Two Wiltshire tea rooms close after decades in business

Summarised from 4 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 10 Nov, 05:59 · Archive

Boston Tea Party has closed its Salisbury café after 15 years, and the Polly Tea Rooms in Marlborough has shut after 114 years.

Two historic tea rooms in Wiltshire have closed their doors. Boston Tea Party has permanently shut its Salisbury café at the Grade I listed Old George Inn after 15 years of operation. The closure follows the expiration of its lease, with major building works expected to affect the historic property for much of 2027. Sam Roberts, CEO of Boston Tea Party, said the company had been unable to find a way to keep the café operating during the works, adding: 'We've loved being a part of the community in Salisbury, and we hope we'll run into you in one of our other cafes soon and maybe find our way back to Salisbury in the future.'

The Old George Inn is a medieval building with parts dating from the 14th century. It was once owned by the Teynturer family, two members of whom served as Mayor of Salisbury. The building's name is thought to have been connected with the guild of St George. In 1414, it was purchased by the Mayor and commonalty and became known as 'Georges Ynne'. One of its documented visitors was diarist Samuel Pepys, who stayed there from June 10 to 12, 1668.

Separately, the Polly Tea Rooms on Marlborough High Street has closed after 114 years in business. The historic site was set up in 1912 by Jean Leith Hay and Janet McCloud, becoming known for serving treats and as a safe place for women to meet. McCloud was one of the original suffragettes. In a notice posted on the business, the owners cited 'relentless tax rises and overhead costs' plus minimum wage increases as reasons for closure. They stated that the current business climate in the UK makes it 'simply impossible' to run a high street business, particularly when customers face an ongoing cost of living crisis affecting their ability to eat out.

How it is being reported

• Historic tea rooms closes doors after 114 years amid ‘impossible’ pressuresA historic independent business that has been on a Wiltshire High Street for 114 years has shut its doors.Gazette & Herald · 10 Nov, 05:00
• Historic tea rooms closes doors after 114 years amid ‘impossible’ pressuresA historic independent business that has been on a Wiltshire High Street for 114 years has shut its doors.Wiltshire Times · 10 Nov, 05:00
• Historic tea rooms closes doors after 114 years amid ‘impossible’ pressuresA historic independent business that has been on a Wiltshire High Street for 114 years has shut its doors.Swindon Advertiser · 10 Nov, 05:00
• The fascinating past of historic Salisbury building as Boston Tea Party closesBoston Tea Party closes in Salisbury after 15 years, ending a café chapter at the Grade I listed Old George Inn, a medieval building linked with Samuel Pepys.Salisbury Journal · 9 Nov, 13:16
• End of an era as popular Salisbury café closes after 15 yearsBoston Tea Party has permanently closed its Salisbury café at the Grade I listed Old George Inn after 15 years, ahead of planned major building works in 2027.Salisbury Journal · 9 Nov, 12:57

In this story: Boston Tea Party · Salisbury · Old George Inn · Samuel Pepys · Polly Tea Rooms · Marlborough · Jean Leith Hay · Janet McCloud

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log