RESIDENTS of Winsford have been assured the village will not lose its only tea room when owners Roy and Teresa Thomson retire.

The couple have applied for planning permission to convert Bridge Cottage Tearoom into a home and to extend the rear of the property to provide bed and breakfast accommodation.

But Mr Thomson said the tea room would continue to trade as normal this year before their retirement and arrangements were being made for another business to then provide a similar service.

Mr Thomson said they were disappointed that parish councillors had objected to the planning application without speaking to the couple to understand their plans.

He said: “Nobody has spoken to us. A lot of people have failed to do due diligence.

“Winsford will not lose the tea room. If the parish council came to us, we would tell them.”

Mr Thomson said they took over the tea room in 2011 and had been trying since 2018 to sell the business as a going concern, but had not received any offers.

The tea room was open from May to October each year, as it would be again for 2023, but the couple have gradually reduced opening hours to suit their lifestyle and now opened for 13.5 hours a week.

Mr Thomson said: “Stags say it is unlikely we will get a sale. We expected they would tell us to drop the asking price, but no, they are saying the price is right.”

Mrs Thomson said: “There are loads of businesses in the area that are up for sale, but nobody wants these types of businesses any more.”

The couple said they intended to continue living in Winsford after their retirement and wanted a business that would provide lifestyle flexibility as well as an income, which is why they settled on a bed and breakfast model.

“We want to stay here,” said Mr Thomson. “There is no reason we would want to leave the village. It is a nice community to live in.

“A B&B would be ideal because if we want a couple of weeks off we can do it. We can also employ local labour.

“We have been in consultation with the national park authority for about nine months over the remodelling and had pre-application advice from them and they have been supportive.”