About Us
Tea Time Café is owned and run by Rosa Fothergill, who returned to Yorkshire in 2015 to pursue her dream of owning her own food business. The vision of Tea Time is to create a relaxed, friendly environment to enjoy quality food and drink.
"I want everyone entering Tea Time Café to feel comfortable and welcome. I am passionate about quality food and drink and believe it shouldn't just be a treat, but a part of everyday life!
I love to celebrate seasonal, sustainable, local, and small businesses! We do this in a number of ways and you can read more about some of these topics in our blog!
We use as many local suppliers and producers as we can as well as using homegrown produce from our family farm."
Having started her chef career at local pub "The Angel Inn" Topcliffe at the age of 15. Stepping into her first professional kitchen left Rosa curious and hooked for more. After gaining basic kitchen skills there, she has worked around the Country gaining knowledge of food and worked in Michelin starred restaurants including "Le Gavroche" under Michel Roux Jr. and "Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons" for Raymond Blanc.
"These were amazing and tough experiences- Especially at Le Manoir, which holds a special place with me. I met incredible people and some of the most talented and passionate in the country. The kitchen garden is incredible and inspiring. I learnt so much and while working in these places were some of the hardest days of my life, they were also some the most rewarding. I learnt how to properly taste food. How to work extremely quickly and how to just get something done against all odds."
After having worked just over 2 years at "Le Manoir", an incredible but draining place, she hopped on a plane to New Zealand, spending the next few months working in a busy café while discovering a new way of life. Travelling, enjoying the sunshine outdoors and the stress-free Kiwi way of life.
The journey home took her through Australia and Asia all the while tasting food along the way. Australia with cafés, vineyards and one of the top restaurants in the country. Then to Asia with street food and delicious flavours from Hong Kong to Singapore, and Japan with incredible sushi and fish markets.
Upon returning home to her family farm, Tea Time Yorkshire was born, starting the business baking in her parents Kitchen and delivering high quality Afternoon teas on dainty vintage crockery to parties in people’s homes. The business then grew to catering weddings and larger events.
In 2018 she purchased Henrietta the H van a 1967 vintage Citroen H Van, converted into a food truck going to markets and festivals around Yorkshire as “The Rolling Scones”.
Then in September 2019 the real dream fully became true when she bought a café business in Thirsk, what was “Arabica” and rebranding 1st January 2020 trading as “Tea Time Café”.
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
