A popular Grantham tea shop has re-opened with a bigger focus on homeware.

Pamela and Lance Merryweather own the Teaspoon Tea Company, which specialises in selling loose tea, as opposed to coffee.

The couple founded the company in March 2014 and opened our shop in the George shopping centre where they stayed for 5 years until their lease expired and they moved to 19 High Street, where they are today.

Pamela told Grantham Nub News: "Both Lance and I are Grantham people born and bred, we love our town and are so happy to have a shop here and be part of the towns success. Opening a teashop was an idea to do something different and fill a gap in the market for teashops rather than coffee shops."

The Teaspoon Tea Company stocks more than 50 different types of loose tea.

Pamela continued: "The quality is better to make tea and we sell the equipment needed to brew the perfect cup of tea. Our shop is light, bright and modern, we have stayed away from the vintage theme teashops and made it a place to discover loose leaf tea."

Looking back to March when the lockdown was announced, and all the cafes, restaurants and shops all had to close, the news gave the couple 'a feeling of panic.'

Pamela said: "We took the time during lockdown to focus on our website and look at our business in the future. We started free local delivery, taking our bags of tea, coffee and accessories to customers doors along with using the royal mail to delivery further away. We made letterbox gift boxes up for customers to send to their loved ones."

The shop re-opened last Tuesday (June 16) having being redecorated, with lots of seating removed and the layout rearranged.

Pamela explained: "We now describe the Teaspoon Tea Company as a 'tea and home store'. We have increased the home, gifts and kitchen ranges and will continue to, as we get busier. The local larder, which showcases local producers, has new ranges along with Bassingthorpe milk and Bloomsbury bread."

She continued: "Customers' reactions have been positive and it is great to see our regulars again. Of course, everyone wants to know when we can open for sitting in but we just don't know yet and what guidelines we will have to follow.

"It is important that we have some seating as it's always nice to try a new tea first and we are an important place for people to meet up and enjoy a cup of tea, coffee and cake!

"We need to continue trading and the changes we have made will ensure we survive this new normal and move into the next part of Teaspoons life. Our website, local delivery and new click and collect service will be an important part of teaspoon as we adapt to the changing high street."

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