A new tea room has opened in Clare promising quality service, tasty cakes and a friendly face – who has come out of retirement.
Terese Broadbent, who lives in Sudbury, ended her retirement from earlier in the year to launch Tea at Number 5 in Clare's High Street.
Ms Broadbent picked up the keys on Saturday, July 1 and, after a quick renovation of the shop, she opened her doors for the first time on Wednesday, July 19.
She said: "I used to have the Long Melford Tea Room and I ran it for seven years.
"I was going to retire and I sold that in March, but retirement didn't really suit me in the end so we found this little place in Clare and everyone has been really lovely."
The tea room, which has four indoor tables and one table outside, sells homemade cakes, scones and light bites alongside loose leaf tea and coffee.
Ms Broadbent said she was tempted back into the trade after she found herself missing the social side of the job.
"We made so many friends in Long Melford and I really missed that," she said.
"For some people that come into the tearoom sometimes we are the only person that they talk to on that day. This place is small and more manageable, so we can have that chat. That's the most important thing."
Ms Broadbent said the tea room has proved to be very popular in the town, with plenty of residents visiting for something to eat.
"Everyone has been amazing in Clare, we have had so much support from the neighbouring businesses," she added.
"Everyone has been in to say hello and the people in Clare have been very great too.
"If you start with good service and nice cakes and a pleasant atmosphere, everything else will follow."
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