Great Massingham Stores and Post Office expands with launch of new tearooms

Great Massingham Stores and Post Office has further underlined its role at the heart of the community with the opening of its new tearoom The Cartshed.

After the renovation of a former cartshed at the rear of the property, the tearooms with seating for 16 inside and 24 outside, opened on Friday and offers a selection of breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas.

The stores were bought by Mark Eldridge and his wife, Kerry, less than two years ago and the business and its hugely popular mobile post office service covering 14 villages, have flourished. The tearooms have created a further four jobs bringing the total number employed by the whole business operation to 17.

Said Mark: "It's a dream come to life during these times and another opportunity for the village, which is a great place to live and work.

"The cartshed has been converted into a small but cosy tearoom, although to start with we are doing takeaways until restrictions are eased further. Original features, such as oak beams, have been retained. Outside there are two patio areas for people to sit."

During renovation of the building, an exciting discovery was made under the floor, which seemed ironic but a good omen. Said Mark: "When we dug down, we discovered an old metal sign for Lyons' Tea, measuring about 2 metres by 1.5 metres. It was in great condition and as it was so appropriate, we mounted it on the wall in the new tearoom.

"We also uncovered a second metal sign for a dog food brand and an old horseshoe. There is an historian living in the village who remembers the building being used as a cart shed."

The tearoom pays tribute to villager Nancy Kellogg, who died earlier this year and who was loved and known by many residents, said Mark. "She lived in Great Massingham for decades and used to work at Sandringham Estate and sadly died after a short battle against cancer.

"Her recipe for cheese scones has been passed onto the tearoom team and we are calling them Nancy's Cheese Scones as a nod to her memory."

The menu offers extensive ranges of coffees, teas and hot chocolate, plus grilled breakfasts to takeaway, sandwiches and rolls, baked potatoes with a variety of fillings, salads and an array of cakes, sponges, tray bakes, cookies and scones. Afternoon cream teas are available with a selection of sandwiches, scones, tea and cakes.

Free water is available for cyclists and groups are welcome if they give advance notice.

In addition to the tearoom, the stores themselves have just undergone a major refit with new flooring, lighting and refrigerated units.

The tearooms are open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and 10am-4pm on Saturdays and Sundays.