ODETTE’S tea room in Wellington High Street, described by its owners as a ‘combination of Somerset rustique and French chic’ is in the running for an award.

It is one of four short-listed contenders in the Start Up category of the Taunton Deane Business Awards. Owners, former teachers Victoria Osborne and Nancy Powell-Brace, who both live in the town, will make a presentation to a judging panel on Tuesday, May 16, with the award-winners announced at a black-tie dinner at Somerset County Cricket Club on Thursday, June 8.

Odette’s is named after Odette Hallowes, a British spy in the Second World War from Whiteball, who was dropped behind enemy lines in France.

The tea room opened in September 2015 and now has three regular part-time staff plus another three or four who can be called on for special events or at busy times. Among the special events are very popular murder-mystery evenings, Burns Night suppers and French- and Italian-themed evenings.

Odette’s, which last year was highly commended in the Somerset Life Food and Drink Awards, likes customers to be able to chat and so does not have music or noisy coffee machines.

The tea room has chosen Wellington Basins Volunteer group as its charity and acts as the box office for Wellington Arts Association productions.

Nancy said: “We spotted a gap in the market – there were no tea houses in Wellington at the time we started but it has been hard work. It is physically demanding – I didn’t spend eight hours on my feet in 32 years’ teaching!”

Odette’s also has a presence on You Tube with its Tales From the Tea Room videos.