FORMER Wellington deputy mayor Cllr Nancy Powell-Brace is to shortly step away from her town centre tearoom business and a decision will be made on New Year’s Day as to whether it will remain open.

Cllr Powell-Brace told the Wellington Weekly only in March how Odette’s Tearoom, in High Street, was ‘battling the country’s economic climate’ and faced difficulty in keeping going.

Although the tearoom was seeing customer numbers hold steady, overheads were going up, resulting in smaller profits.

She said Odette’s had three part-time staff and two Saturday helpers as well as herself but trading was such that she could not take a wage.

Now, Cllr Powell-Brace is to ‘retire from active duty’ on September 5, which will be the eighth anniversary of the tearoom trading in Wellington.

She will then hand over the day to day running to her assistant Toby Brimacombe, who has been working in Odette’s towards his level three diploma in hospitality.

Cllr Powell-Brace said: “He has been an amazing asset to the tearoom for four years and has always aimed to become the owner of the tearoom.

“At this very difficult economic time, Toby will assume full responsibility for the day to day running of the tearoom until January 1, 2024.

“On this day, the decision will be made as to whether the tearoom can continue at all.”

Cllr Powell-Brace said she would continue to be company director and available for cover and advice, but would not be active in tearoom on a day to day basis.

She said if the New Year’s decision was that Odette’s was financially viable, then a process of ‘change of ownership’ would begin.

In a social media statement Cllr Powell-Brace said she and Mr Brimacombe ‘sincerely hope the people of Wellington will continue to support the tearoom, and Toby, at this difficult time of transition and decision making’.

The tearoom, which has strong ties to the family of World War Two British spy hero Odette Hallowes, was opened by Cllr Powell-Brace and Victoria Osborne, with Ms Osborne retiring three years ago.

Cllr Powell-Brace said because of the current transition, Odette’s would be advertising in the next fortnight for new staff.