A takeaway tearoom will open tomorrow replacing a former sandwich shop which closed after just three weeks.

The Little Teacup in Bank Street, Ashford, will become the sister business to The Little Teapot in the Park Mall shopping centre.

It will serve the same teas, coffees and homemade cakes as the cafe but with a reduced menu for customers to take away and eat on the go.

The Little Teacup has filled the space of Shed’s which closed in November after just three weeks with owner Darren Groves saying “it wasn’t fun while it lasted”.

However, after seeing potential in the space, owners of the Little Teapot – husband-and-wife team Russell and Jacqui Geen – snapped up the site and have been busy kitting it out ready to open on Monday.

Mrs Geen said: “Throughout February, to celebrate the opening, we’re going to offer customers 10% off everything at both shops.

“This new site is good for those who want to take away their tea or coffee but if anyone wants to sit down in a slightly more relaxed atmosphere, we’ll let them know there is space for them at the Teapot.

“We’re still selling cookies, cakes, jacket potatoes, sandwiches, but we have cherry-picked what we think will work but we can change that based on what people want.”

The new site, which is decorated with china teacups and saucers, also has a room for Teapot Catering, the company’s outside catering business, allowing more space in the kitchen in Park Mall.

The sister company will also open at the slightly earlier time of 8am allowing people to grab a morning coffee on their way to work.

But the opening has not been without its challenges: first of all the wrong coffee machine was delivered, and then there was a delay with the delivery of a new oven.

The couple have also had trouble recruiting staff in the wake of the pandemic as many potential candidates have failed to show up for interviews.

The unit previously housed Barry’s Kitchen and later the Bank Street Mini Market before Shed’s was opened by Mr Groves, an electrician, in October.

The 56-year-old, who had never worked in catering before, was offering a variety of sandwiches, burritos, wraps, baguettes and cakes, but pulled the plug in mid-November.