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.

We are open and humming our 40s tunes!

We are well and truly open. It has been tremendoulsy hard work but great fun to get The Fourteas up and running. We have had such lovely comments from friends and strangers that I know that we are on the right path. A few tweeks here and there to the portions sizes and with the ordering still being hard to get right. On Saturday we nearly doubled our best day so far and ran out of nearly everything on the menu so Sunday morning saw me baking like mad to get more goodies on offer. The staff are working well and the bakers are fantastic so we are a great team and all want this to be a sucess. I have every hope that it will be.
Here are some photos inside the shop with Hattie and Tim. and myself.

Thanks to everyone who has visisted so far and for the lovely facebook comments and for those of you who have not made it yet I hope to see you soon! Toodle pip.

The end of the first fit up week!



Day One, Friday getting ready to loose the counter




Friday- starting to move the bench seating- where are the screws?



The outside of The Lemon Tree (as was)



Sat- Bench seating gone and window exposed and flooring taken up



Saturday -Flooring all pulled up, (never again!) and some of the counter gone

Thus walls painted and outside being finished off



Sunday- Ian takes away the counter over the stairs



2nd Friday- painting finished on upper walls



2ndSat- outside painted and logos up on the windows

 WOW what a week. I had intended to write this everyday but time was not on my side. It has been a full, exhausting but fantastic week. I stripped out seats and then with the help of Tim,Andrea and Jonathan got the flooring up and to the tip. ThenTim and I set to stripping everything back, and painting everything in sight. Ian took apart the stair well counter and we have to get the carpenter to replace it, but it will be a better option than our first thoughts for that area. The painters, Swift Decor, have removed the awning and completed the exterior which is creating many comments especially the lovely blue shade. Duncan from Paperbox has put up the window logos and delivered the signage, flyers and the gorgeous menus. The plumbers have sorted out the water supplies and just need to replace a tap in the kitchen. David delivered all my kitchen supplies and the ovens on Friday so just have to sort all that out. . With help from Bea all the upper parts of the walls are painted and the toilet area is finished. I have a spic and span cellar for storage, office and staff room thanks to Ian's mum and a lot of bleach and sugar soap!  The electrician, carpenter and flooring are all due Monday so as long as they don't all trip over each other we should have a floor by the end of the day and by Thus have the walls clad too.
I could not have done all this without the help of family and friends and especially Tim Oliver who has been an absolute godsend and we have really enjoyed working together again.
So it is all on track for getting all the building finished Thursday,trying out the kitchen Thus and Friday, training staff Friday and then the weekend to do the props decor before opening on Monday 4th July!!!
Looking forward to another busy but satisfying week.

Run up the Union Jacks

I am in!!!! I got everything signed today and collected the keys this afternoon. All the contracts are out to staff, all workmen on standby for next week and I spent a happy (well almost happy) two hours trying to get the old logos off the front windows. A  weekend ahead of painting and stripping and then next week it is workmenfantastic. I am so excited that at last my dream is coming true.

An opening date at last for The Fourteas

Well the day has finally arrived. And not a moment too soon as I was starting to get rather despondent. Simon called to day to say he has signed his lease so we can sign ours on Friday and get the keys. Only problem is Ian has to sign too and he is filming all hours but I will think of something! So we should be in and pulling things apart by Friday. I have phoned all the workmen and deliveries and put all in place, although in a rather strange order as the carpenter can't make it till week two. But all being well we will open to the public week of 4th July!! Cant wait to see you all there.

On and on goes the wait

I really thought that the lease would be signed by now but I am still waiting on solicitors to get their acts together. Hopefully it will happen soon because I am desperate to get in now. I catered for an RSC tea party on Saturday which was a great dress run for me, the decor and two of the staff. It at least gave people an idea of what the shop will be like once opens!
I will be running a flag up the flagpole when I do eventually get the keys to the door. So watch this space for more news on the opening. See you all there!!!

Nearly at the starting line

Great news from Bigwoods, they have signed their bit of the lease and hope we can sign our next Thursday , so with any luck we will be in by Fri 3rd June. Then the hard work starts getting the  property ready to open on Monday 20th!
I have some fantastic waiting staff standing by and two lovely bakers. Clea is putting together a great website and Duncan has designed a smart and effective logo. I am looking forward to inviting you all to our teashop- I know it is going to be a success because I have so many wonderful people helping and supporting me.
I can't wait to let the public in to experience 'The Fourteas'.

Back from our trip and rareing to go

Ian and I had a fantatsic time in India, we saw the most beautiful architectiure and landscapes imaginable. The buildings of Shimla literaly hanging off the hills at the base of the Himalayas and the Taj Mahal is so majestic that no photo could do her justice. The people are friendly  and welcoming and although the poverty can seem overwhelming they keep smiling and working to earn an honest crust. The driving has to be seen to be belived , even the Harry Potter Night bus would have difficulty squeezing through some of the gaps in the traffic that our coach seemd to manage with just the aid of a horn! And where in England would you see a family of 5 on a motocycle?
Now I am back and emersed once again in preprations for the shop. There is so much to decide but everyday I seem to edge closer. Yesterday I set up the interviews  for my Baker and Waiting staff and then had to decide how to conduct them and what questions to ask. I have never really done interviews like this before so just another climb on that learning curve.
Today I have sorted out with West's Bakery in Wellesbourne to supply our bread needs. They are small and local and the firm has been in the family for 100 years so just the sort of place I need. Much relief when they agreed as that is a major headache solved.
The only major thing left is the unifiorms which continue  to cause headaches- nothing is easy to source and making them will cost quite a lot. I will mull it over further but I have to find a solution soon!
Clea has shown me the first idea for the website and it is brilliant - watch this space for the launch soon.
If anyone had tokld me how much it takes to start a tearoom I am not sure I would have had the nerve to try, but it is exhilerating and I am emjoying every minute of the process.
Tomorrow staff interviews so fingers crossed we find good ones.
Rachael xx

Things are racing on

We have had a really busy week but fruitful. Now we have furniture being made and flooring booked, an advert in the paper for staff, a mass of crockery sitting in the living room and ,much much more. I am getting together with all the rules and regulations and I think we both feel that we are in a good place for our two weeks off in India. The last holiday for at least two years and we intend to enjoy it before the onslaught! It will be hard to leave though as the The Fourteas already feels like my baby and my maternal instinct is as ever very acute.

The starting post

Well here we are at the starting post. It is all rather scary but also very exciting. We have spent the last week talking to money men, solicitors, accountants, other tea shop owners and various suppliers and they all think we can  do this so I suppose we have better prove them right!
The more I think about it the more excited and terrified I become. It seems with everything I cross off my list there are five things to replace it.
Ian keeps saying it is just like putting on a show which is true but without the back up from any other department!
All I really need is great staff and a happy atmosphere and we can sort anything else.
I will keep you posted as things move on
Rachael