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We would put this in to improving the premises and creating more outside seating in ...
Help to secure the future of The Tea House.
Ventnor, England, United Kingdom
Aim
The global COVID-19 pandemic has created a very uncertain landscape for millions of British small businesses, we are here to help.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has created a very uncertain landscape for millions of British small businesses, and it will be nearly impossible for us to survive if we have to rely solely on the current help being offered by the government. Although this has prevented us from immediate collapse, it is by no means going to secure the future of our business when we eventually are allowed to re-open.
Intro
The Tea House was opened in 2016 as an arts cafe specialising in loose leaf tea, art and all things vintage. As the business has grown we have developed our menus and now offer a wide range of delicious home cooked meals alongside our infamous home bakes (as many of you know, those are all created in our tiny galley kitchen) - we wanted to bring something different to the island. We are fully licensed and regularly hold evening events including Sing Alongs, Crafts and Cocktails Nights and Live Music. The aim has always been to support other island creatives, musicians, and food producers and to make The Tea House a place that everyone can enjoy.
Us and our tribe...
The Tea House is at its heart a family run business, but over the years we have managed to gain some wonderful kick-ass colleagues to help us..They, and our customers make the cafe what it is today. We always had big dreams for The Tea House, but we could never have imagined the volume of local support and regulars who have, over time, become true friends. The cafe has become not only a hub for freelancers looking for an office with a good coffee machine and Wi-fi, but also a community space for those in need of verbal, emotional or edible support!! CAKE IS LIFE.
Businesses like ours in Ventnor, and others in similar seasonal places around the country, already struggle with fluctuations in footfall and income but something as unprecedented as the Corona virus is going to really take the biscuit. Being locals ourselves, we have already seen too many businesses close in our town, with empty shops dominating our high street. This is something we need to STOP! But we will only have a fighting chance with your help.
Why we need your help....
We pride ourselves on our wonderous team, without whom we would be nothing. This is one of the main reasons we are reaching out to try and generate some income at a time when the future seems so uncertain. As many of you will be aware, the government and local authorities have rolled out various forms of financial support and although we have qualified for some of this help, it looks unlikely that we will get as much as we need to survive the summer months, let alone to be able to build up some savings for what looks to be a bleaker than usual winter period.
We rely heavily on the influx of visitors the island sees in the summer months to carry us through the quieter months ahead but even if we are able to reopen our doors in some capacity in the near future, it won't be in the way we are used to or in a way that is sustainable.
What we will achieve with your support...
- Job security for the Tea House Team.
- Funds to maintain and keep the premises
- Cover for essential bills
- A positive start for 2021
Match Funding
If we hit our target of £8,000 through this crowdfunding circle, we will be considered for a grant from the wonderful people at the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (https://solentlep.org.uk/). If successful, this grant will be exactly what we need to survive not only the few months after lock down is eventually eased but also the coming winter.
How you can help
Become a member of The Tea House. Club and receive amazing discounts <3
Buy a gift card to use when we reopen
Make a gift donation to the fund
Private Party Hire - oooh fancy!!
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)
Our promise
When we are eventually allowed to reopen, we will continue to devote our time and energy to The Tea House. to make sure that we continue to offer amazing service to all of those who live in, visit and holiday in our beautiful spot on the Isle of Wight.
We will continue to support local charities with fund raising evenings, support local artists and musicians by holding regular events and we will be actively engaging as we always have with other Island businesses, arts organisations and the local producers and crafters.
And of course, 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 soooo much more.
Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone, for reading, donating, helping and caring.
Thank you to our team, loved ones and friends for supporting us.
From the bottom of our hearts. T H A N K Y O U.
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Crowdfund Solent has provided £2,000 of match funding
This project successfully funded on 27th July 2020