A NEW vintage tea room will open its doors in Ludgershall, thanks to the hard work of an antique enthusiast.

Liz Hunt is days away from launching Mary’s Vintage Tea Room, fulfilling a life-long dream and honouring her grandmother in the process.

The businesswoman previously ran Knights Tailoring and Embroidery in the town, but over the years she found more and more people were coming to see her and her decor, and then one day she was told that Oasis Café, in High Street was for sale.

Liz snapped up the chance.

“I knew I wanted to have a tea room, I was looking around the area and my friend who is a hairdresser said ‘why don’t you just buy next door, it is for sale’, I walked in and knew that was it.”

And in August Liz was handed the keys, since then she has been working on her vintage masterpiece, sourcing items from house clearances, antique stores and through website Fab Finds.

She said: “I love The Crown and Victoria and their interiors. My grandmother had a big Victorian Georgian house and I have always loved this style, I thought that would be perfect.”

Liz’s dream was to open her own tea room at the age of 12 having run a café to own her own.

“I ran the whole place, I loved it. At the weekend I got £2.50 an hour, that is where I got my work ethic.”

And Liz has set up the tea room almost singlehandedly, with help from people in their spare time.

She said: “I want it to be a place to come, meet up, relax and unwind in the comfort of Mary’s vintage tea rooms serving all your delicious tea room favourites in the heart of the village.”

The vintage lover plans to offer fresh baguettes, jacket potatoes, milkshakes, along with afternoon style breakfasts and homemade cakes.

But Liz has big ambitions for Mary’s and wants to open another and hopefully a chain in the future.

“I want the name Mary’s to be like Betty’s. I want to win awards. My aim is to take it all the way, I really want a tearoom that people will travel to and come and visit.”

On Monday Liz will officially unveil the café, with extreme adventurer and veteran Jordan Wylie cutting the ribbon.

There will also be a free glass of bubbly for all guests who attend the opening at 12.30pm.