Heavenly Teas at Number Ten may be a new outlet in South Street but, for owner Sue Young, its opening this week marks a return to her roots. Sue said, “I’ve come home! I was born in Wellington and went to school here. I’ve been away for 30 years but came back during holidays and it’s always been my base.”
The tea shop is the first stage in Sue’s plan to develop a catering business. She explained: “This is my ‘shop window’. My main plan is to cater for birthdays and anniversaries – taking catering to people who can’t get out and about – and for funeral teas at venues such as church and village halls. I’m also very concerned about elderly people and, although this shop is tiny, I hope it will be a place where elderly people can make contact, engage and chat with others.”
As Sue develops the catering business, Number Ten will serve teashop cakes and coffee – and she plans to add lunchtime sandwiches and light lunches to the menu and recruit staff to join her.
After 30 years working in boarding schools, including more than 17 years as a Housemistress at Eton College – a job Sue described as “a combination of running a huge family and a small hotel as I was responsible for staff, maintenance, budget, hospitality and boys’ health – she feels her experience will be more than useful in the business. She said, “It was a risk taking the lease before I knew I could use it but I wanted a suitable property to return to in Wellington.” Sue has chosen Eton Blue as her chosen decor, maintaining a sentimental connection with her College years.
Looking at Wellington today, Sue said, “The town is on the up! Coffee shops here have rocketed over the last few years. Having a coffee and cake whilst shopping is now quite the thing to do. Wellington has variety and each outlet has its followers. The town is growing but it’s also attracting people from outside because of its independent shops. Only yesterday I had two sets of ladies here who had come from Bridgwater and Taunton to shop because of the variety of outlets in the town – which I thought was good! It’s still a very friendly place and friends who visit comment on the busy, buzzy atmosphere.”
Heavenly Teas at Number Ten in South Street is currently open between Tuesday and Saturday from 9.30am to 5pm.