A FORMER teacher and social worker have opened a tearoom in search of a fresh start – and in the process have given their village a new lease of life.

Andrew and Helen Thorpe have opened a new tearoom in Henllan, named The Old Bakery in homage to the Victorian building’s former business the Henllan Bakery, maker of the village’s famous bread.

The couple migrated from West Yorkshire to take over the building in 2016, which is also home to the village’s post office and shop, and have carried out a total of £50,000 renovation work that finally reached completion upon the tearoom’s opening on Monday, August 27.

The post office and shop, which is home to the only ATM within a two-mile radius of the village, remained open during the renovation work but have seen extensive work including new signage, a front door, external painting and shop refurbishment funded by a £12,000 grant from the Post Office Community Fund, which is dedicated to the renovation of rural post offices considered the ‘last shop in the village’.

Mr Thorpe said: “We wanted to make a new start after careers in teaching and social care and looked at possibilities across the UK but this was too good a chance not to take.

“I never could have imagined we would ever run a post office but the opportunity presented itself.

“We have renovated the building but you can still see the original Victorian oven that started Henllan Bakery.

“We have been through a few difficult periods over the past two years, like any business, but hopefully now that the tearoom is open more people will be attracted to the village, its post office and shop.”

The tearoom, post office and shop will be the only commercial properties in the village alongside the Llindir Inn pub.

“Henllan is surrounded by beautiful countryside so it has a lot of potential,” Mr Thorpe added.

The post office, which is of ‘community model’ status providing a range of services from cash and cheque deposits to Euros on demand and parcel delivery and returns, remained open during the two-year works but, during this time, the couple, with the help of the village, helped overcome the potential closure of its ATM.

The ATM is operated by a third-party ATM service provider, Your Cash, and had been under threat of withdrawal as part of the Post Office’s attempt to reduce the number of third-party owned ATMs within its stores as a cost cutting measure.

However, following concerns raised by members of the local community around Henllan, Mr Thorpe helped make the concerns known by the Post Office and, following a conversation with their representative, it was decided it can stay in a gesture of goodwill as only one of a dozen of several hundred third-party owned ATMs across the UK to remain in post offices.

Glenn Swingler said: “"The shop looks fantastic after the new fittings and the cafe will be another great boost for the village. Henllan is thriving and it's fantastic to see.

“I wish Andrew and Helen all the best for the future and a big thank you to them for their faith in Henllan. I’m sure it will be hugely successful and well supported.”

Now, Mr and Mrs Thorpe can concentrate on their new tearoom with the hope that it will increase footfall in the village.

The tearoom offers al fresco dining with outdoor furniture and welcomes walkers, cyclists and is dog-friendly.

The Old Bakery will be open on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 9.30am to 3.30pm.