A specialist tea house has opened its doors to shoppers and students in Huddersfield – with the creation of eight jobs.
Northern Tea House is trading in lower King Street from premises formerly occupied by bookmaker Ladbrokes – with co-owners and partners Emma Grain and Kevin Chatham offering a selection of 20 different teas as well as savoury lunches and afternoon teas.
The new shop follows the opening of fashion store Hngr and Caribbean restaurant Turtle Bay in neighbouring units over recent weeks and means all shop units on lower King Street are now occupied.
Emma, who also lectures in fashion at the University of Huddersfield, said: “We spent more than 18 months looking for the ideal location for our little tea house and we were delighted when we found the property situated near the university and next to the main shopping street.
“We could have looked at Wakefield or Leeds, but having gone to university in Huddersfield and now working as a university lecturer, the area has always been the ideal location in my opinion. I knew I wanted to start a business here and the property is perfect as it is situated right in the town centre.”
The couple spent six weeks refitting the premises to create a tea shop far removed from the traditional image of chintz and paper doilies. Emma researched the venture and came up with the tea house’s look while Kevin, whose background is in managerial roles, took charge of the building work.
Said Emma: “We wanted it to be an industrial modern tea house with a hint of vintage and it has taken some time to get ready for its big opening. This included six weeks of renovations and 10 workmen working around the clock to make sure it is perfect.
“However, it all worked out brilliantly in the end as our tea house looks amazing and we were able to open to customers on time.”
The couple, who currently live in Castleford but plan to move to Huddersfield, see their venture as an alternative to the burgeoning coffee shop scene.
“We sell coffee and we have picked a coffee that tea drinkers will like,” said Emma. “But it’s 90% tea and 10% coffee as far as sales go.”
The tea house has space for 35 customers on the ground floor and plans to open the first floor before Christmas to double the number of covers.
It also has two large light boxes in which to showcase Huddersfield University students’ artwork and designs.
Stuart Hastings, of property agency Bruton Knowles, who handled the leasing agreement for the premises, said: “The tea house is in a prime location in Huddersfield town centre that will serve both shoppers and students in the local community and will be a brilliant asset, providing jobs in the community.”
