A HISTORIC tea room has a new owner.

Davenports Tea Room and Florists has been sold following the retirement of owners Ian and Belinda Davenport.

The Bartington business leaves the Davenport family after nearly 100 years as the husband-and-wife team hand over the reigns to Petra Sohna, an award-winning chef.

Speaking after their final shift on September 1, Belinda said: “Today I say goodbye to a place full of special memories of people I’ve met, things I’ve learnt, opportunities created and I have loved pretty well most of it and what a send-off. Such lovely cards and gifts, hugs and smiles.

“As Ian and I retire, we wish Petra and her team every success.”

The tea room, located at Bridge Farm just off Warrington Road, will be closed for a short time while the new owner, Petra, puts her stamp on it.

It will reopen on Wednesday, October 2, under a new name – The Dormouse Haven Restaurant and Tea Room.

She said: “Wishing Belinda and Ian a wonderful retirement I’m so looking forward to taking your gem of a tea room to the next level as Dormouse Haven.

“Thank you for believing in me and making my dream become a reality.”

The tea room was opened in 2007The tea room was opened in 2007 (Image: Supplied)

Initially a bakery, the business was founded in 1928 by Ian’s grandfather, Harry Davenport.

His son, Harry Fry Davenport, then shifted focus to floristry and traded under various names and at several different locations.

In 2006, the off-site flower shops were sold and the Davenports Farm Shop was opened.

The tea room opened the following year and went on to win several awards, including the Tea Guild’s last-ever Top Tea Room Award in 2013.

In February this year, Belinda and Ian confirmed their plans to retire.

“We absolutely love what we are doing, but we have decided that as I reach 60 in September, we want to be able to do more things while we can,” said Belinda.

"We totally appreciate our children choosing a career of their own and we fully support them, but sadly it does mean the end of an era."

Belinda has since announced she is set to publish a book – Running a Small Business, It’s a Piece of Cake.

She is also looking to create a scrapbook of her time at Davenports and has asked anyone with photos or special memories to get in touch.