Tea supremos move kitchen to Bond's Mill, Stonehouse

An afternoon tea business has moved into the kitchen at the former café at Bond’s Mill, Stonehouse, owned by Robert Hitchins Ltd.

Le Tartistry’s orders have soared since caterer Karen Ley-Greaves started the business at her kitchen table in Stroud in 2016 with the help of her daughter-in-law Kerry Thorne.

The family duo moved into their first commercial kitchen in 2018, catering for events such as weddings, funerals and hen parties, and ran cake stalls at farmers’ markets.

When Covid struck and all events were cancelled, they launched a doorstep delivery service and haven’t stood still since.

“We advertised through Facebook and within a week, we were so busy we didn’t know which way to turn,” said Karen, who cut her catering teeth at Claridges and ParkLaneHotel in London.

Their recent move to Bond’s Mill has enabled Le Tartistry to expand and has also brought extra custom. “We’ve done buffet lunches for other tenants on the estate and will be providing cakes for staff in the old café area,” she added.

“We were reassured that we had made the right decision because of the professional and supportive estates team. The additional wellbeing facilities on site for businesses were an added bonus.”

Robert Hitchins’ Helen Hawke welcomed Le Tartistry to the Bond’s Mill estate which sits alongside the StroudwaterCanal and River Frome in a mix of refurbished Victorian mill buildings and modern commercial premises.

“Karen’s business is the perfect new use for what was previously a café kitchen. The smell of home baking from Le Tartistry’s Kitchen is irrestible!”, she said.

-r: Helen Hawke from Robert Hitchins, with Karen Ley-Greaves and Kerry Thorne in their new kitchen at Bond's Mill, Stonehouse.