Words: Sarah Cullingworth. Photos: Simon Cullingworth
As the lockdown restrictions slowly begin to lift it’s great to see our local businesses start to reopen.
The Tiny Tea Room in Rodley is based on the canal towpath and will be known to many as a welcome stopping point if you’re walking along Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
In normal circumstances the tea room is open on fair weather days, offering hot and cold beverages as well as a variety of cakes, ice cream and other sweet treats.
Owner Mark and son-in-law Richard are very happy to be able to offer a takeaway service to local walkers and families out enjoying the sunny weather.
The tea rooms had been closed since January last year, and when Covid hit the family took the decision to take the safest decision for them and close for a while as they welcomed twins into their family.
The Tiny Tea Room has been an established business for the past 12 years, opened by Mark after he finished work and his children had left home.
He originally planned to open the tea rooms on board his canal boat but things took a turn in a different direction and what was once an out-building for his bike became the tiny tea room we know today.
He now lives on his canal boat and opens the tea rooms up daily when the weather is good, much to the delight of many locals and visitors.
His daughter and her family live in the house and can often be seen helping out on busy days.
Let’s hope that the predicted snow won’t be with us long so we can enjoy a brew and a slice of cake after a long canalside walk in the fresh air.
Clarification: This article has been updated to clarify the owner’s name is Mark.