A WELL-LOVED business in Ulverston has been recognised for its hard work and dedication to the town it has been in for more than a decade as a tea room.

Gillam’s is a long-established name on Market Street, and first opened as a grocer’s shop in 1892.

Doug and Shirley Gillam opened the tearoom of the same name in 2006, and then took the business full circle by opening a grocer’s themselves in 2010.

The tearoom specialises in organic loose leaf teas, vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options.

Doug Gillam, 46, owner of Gillam's, said: "We have had a lot of tourists in over the Summer but we are starting to see our regulars return as well.

"It is a safe environment and people come in as they know things are being done properly here.

"We have been delivering throughout lockdown really, before we reopened the tearoom.

"We brought teacakes, groceries, tea, and coffee to people's doorsteps as well as our eco cleaning products.

"It is different being open with the new guidelines, but you just have to get into a rhythm with it.

"We have had structural work done to make things safer for customers inside and we have the added bonus of having the garden to use.

"Not many establishments in the town centre have that."

Gillam's pays homage to the local heritage and the interior gives an essence of Ulverston's past with special artefacts and memorabilia.

"I would like to thank all of our customers who have supported us throughout the coronavirus pandemic whilst we did deliveries," Mr Gillam said.

"And a thank you to all those who have had the trust in us to come back and visit as well.

"We have people coming in on a regular basis from Barrow, Ulverston, Kendal, and Lancaster.

"It is nice to see the familiar faces coming back again as it is a big social thing coming to a cafe or coffee shop to just sit and have a chat.

"It is just nice to be appreciated and to be recognised for what we do to be honest.

"We are open as usual now and both fires are lit ready for Winter, but we have the doors open, so we have the fresh air coming through all the time."

Gillam's is a well known business in the area for a reason and a very deserving winner of The Mail's Trader of the Week award.

To nominate a Trader of the Week by emailing george.lythgoe@newsquest.co.uk or by filling in our online Q&A at www.nwemail.co.uk/my/ccn/questionnaire/QXm4AmTH/.