THE team behind the Old Station Tearoom will be moving from the Old Station after 10 years of providing homemade treats to visitors.

They have taken the opportunity to open all year round at the Dean Heritage Centre in Cinderford and will be finishing up at the Old Station, Tintern on 31st October before beginning their new venture on 1st December.

Owner Lesley Sterry (pictured) said it was disappointing to move on from a place where they had really grown into.

“It is definitely sad to move on, it has been a privilege to be here and we worked quite close with Monmouthshire County Council (who own the building).

“We have had lots of support from customers and we have come such a long way, we started 10 years ago just my mum and I.”

The Cafe has achieved great success in its time, in 2012 it won the coveted Gold True Taste Award, naming them the best tea rooms in Wales, as voted by the public.

It was also named the best tea room in Wales by the 2014/15 National Tourism Awards and has received a host of other accolades.

Mrs Sterry said it was humbling to have that kind of support from their customers, many of who were return visitors.

The move had not been something Mrs Sterry had always envisaged but when it came to considering the position at the Dean Heritage Centre she said MCC weren’t ready to offer an alternative.

“They were at a point where they didn’t know what was happening, and they weren’t in a position to offer another lease. Because this other opportunity was there we took it.

“We are looking forward to it and trying to be positive but it is very sad for us.”

One change the move will bring is all year round service, instead of the seasonal opening of the Old Station with the same team looking forward to keeping up the standard.

Mrs Sterry said: “We are working with the trustees to do what we did here up there, that is provide our homemade cakes and loose leaf teas and lots of bacon sandwiches.”

The council thanked Mrs Sterry for the cafe’s work and will look to continue to provide a catering service at the Old Station.

A spokesperson said: “The council has been absolutely satisfied with the service provided by our caterer at The Old Station.

“We had offered an extension to her contract for a further year but she has opted to trade with another organisation which offers a year-round service. We warmly thank her for her contribution towards making The Old Station such a popular attraction and wish her well.

“Meanwhile, to comply with the public sector procurement rules, we will shortly advertise the contract. We are committed to continuing to provide a high quality catering service.”