A POPULAR café in Wellington has been forced to close after increased costs across the business.

Odette’s Tearoom in Wellington is a historic Somerset café named after Odette Hallowes – also known as Odette Churchill and Odette Sansom.

Code named Lise; she was an agent for the UK’s clandestine Special Operations Executive (SOE) in France during WW2.

Her honours include the George Cross, an MBE and France’s highest award for courage, the Legion d’Honneur.

Back in March 2023, the owner of Odette’s at the time, Nancy Powell-Brace, spoke as claims were made that dozens of hospitality outlets in the district are in danger of going under.

She told the County Gazette: “The loss of Government support for fuel costs as a result of the Budget is now jeopardising the survival of hospitality businesses like Odette’s.”

There were more than 105,000 UK business closures in the first quarter of 2023, while just 79,000 new businesses were created, the largest net decrease on record.

Posting a statement online via Facebook, Odette’s Tearoom said: “It is with deep sadness that Odette’s Tearoom will be closing its doors for the final time on September 28th, 2024.”

The Tearoom is a staple local business in Wellington since its inception in 2015.

Continuing with their online statement, Odette’s Tearoom wanted to show thanks to their customers after being “forced to close”.

“Odette’s has survived the pandemic, survived the recession but cannot survive the exponential increase in costs of stock and staff.

“Toby (current owner) and Nancy (founder and ex-owner) want to thank everyone in Wellington, staff throughout the nine years and the public beyond, who have made the tearoom such a wonderful place to be, either as a customer or a member of the staff.

“This has been a very difficult decision to make, and it brings sadness with it, but the economy is just not sympathetic to small businesses, and we have to be pragmatic.

“We would just ask one thing. If you can, please keep Odette’s story alive and in the public domain.

“She was inspirational, strong, brave and totally dedicated to her adopted country.

“Odette’s family have supported the tearoom for the whole nine years we have been open.

“We would like to say a special thank you to them and to our amazing landlords, John Wrelton and Lee Tomkins, who have gone above and beyond the role of a landlord to try and help us survive.

“Code name Lise, over and out.”