Closure of cafe 'huge loss' to Somerset town

Odette's Tearoom opened in Wellington nine years ago

A Somerset café, which is set to close at the end of the month, says the rising cost of stock and staffing have become "unsustainable".

Odette's Tearoom opened on Wellington's High Street nine years ago.

Customers say the closure will be a "huge loss" as the tearoom is a "big part of Wellington".

Evie Leigh, who visits regularly, said there was "nowhere else quite like it".

(From left) Evie Leigh, Annie Paulin, Jill Roberts and Lesley Maden regularly meet in Odette's Tearoom

The tearoom is named after Odette Hallowes who worked undercover for the British government in France during World War Two.

Nancy Powell-Brace helped set up Odette's in 2015 before passing it on to the current owner.

She said: "The money coming into the till is the same as it has always been but the same as it's always been is no longer enough."

Ms Powell-Brace added: "I always use teacakes as an example. When we opened it was 85p for four teacakes and now it's over £2. You can't charge a customer £4 for a teacake but that's the sort of mark up you need to make it financially viable."

The Emporium, which used to rent spaces to local traders in Wellington, closed in June

The closure comes three months after another venue in Wellington shut its doors.

The Emporium used to rent space to 75 local traders and craftspeople in one combined shop but closed after seeing a fall in sales.

Retail consultant Graham Soult said: "High streets are always changing and it's always sad when we hear about a business closing."

Mr Soult said it is not all negative.

"If you look around Somerset there's also plenty of businesses opening too," he added.

Mr Soult said: "Often landlords are being more flexible in terms of rent and a lot are more amiable to taking on independents."

Odette's Tearoom will close on 28 September.