Four weeks and counting

We are now into the fourth week of the build and things continue to go well. The damp proof is in, roof on and starting work on the garden and patio doors. Ian and I have bought a gorgeous summer house for the garden and just got a lovely sideboard from the Shakespeare Hospice for upstairs which is just the right period. On Thursday Ian and Nat are off to collect a counter for the front room for the till and to display things to sell which again it is a period piece and I think will look fantastic. It is great to be able to marry up the mundane chopping down of garden debris, making cakes and sourcing props. It will all come together in the end.
 Here are a few photos to give you an idea of the builds progress.

Second week of build

All is going well and the builders are doing a grand job. Demolition Luke has been busy knocking down walls and carting away rubble. The roofers have managed to start now that the rain has stopped but poor things were working in icy winds and snow today! I cant wait to see things start to take shape. Have been supplied with a load of Beryl Ware china today which will be of great use once we have so many more customers. THere is so much to do and its hard with only one day a week away from Union Street to do it all but the internet is a god send for sourcing things and I am sure it will all come together.
Before:                                                           After:

The Roof begins!

End of week one

We are now at the end of our first week into a 10 week build. Stonehall have been great so far. The plumber had removed all the old pipework and radiators. Electrician has taken out the old telephone systems, although he did cut the wires to next doors phone that were going through our top room so had to call BT out. But all fixed now!
I have had to decide on all light switches and radiator points and lots more beside. I just hope it will all be right once we move in it isn't always easy to know where to put things.
I have spent ages trying to work out kitchen appliances and fittings but nearly there now and I am off to see some furniture on Tuesday as we will need so much more than what we have at present. We will be going from 28 covers to over 60!!
Union Street has been fairly quiet in the week so I have been able to do some research on line but this weekend was manic, which is great although a bit stressful This morning I cooked 20 poached eggs on muffin, 26 rashes of bacon, soup with a brie/grape sandwich, 2 club sandwiches and a toast in just 15 mins on a 2 ring hob and 8 piece toaster- Rosie and I were flat out and just trying to work out what to cook where and when was a major feet, we have never had so many breakfasts at once and it opened my eyes to what we could be doing as the norm at Sheep STreet. Bring it on!!!!

Big move afoot

Today after months of negoitations we took over possession of 24 Sheep Street. We have our work cut out with a 10 week build to re-floor, reroof, do all electrics, damp proof, plumbing heating as well as put in a kitchen re-landscape and decorate throughout. I hope to keep you up to date as things progress and the plan is to stay at 2 Union Street until mid May and then shut for just 2 days whilst we move! FIngers crossed it all goes to plan. I have attached some photos so you can see what the building looks like as we send in the builders tomorrow.

Town Centre Outlet of the Year

Last Friday Ian and I went to a very swanky awards event organised by  Touch FM. It was the inaugural Pride of Stratford Awards and we were one of the finalists for Town Outlet of the Year. We dressed up in all our 1940's finery, including a wig from Matthew Curtis the hairdressers next door. On arrival we were given a drink and had to walk up the red carpet to have our photos taken, then on into the ballroom for a sit down 5 course meal which was delicious. We were sitting on a finalists table and it was fun getting to know people from all walks of life who were up for many different business and community awards. The stage at the front was backed by an enormous screen and there were ones further back in the room too and the whole event was fed by live camera operated by the college media students. The event was very slick and it felt extraordinary to amongst the business world of Stratford when we are so young in the life of The Fourteas. Our catogory was the third one up so we had little time to prepare ourselves but they read our the nominees and showed a short clip about the tearooms and then the gold envelope was opened and to the obvious excitement of the prize giver we had won!!! Ian and I could hardly believe it and I have no idea how I got to the stage or what I managed to say in my acceptance speech I was so gobsmacked. The cheers from the whole room when we won was extaordinary and showed how people have taken The Fourteas to their hearts. After recieving the lovely swan statue we were whisked away to do a radio interview for Touch FM and then back to the room for the rest of the awards. It was a lovely evening and Ian and I were on cloud nine all night. I could not have achieved this without the support of my loyal and lovely staff and the best suppliers in Stratford.
The awards is now sitting pride of place in the tearoom and already people are coming in because they have heard about it, which cant be bad for business.
I am so proud of what we have achieved so far and now I am looking to the future with anticipation.

Christmas is coming

We have been very busy on the lead up to Christmas. We have decorated the whole shop in a 40s Christmas style- so lots of real holly and gingerbread men on ribbon etc. I think it looks lovely. We have some 1940s stocking filler presents on offer- replica newspapers, wartime packs as well as our own recipe book, Keep Calm mugs and Tim's home made chocolates and of course the popular vouchers for the Ivor Novello afternoon teas.
Our regulars continue to be loyal to us and we are adding to their number each week. And we have had some lovely comments on Trip advisor so we are obviously doing it right.
I am still loving it and feel more fulfilled than I have for years.
Happy Christmas to you all and hope to see you all soon.
Love Rachael and Ian

Our first two months

I can't believe it but we have been open for two months now and I have loved every minute of it! It has been a steep learning curve and we have had to change some of our procedures but all in all we have had a fairly smooth ride.
We are getting lots of repeat custom from locals and many are coming on the recommendation of others which is very encouraging. We have had lots of tourists too and seem to be surprisingly popular with Germans who don't seem to worry at all about our wartime theme! And I am constantly regaled with wartime stories which is fantastic. One man today told me that his father was a builder in the war and the girls used to pass by their garden and take a handful of his red builders sand to rub on their legs to look like nylons! I don't think we will be following suit with a trip to Niall Bailey any time soon though!!
If you haven't been yet do come and visit soon.
We are offering a free beverage for anyone who comes in 1940s dress and hairdo.