A POPULAR tea room in Silloth has been keeping customers happy after a booming reopening.

With school holidays fast approaching, Vicky Hope, the owner of Fairydust Emporium, is expecting a busy and successful summer to help get her business back to normality. “We’re currently busier than we’ve ever been,” Vicky said. “It’s great to see people their dogs come in again. It’s just been wonderful.”

Vicky was emotional when she was allowed to reopen her shop.

As a business owner and town councillor for Silloth, she was able to experience what the pandemic has done to the area.

“When Boris announced the first lockdown and that we were to stay at home, I was distraught,” she said. “Because at that time we had no idea how we were going to pay the rent and bills, how we were going to operate.

“When we were given the go ahead to reopen through to Christmas, it was amazing we had Santa come into the shop and all the children loved it — but then we had to shut again.

“It’s an emotional rollercoaster.

“We’ve lost customers to Covid, it’s really sad.”

Vicky hopes to return her tea room back to normality in August.

Readers joined to praise Vicky’s efforts over the many lockdowns.

Corrie Rayson, said: “I don’t know how these businesses do it sometimes.”

Beverley Richards said: “The kids and I love going here. Great to see it doing so well.”

Gareth Heysham agreed: “I don’t know what my kids would do without you.”