A garden centre tearoom has closed after just five months with bosses saying it’s time to focus on their other business.
The Potting Shed Cafe took over the newly built space in Layham Garden Centre, between Canterbury and Dover, in November quickly proving popular for its breakfasts and locally sourced produce.
But today the owners behind the business announced on social media it has closed for good as they need to take time to focus on family and their other cafe The Grapevine in Martin Mill, Dover.
Sharing the news on Facebook, they said: “We would like to thank all our customers over the last few months, and a huge thank you to Mark and Peter Johnson for giving us the opportunity to work at such a beautiful location.
“We have decided for us as a family with three children and other business commitments, now is not the right time to take on another business, the garden Center (sic) is looking for new tenants so hopefully won’t be closed for too long and if anyone is interested in taking the cafe over please contact the garden centre directly.
“So thanks again from all of us here at the potting shed, take care.
“Sorry for the inconvenience this may cause.”
Brothers Mark and Peter Johnson took over the garden centre in Staple six years ago with the hope of turning it into a community hub for local people.
After being granted planning permission three years ago, work started on the 3,220 sq ft new extension which opened last summer.
As well as the cafe and new toilet facilities, it became the new entrance to the garden centre in Lower Road.
The Potting Shed then opened a few months later in Autumn which the Johnson family rented out.
The garden centre is now on the lookout for a new company to run the tearoom.
The rest of the garden centre remains open as usual.
Robert Johnson is a UK-based business writer specializing in finance and entrepreneurship. With an eye for market trends and a keen interest in the corporate world, he offers readers valuable insights into business developments.
