WE ARE NOW CLOSED

We regret to say we will not be reopening as planned but we would like to thank you for your support over the years. We have loved every minute of it!!

John & Annie Deeley

PRESS RELEASE - 23rd March 2010

Annie's Tea Rooms, Godney, near Wells, will not be re-opening

After five years of hard work, much merriment and lots of cream cakes, John & Annie Deeley, the owners of the award winning 'Annie's Tea Rooms, Garden & Gallery,' in Godney near Wells, have, somewhat reluctantly, decided to hang up the proverbial 'spotty pinny' for the last time.

This means they will not be reopening at Easter as originally planned. The Tea Rooms received a lot of recognition from local and national press, not least of which was being included in The Independent newspaper as one of 'The 50 Best Tea Rooms' in the UK and winning the top Taste of the West Gold Award in the Tea Room/Cafe category. As a result they found this put them on a much bigger map than they ever anticipated. People started coming from North Wales, London, Cambridge, in fact, all over the UK, including holiday-makers passing through Somerset on their way to Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, to visit them, in ever increasing numbers.

John & Annie ran the Tea Rooms from their home; an old Somerset Dairy Barn, in the small village of Godney on the Somerset Levels. Consequently, they found themselves seriously questioning the practicality and logistics of continuing and decided, after much soul searching, that it would really be best to quit while they they're ahead. In an attempt to avoid any disappointment would be visitors would feel if they were to venture out and find the Tea Rooms no longer open, they are doing everything they can to spread the news of their decision.

They have loved every minute and are extremely grateful to everyone involved who has helped; including friends, neighbours, staff, suppliers, local artists, the press and all the great people they have had the opportunity to meet since first opening. Following their big decision they find themselves feeling 'heavy hearted and light headed all at the same time.' As the news has begun to spread, they have been flooded with messages of support from well wishers expressing their disappointment but understanding and would just like to thank everyone, once again.

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Thanks everyone for all your good wishes, understanding and wonderful stories about happy memories at the Tea Rooms. They are happy memories for us too.

We are being overwhelmed by the response! (See a small sample of messages elow!!).

Annie & John x Friday 26th March 2010

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Well done for making such a wonderful happening - and it brought the village so much together.  I know how much time and effort and lack of privacy such a business brings - you are very sensible to quit whilst you are ahead.  Enjoy the new freedom! Very best wishes.

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WOW! Sorry and Happy (for you guys) to hear this - good luck it will be a hard act to follow!

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I can totally understand your decision. It IS a lot of work and a lot pressure while you have to be there for the everybody.It can not have been an easy decision to make.The wonderful thing is that you have realized your dream with a success bigger than you ever could have anticipated. I still remember your wonderful lunches and cakes!!!!!!! MÑam,mñam..!!!!

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Very sad to hear your news, Annie & John.  But understand quite how you feel.  It is a tremendous tie for you and probably stops you doing all sorts of other interesting and fun things. But I fear, for many months, you will still receive a lot of would-be visitors to your idyllic spot, and they will be very disappointed not to find you open. As we will.

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I am sorry to hear the news – going to Annie’s tea rooms has been a treat that my girls and I have always looked forward to after a cycle ride. I wish you both good fortune and much happiness

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We are so sorry to hear you won't be reopening this year, but can understand your reasons for wanting to hang up the pinnies now.  Over the years we have taken countless friends & family to enjoy lunches or teas at your Tea Rooms, especially as it makes such a wonderful destination for a bike ride, but alas no more! We wish you both well for the future.

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So sorry to hear that you won’t be opening again this year.  Although we’ve only been coming to you for the last couple of years, we almost feel part of the family.  It is a real highlight of a summer weekend to come cycling over to you for tea and warm chocolate fudge cake with clotted cream.  It is going to be quite a challenge to get the girls out on their bikes now without a reward at the end! If you get a chance, please would you send me the recipe for the chocolate fudge cake?  I could put it in a rucksack and take the girls for a picnic on the levels for old time’s sake.

I hope you have a very happy Easter and that summer is warm and kind to all of us. Best wishes and thank you for many happy memories at Annie’s Tea Rooms.

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Needless to say, very sorry to hear the news but what a great five years! Thank you. We and our girls loved the place. Best wishes with your next venture - or with having a well earned rest.

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Hope you have a fabulous retirement. You will be missed :((((((((((((((

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What a disappointment – and just after I had recommended you to a friend from Cairo who wanted to know where he could cycle to round here that would make a nice ride with a point to it.  But thank you for the happy years, and I wish I had actually stopped to partake more often.

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Sad news for us punters but having run a restaurant with my wife and partners I know what a relief it can be to down tools. The Tea Rooms will be remembered with great affection (certainly by us). I always felt there was something of The Wind in the Willows, something rather magical and quintessentially English about the setting. Plus the service was charming and the cream teas were scrumptious. We hope you now thoroughly enjoy the time that hanging up the apron will give you.

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What sad news for us, but relief for you.  Well done for what you have achieved and good luck for whatever you take on in the future.

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Oh my dears, I cant bear this - how selfish can I get?   I am of course delighted for you both, and am sure it is the right thing to do, but will miss you so much - and your staff, do give them all my love. Very best wishes for whatever you do next, because I am sure you wont be resting on your laurels.  I shall think of you as often as ever, and perhaps we can meet for a meal somewhere, some time, though it wont be as nice as Annie's!

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I will miss you, your food, your garden, your whole set up. I wish you very good luck in everything you do. It seems you only have to decide and the world will come to assist you.

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Am really sad because you made such a lovely welcoming space so you will be sorely missed. I can well imagine what an intrusion it must be having that in your own home and hope you can hang up your pinnys and have a really good restful Summer!

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Oh no how disappointing.  I have been anticipating your opening all winter and now the sad news on my part that you wont be opening again....  You are the only cafe/bistro that has al fresco dining in a beautiful, peaceful setting... not to mention the lovely lunches... Do understand your reasons for not opening and wish you all the best for your future... A devoted fan

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Sad to hear your news but wish you both every happiness and many thanks for lovely restful times when I visited.

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Quite appreciate how you feel, but we will be very disappointed not to have your tea room as our goal on our bike rides. Hope your future is successful.

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I have to say, we're devastated at your news but can fully understand that you've decided to take some much earned rest - dammit! We looked at the house next door when it was for sale, on the strength of your place, so all I can say is thank God we didn't move to Godney, or we'd have starved!!!  We never got to live in Somerset - & won't do so now - but have to say, the place will be all the poorer without your lovely tea rooms. Enjoy being free from the thrall of demanding customers. We'll miss you.

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Wow -- hi guys, I just received this and I have to say that I am both sad and relieved for you.  I know that you ran a very successful tea room, and I hope that you are quite proud of your successes.  Having said that, the notoriety and fame that come with success may not be much fun for you, especially when you have a home-based business!  I really hope that you are both well and look back on the tea room days fondly, and I await news of your next endeavors!

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Thank you for letting us know, and for all the pleasure you have given every one. Yes it will be disappointing  not to have your  lovely Tea Rooms, but you have done a lot for us all.

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Well, I'm stunned!  I was so looking forward to having tea and lunch there this summer!  Have withdrawal symptoms in the winter! 

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We are really sorry to hear that you won't be re-opening this year but know how much hard work is involved. A lot of people are going to be very disappointed as we are often asked about the tea rooms by friends.  Enjoy the summer both of you! 

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What sad news, Annie & John! I'm very sorry to hear that you're not reopening the Tea Room, although I certainly understand the level of disruption that running everything from your house must have entailed. I know that we weren't the most regular of patrons, but it was always a joy to walk over -- and you did make the best soya latte in the country!

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Oh dear! This is very sad news and suprising as we talked quite recently but I can quite see why you couldn't tell me , perhaps you had not even made up your minds.Your tea rooms will be a pleasure sadly missed, especially as there will be no other meeting place in the village and the combination of the situation your company and the quality of the fare was such a winning combination.

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Just read in the Journal and now on your website that you are not re-opening this year - what a true disappointment that is, it's like the death of a dear friend; we would enjoy our afternoon tea's at Annie and were only saying how nice it will be when the clocks alter this week-end, the weather gets warmer and our lovely trips to Annies.

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We will be sad to lose you. As a family who also live and work on their premises I can totally sympathies with you regarding your difficult decision. Best wishes in what ever you decide to do in the future from us all here.

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All photography copyright
John & Annie Deeley

Clip from Wells Journal
25th March 2010