Shropshire Weekend Shropshire Star Saturday March 25th 2006

Deliciously Shropshire

Small is beautiful   A curious belief in business is that big is often beautiful. 

Certainly, the huge profits made by firms like BT, Barclays and BP add weight to that philosophy in the world’s financial centres.

But in deepest Shropshire, that argument simply does not ring true.

Take the Old House in Hilton, near Bridgnorth, which has room for just 20 people.

It may not produce multi-billion pound sales, or even employ thousands of people, but it is at the very heart Shropshire’s rural community.

And it is a reputation of which co-owner Fifi Sharplin is fiercely proud: “I just don’t want to make it any bigger, as it would lose its intimacy.

“It is run as a small tea shop — cosy and family-run.”

Nestled snugly on the A454, the Old House would be easy to miss.

As well as offering tea on the lawn, the house also hosts bed-and-breakfast customers.

Most customers would need little persuasion to stop at such an idyllic location — and that is how Fifi wants it to stay: “People know about us by word-of-mouth and that is the best way — slow but sure.

“Adverts cost quite a bit and we are a small concern.

“There is always the nightmare of too many people coming at once.”

As with a huge number of other county-based business, supporting local suppliers is an important part of the routine.

This extends to almost every section of the operation and isn’t just restricted to occasional purchase.

Fifi — who runs the business with husband John — explains: “We definitely use local and avoid the supermarkets.

“We use Kev’s in Bridgnorth for the vegetables, the delicatessen opposite and Beaman’s for our meat.

“I try not to use the supermarkets because they are all so bland.”

She adds: “In a rural area like this, why not use local food instead of imported products?”

The pair are currently revamping their business in preparation for the new season, which gets under way at the start of May.

In addition to extending the opening hours to include Wednesday to Sundays, customers can look forward to a whole new range of food.

Fifi says: “We do meals for people who like beans on toast and salads.

“We are hoping to do something different this year, such as onion and feta cheese tart and savoury wraps.

“We just want to be a bit different — people can go anywhere for a cheese sandwich.”

She adds: “We also do the usual afternoon cream teas, cakes and beverages.”

The pair are especially keen about retaining the character of their premises.

The house is, after all, their home and Fifi doesn’t want anything to spoil its looks: “It is a 500-year-old Tudor house and it is very attractive.

“Part of the idea is that people just like to sit in the gardens.”

 Article by: James Shaw