A WELLINGTON town centre tearoom is to close later this month, just seven weeks after winning a town council award for its services to the community.

Odette’s Tearoom, in High Street, was taken over in January by Toby Brimacombe after former Wellington deputy mayor Nancy Powell-Brace decided to step away from the business.

Mr Brimacombe, who started work in the tearoom as an apprentice in 2021, announced on Monday (September 16) that the last day of trading would be on Saturday, September 28, the day of the town’s annual carnival.

He said: “Odette’s has survived the pandemic, survived the recession, but cannot survive the exponential increase in costs of stock and staff.

“This has been a very difficult decision to make, and it brings sadness with it, but the economy is just not sympathetic to small businesses and we have to be pragmatic.

“We would just ask one thing.

“If you can, please keep Odette’s story alive and in the public domain.

“She was inspirational, strong, brave, and totally dedicated to her adopted country.”

The tearoom was named after a famous British Second World War spy, Odette Hallowes, who lived near Wellington.

Mr Brimacombe said: “Odette’s family have supported the tearoom for the whole nine years we have been open.

“We would like to say a special thank you to them, and to our amazing landlords John Wrelton and Lee Tomkins, who have gone above and beyond the role of a landlord to try and help us survive.”