A NEW family-run tearoom is opening in Basingstoke town centre today.

The independent The First Floor Tea Room will be opening in Church Street, serving seasonal teas, coffees, and baked goods.

Owners Andy and Agnes Fixler, who have a background in both hospitality and travel, decided to open the tearoom alongside their travel business NetTours Limited, which operates on the top floor of the premises.

The couple, who have two children, hope to offer customers a relaxing and cosy place to enjoy something from the menu, which was put together following hours of researching and testing, trying different combinations and pairing old favourites with new ideas.

Sweet treats include chocolate chip cookie pizza; rugelach – a flaky, butter dough baked with different fillings; gerbaud – a homemade layer cake; and traditional apple pie.

The café will also include a selection of loose-leaf teas, such as winter romance, Moroccan mint, and lemon meringue.

The couple initially hoped to run the café alongside their travel business, offering customers a chance to enjoy a relaxing drink while choosing a holiday.

However, with the pandemic hitting the travel industry hard, the family instead decided to focus on the tearoom, refurbishing the floor below NetTours ready to open after the second lockdown.

Andy, 44, said: “When we took on the premises, we wanted to open a tearoom, but it never happened. Fate is now telling us that this is the chance.

“We want to offer something that’s different from everything else, from the food and tea selection to the atmosphere. You feel that you are sitting in a living room when you come in.”

The tearoom will welcome children, with a selection of toys for them to play with.

The menu takes influence from various countries, including Hungary where Andy and Agnes come from, as well as France, America, and Britain.

When travel picks up again, Andy hopes to offer customers of NetTours the option to book their holiday while enjoying a drink and cake from the cafe.