Not a post about tea, but a post about The Tea Post
Last week Bob had a very early appointment at the surgery for an eye test. The instructions said that he would have drops put in his eyes and be unable to drive afterwards. So I said I'd act as chauffeur if we could then have breakfast afterwards, in the place across the road.
The Tea Post is the tearoom attached to the village post office in North Elmham. They open at 9 most days - serving breakfasts, morning coffees, lunches and afternoon tea and cakes.
And particularly attractive double sided fabric bunting. It was all very festive. Helen and Heather, the staff that day, were very attentive. The food was excellent. There was a good variety of tea, all from the Brew Tea Co, with individual glass teapots.It was good to have fere newspapers to read while we waited for our food to be prepared too
I admire the initiative of the people who run village Post Offices, in diversifying like this, in order to keep their businesses financially available and the services available to the locals.[The one in nearby Guist is very good too]
I am honestly impressed that folk continue to operate the POs in their community following the appalling treatment of so many staff over the past twenty years following the Horizon Scandal.
We really enjoyed our visit to The Tea Post. The atmosphere, service and food were all 5* [and they have a good sized car park outside too, with a bicycle rack. So bonus points there!] Thank you Helen and Heather!
Yum! That sounds a lovely place to have had breakfast (very hungry here on the train right now!). I'm not sure I know what the RM scandal was? Our local post Office is a Martin's Newsagent also.x
ReplyDeleteIn 1999 the post office introduced new accounting software for its staff. They flagged up problems with it. Then around 2500 postmasters/mistresses were accused of theft. Around 750were falsely convicted, many sent to prison. Many went bankrupt and list everything. Lives, homes, marriages, reputations ruined. The convictions were finally overturned The government now acknowledges this terrible miscarriage of justice, and promised that staff would be fully compensated by the end of 2022.As far as I can discover, at the time of writing, less than 100 have had their payout, and many affected folk are still struggling. AFTER TWENTY YEARS. Most people who run village post-office work long hours, to provide their community with a valued service. It is a disgrace that these innocent people have been so badly treated, and these promises of help have been delayed in delivery. RANT OVER!!!
DeleteYes. Every time I read about it my blood boiled. What arrogance and negligence and callousness (and fear ?) on the part of those responsible
DeleteSounds like a lovely place to have breakfast. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is!
DeleteThese are the kind of places Norrie and I seek out when we are on holiday-it looks so inviting and glad the food was good too. Catriona
ReplyDeleteYes, it is good to find small local businesses to support
DeleteDo so miss our local PO. There was talk of diversifying with the addition of a pharmacy but permission was denied so lovely couple who ran PO promptly retired. We have an outreach PO in village hall two afternoons a week, better than nothing.
ReplyDeleteThat is sad - and I'm sure locals would have welcomed a pharmacy
DeleteThankfully there are still plenty of folk committed to keeping things going and indeed improving in some cases. Bob's breakfast looked very good
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
Yes - grateful for all the local village POs in Norfolk
DeleteThat looks so lovely! I always try to find independent places too, there's just something extra special about them all. Hope the test went well. That breakfast and coffee looks lush!
ReplyDeleteThe food was lush, and test ok, thank you
DeleteI'd not heard of that scandal. How horrible for the innocent victims. The closest we have in my area to a privately run PO is in a large chain grocery store. They have a small counter where you can buy stamps and drop off post to be mailed. The Tea Post there looks like a lovely spot to relax.
ReplyDeleteMost of our little POs have some sort of other business attached these days
Deletemy mam lives in Gretna and they shut down their post office last year. They seem to be a rare thing nowadays, post offices........
ReplyDeleteNo post office in Gretna Green?? I thought that people used it to send postcards home after they had eloped to GG for a quick wedding!
DeleteGood to know that there are still such lovely places run by hardworking, caring people.
ReplyDeleteIt is good indeed 😊
DeleteThat looks like a lovely place to call for breakfast or afternoon tea and exactly the sort of place that needs to be used to keep it in business. We had something very similar back when we lived in Oxford.
ReplyDeleteThe Post Office scandal was horrific, so many lives ruined and so many lovely people treated so badly and let down on every level.
😢
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