Back in time for tea at Mr Wilson's

Mr Wilson’s Tea Rooms shares a space with Sphera Antiques on King Street, which is co-owned by Tracy’s brother Shane Ball.

Customers can receive a truly retro experience at the businesses, browsing antiques before moving next door to dine in the 1940s.

Tracy opened the cafe in November 2019: “They are separate business but we decided to open up the door between them so people can browse the antiques and have a 1940s experience.”

And after offering takeaways during lockdown, she is happy to see the business back open to customers.

“It’s took some adapting” she said.

“We made the decision early on in lockdown that we would switch the entire business to takeaways.”

The team, who are all dressed as Second World War Land Girls, were preparing hundreds of takeaways per week during lockdown.

However, they are now running the full experience which is valued in the community.

“We get a lot of people coming who have dementia. It’s a big thing for them, they have a lot of memories of the music and surroundings.

“We have heard families say they have never talked so much.”

Tracy said: “We have visitors from residential care homes, we tend to make the room a bit quieter.”

Customers step back in time at Tracy’s cafe which includes a 1940s style living room, kitchen and Second World War air raid shelter. The business has expanded from a modest six seats to a full cafe: "It was only ever going to be tea and cake but we realised the seats were always occupied."

The cafe is set in the old Redhouse Pub and named after it’s former landlord, Ernie Wilson who was part of the Home Guard in The Second World War.

It is a difficult period for businesses like Tracy's but they are able to offer the full experience thanks to the support of their customers.

"We're surviving and surviving this year is all I care about.

We want to hear from more businesses who are going the extra mile for their customers and the community.

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