Winchester cafe Audrey's Tea Rooms inspired by 1940s opens

Ruth Lynch, 40, has taken over Frieda’s Tea Room, in Parchment Street, renaming the breakfast, lunch and brunch spot after her nan Audrey.

Mrs Lynch, from Chandler’s Ford, wanted to rebrand the café with 40’s nostalgia, taking customers back in time and sharing the stories of World War II veterans.

The businesswoman already runs a soft play centre in Sholing, Southampton, and has worked as a hairdresser for the past 15 years and is hoping to transfer her business skills to her third venture.

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Ruth Lynch, owner of Audrey's Tea Rooms (Image: Adele Bouchard)

Ruth said: “I’m absolutely positive we can make this work. We’re very good at business and catering to what people desire.

“Although the economy is difficult we know how to tap into the right customer base. I have the gift of being able to do business even through hard times.

“I’ve put a lot of my heart into it. I often add personal touches, like special table decorations for couples celebrating wedding anniversaries, which is the kind of thing that is missing from corporate businesses.

“Depending on how the economy goes, I would love to move onto the High Street but obviously we are talking mega money to be able to do that. Everything in chains is factory-made but we make everything and I’d rather pay extra to know where my ingredients are coming from and keep it local."

The updated name and decor, Audrey’s Tea Rooms, commemorates Ruth’s nan who died in 2016 and worked at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, during World War II.

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Audrey's Tea Rooms menu including breakfast, toasties, salads, jacket potatoes and afternoon tea options (Image: Adele Bouchard)

Audrey would be 102 this year and was very old-fashioned. Granddaughter Ruth has been working with World War II veterans, through the charity Project 71, for the past few years and hopes to honour them and her nan through the memorabilia on the walls.

The café owner said: “We’re sharing stories we’ve collected over the past five years. Winchester is so historic and it’s lovely to commemorate the lives of the men I respected so much.

“I’ve got loads of stuff that my nan collected dotted around the room. She was part of the era that nothing ever got wasted.”

As well as introducing a 40's theme, Ruth has updated the menu to be more inclusive, offering vegan, gluten and lactose-free options.

Mrs Lynch currently has two other members of staff but is looking to recruit two to three more people.

Audrey’s Tea Rooms, in Parchment Street, is closed on Tuesdays but open 10am-3pm the rest of the week and 10am-4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. For more go to audreystearooms.co.uk/.