teapots come from a range of sources including carboot sales and antiques fairs. She normally has up to 100, which are on sale for anything from £4 to £60.

“As long as they are in good condition with no cracks then I am interested,” Denise said.

Michelle decided to continue a similar theme for her tearoom by sourcing pretty china cups. Customers are invited to select a cup to be used for their tea, which is made in a china tea pot.

Afternoon teas and cream teas are served on cake stands made from fine china plates and saucers by Sarah Dewick of Newark.

Michelle will be helped by her mother until the business is established. She said she was happy to leave her tearoom in the capable hands of manager Sarah Corley and Kirsty Stevenson.

The new tearoom has a welcoming feel with bunting and flowers.

Michelle, who studied level three art and design at Grantham College, has used her artistic skills to create stylish premises and has plans to turn the upstairs into a function room for parties.