Cwmbran has lost a special place. Trios Teashop in Pontnewydd closed its doors for the final time last Saturday.
Owner Lesley Saunders made the tough decision for health reasons and is hoping to find someone to take over the five years remaining on the lease.
Today she held a Farewell Friday event and Cwmbran Life popped along to say goodbye and chat to customers.
Lesley said: “It’s so busy but it’s lovely to see so many people, really good. Lots of our regular customers have been in although we’ve seen a couple of new ones this last week who’ve said ‘we didn’t know you were here’.”
On one table sat a group of former work colleagues. Graham Garland said: “It’s quirky. They’ve always looked after us.
Alison Jones said” “We’ve been coming here for years.”
Kath Pickersgill said: “We get to know the ladies. They’re absolutely charming.”
Carol Wheeler, who has volunteered in Torfaen for over 30 years, said: “We love the food, we love the ambience, we love everything about it. It’s friendly. I run the carers support group and we bring out carers over. The gentleman who runs the dementia group, he brings his carers over. We absolutely love it.”
Helen Matthews volunteers at Trios. She said: “I’ve been doing it for seven years in March, serving with the customers and all.” She agreed it was a “special place” and said she loves serving the customers and seeing their smiling faces.
Christine Edwards said: “I love this place because it’s so friendly. You come in and they know you by name so it’s really nice.”
Rita Davies said: “We were one of their first customers, my husband and I, when they started ten years ago. We were among the first and we have been coming regularly ever since. [We love]… the atmosphere, the people, the staff. We walk through the door and they know who we are. They do real tea with tea leaves and china cups. It’s fabulous!”
David Lewis said: “My late wife Shirley came here with the dementia group and then I started bringing her as well. She just absolutely loved it in here.
“She started smiling as soon as she came in. She sat down in front of proper tea cup and a pot of tea which she really loved doing that.
“Since she’s passed away I come in here with the dementia group. I also come in here now and again for breakfast because I know you leave here contented, I think that’s the best way to put it. In other words, I don’t have to cook again for the rest of the day.
“Places likes this are a godsend to me and I’m really going to miss it.”
