A popular tea room in Worcester has taken the drastic measure of reducing its opening hours to four days a week, citing severe commercial pressures on the hospitality industry.
Auntie Em’s Tea Room & Play Village, located between Waterstones and Clarks in the city arcade, has announced that it is taking the move “to keep our doors open.”
Co-owner Emma Moule, who the venue is named after, also said that she had become a full-time carer to her father-in-law at home and will only be in the shop one to two days a week.
In the Facebook message, she and co-owner Ryan Harris paid heartfelt thanks to their “loyal staff” and customers, saying their continued support “truly means the world to us.”
Speaking to Worcester News, Emma explained: “This has honestly been one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever had to make. Auntie Em’s isn’t just a business to us, it’s a huge part of our lives and something we’ve poured our hearts into.
“Over the past year, the pressure has really built.
“Rising energy bills, increasing ingredient costs, and the recent minimum wage increases have all had a significant impact on a small business like ours.
“At the same time, we completely understand that our customers are also feeling the squeeze and having to cut back.
“We’ve gone from being open seven days a week down to four, and this is really about trying to find a way to keep going.
“It’s not a decision we’ve taken lightly — it’s us trying to adapt, reduce costs where we can, and see if we can make things sustainable enough to survive.
“We’re hopeful that focusing on four strong days will give us the best chance of keeping Auntie Em’s going.”
The family-friendly tea room, which opened seven years ago, also announced that it will be working with Baskesbygee to offer some of their “delicious” bakes to customers.
A dance session for “little ones” by Bounce N Bop will be provided every Friday at 12.30pm in another change.
The venue is also bringing back its full breakfast and lunch menu on all four days that it is open; Monday, Friday and the weekend.
Auntie Em’s has been a popular fixture over the seven years it has been open (Image: Auntie Em’s Tea Room & Play Village/@auntie_ems_play_village)
There is no set timescale for the changes as “we navigate this challenging time”, the message read.
“The response has been really emotional,” Emma said.
“We’ve had so many kind messages and people going out of their way to come and see us on the days we’re open. It’s made us realise just how much this little place means to people.
“One of the most special parts of Auntie Em’s has always been the relationships we’ve built.
“One of our most loyal customers, Olive, is nearly 92.
“She’s been coming to us for the past seven years, around four or five times a week, and she’s become like family to us.
“That’s what this place is about — it’s not just a tea room, it’s friendships, routine, and a sense of belonging.
“We also want to say how incredibly grateful we are to our staff.
“They’ve worked so hard through all of this, especially while we’ve been balancing caring for an elderly family member.
“Their support, understanding, and willingness to adapt through all the changes we’ve had to make has meant everything to us — without them, this would be so much more difficult.
“So while people are understandably sad we’re not open as much, there’s also been a real sense of support and community, which has meant the world to us.”
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