Havant's hidden gem Claire's Floristry and Tea Room celebrates second birthday with bash
A florist-cross-tearoom is celebrating its second birthday
Havant’s best kept secret which combines beautiful floristry and perfectly brewed coffee is celebrating its second birthday.
Tucked away in Little Park Avenue is Claire’s Floristry and Tea Room - a unique business that allows customers to enjoy a brew and a sweet treat while watching the art of floristry unfold.
Claire Lester got the keys to the charming cafe-cross-florist on June 1, 2024, and she is now gearing up for a birthday bash celebrating two years of organic growth.
She said: “It’s quite an accomplishment to reach two. It has been a huge adventure, and hopefully it will last but we can only do that with the support of everyone. I think a lot of people are now supporting local businesses but we all need it now more than ever.
“It is a very unique place - Quite often when I’m makinga bouquet, people are mesmerised by it and I just thought wouldn’t it be nice to relax while watching that. I just thought it would be really cute.
The 41-year-old is no stranger to the floristry industry having started out as a Saturday girl at Jeannette Rawson Florist, in Drayton, at the age of 14. But it was only after having her son that Claire decided to move from admin back into the world of flowers.
With the help of her first employer, she completed all of her floristry qualifications and launched her floristry business from a converted caravan, but increasing popularity demanded that she move to a bigger site.
Claire found herself working in a larger unit but said she was drawn towards the appeal of a physical shop, prompting her to move into her current home which is where she combined the floristry and tea room.
To celebrate turning two, Claire will host a birthday party on Saturday, May 30 which will welcome the likes of live singer, Dave Barrett, a human fruit machine and rat splat for the children.
Claire continued: “I think if we got bigger and moved, it would lose its charm - I’d like to stay here but I need to get more bums on seats and make people aware of us.”