The Tea House in Ventnor is calling for your support with their latest Crowdfunding page.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has created a very uncertain landscape for millions of British small businesses. Whilst government funding has helped in preventing the immediate collapse of the Tea House, this funding alone cannot secure the future of this homegrown Ventnor business.
The Tea House was opened in 2016 as an arts cafe specialising in loose leaf tea, art and all things vintage, offering a wide range of delicious home-cooked meals alongside infamous home bakes with gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options. This fully licensed venue has been at the heart of Ventnor’s community with regular evening events.
Situated on the High Street, the Tea House has shared its space with others such as Baby Box, Ventnorville and The Ventnor Fringe. Their aim has always been to support other island creatives, musicians and food producers. Now they need your support…
It costs a lot of money to keep a business afloat; it’s needed for the job security of the staff, to maintain the premises, cover for essential bills including various forms of insurance and ultimately money is needed to ensure a future for the business beyond 2020, as the Tea House hasn’t been able to make the revenue that they normally would have done.
Khia Janzen, Business Owner and Manager, says:
“Asking for help has never been our strong suit but we don’t want to go down without a fight… and we don’t think you would want that either so here we are… We’re just a Tea House, standing in front of our comrades, asking you to save us – with apologies to Julia Roberts-”
The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership are offering small businesses Matched Funding, meaning that if The Tea House reach their goal of £8,000 through crowdfunding they will be considered for a grant from the Solent LEP. If successful, this grant will ensure the survival of the business through the uncertain summer season after the ease of lockdown and contribute to maintaining the business through the winter months.
Khia adds:
“We will be waiting with bated breath and open arms- well, probably face masks and a broom handle between us, but still – to welcome YOU, our wonderful friends, customers, and acquaintances back to The Tea House to enjoy delicious loose leaf tea, island roasted coffee, homemade cakes and much more.”
The Tea House is offering a variety of great rewards for donating, to find out more and sponsor head over to https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/help-to-secure-the-future-of-the-tea-house-1.
I have sat in this charming tea room enjoying their wares, watching people come and go, the majority are very nice, polite people of all ages. Then you get the ones who think they are better than the rest, when in reality, they are not, making petty requests for this and that, most of which are met, the ones that are intolerant to things, all met above and beyond, then the lifestyle choise ones who sit there and declare i’m this or that, the blatantly rude and demanding ones, who if i were serving you, would be politely asked to take your custom elsewhere, who needs that shit in there lives. All of the above served by staff who are always polite, take time to chat if they can, and serve with a smile. All those people above, you now have a chance to say thank you to Khia and her staff, if you are thinking ‘you know what, i like going there and meeting my friends, chatting and eating good food and drinking some of the finest teas and coffees on the island’ then make a difference, donate what you can and save this little gem. P.s. Also think of your dog, they would miss meeting their friends there too.
Sorry it’s just another holiday trade casualty just like all the other quaint little t rooms across the island and each of them just as worthy of support .But there are more important things to worry about just now don’t you think
I know it sounds harsh, but as charming and convivial as the Tea House May be, there are MANY businesses suffering hardship at present.
There have been Government grants and long-term loans as well as Business Rate holidays, so, why do these people think they deserve more?
Sorry, just saying how it is…