Ruby Rue Teas

‘Proper’ afternoon tea is becoming more fashionable, with celebrities like singer Lily Allen embracing the traditional event, and Mrs Plumridge likes to do things properly.

She has amassed a collection of vintage china and now, after investing in a few more tea services and elegant cake stands, she travels the country setting up ‘proper teas’.

“I have always enjoyed china, but I have had to find more — much to my husband's horror.”

Living in Stonesfield with two children aged 11 and 14, Mrs Plumridge was searching for a career that didn’t involve a long commute. “This seems to fit in well,” she explained. “A couple of my friends have catering experience, which is useful, but I do the smaller things myself.”

Last month she oarganised tea for guests on the Chrysler stand at the Three Counties Show at Malvern — for large corporate events she can call on a team of friends to act as waitresses.

If you order tea from her company, Ruby Rue Teas, she brings her mis-matched china, cutlery, teapots, milk jugs, sugar bowls, jam and clotted cream dishes, along with tiered cake stands.

There are linen tablecloths, china flowers, trestle tables and napkins tied with matching ribbons. ”And we do the washing up,” she laughed.

As well as big events with up to 48 people, she has also done smaller birthday parties for as few as eight.

“I have always enjoyed cooking and catering and it is going well. So far, I seem to be busy, mainly be word of mouth. I can be flexible,” we did a charity volunteer lunch with savoury sandwiches and tea and cakes.

"It is all home cooked — I make the cakes myself — but it is not what I would call a fancy tea. It's more like a farmhouse tea than what you would get at The Ritz, but I use the best china and serve tea and cakes.

As for the future, she would love to expand the business, and she has one ambition.

"Long term, I would love to have a double-decker bus as a tearoom and tour the country."

n Contact: 01993 898797 Web: www.rubyrueteas.co.uk