WHEN Chris Cruse opened The Star Tea Room in Weaverham he had a dream of bringing some history back to the village – and he has done exactly that.

He treated a fellow Weaverham resident to a free afternoon tea in honour of her 86th birthday after learning she was born and raised in the High Street building where his business stands.

Pat Bolger, formerly Buckley, was born in 1935 and her family owned the building.

She is the last Buckley still living and she took a trip down memory lane with owner Chris.

He said: "She came in and introduced herself and said she was born and was raised in these buildings where the tea room is now.

"It was her birthday on June 22, but as she couldn't do that day, I offered her a free afternoon tea on June 28.

"She has lived in Weaverham all her life and she used to teach locally.

"It was amazing to speak with her and she was telling me how it has changed and how there used to be a yard and stables outside.

"It was really good just to listen to her.

"Every time she's in here she's always talking to other people – it's nice to be able to give people a meeting place in the village."

This was Chris' aim when he opened the venue earlier this year, to provide residents with somewhere to socialise that was 'a little different'.

I put a post on Facebook asking people what they wanted in the village," he said.

"A tea room was what kept coming up.

"I have named the tea room after The Star Inn – that was the original building – and I want to bring some history back to the village so I will be putting pictures of old Weaverham in the tea room and providing a warm and cosy atmosphere.

"It's about bringing a bit of history back to the village."

Visit facebook.com/thestartearoom.