My name is David and I have always dreamt of opening a traditional Tea Rooms in Cardiff. I began writing a blog to keep a diary of what it feels like to leave your career and start up your own business.
My reasons for writing the blog were simple. Firstly my memory is not great and this has to be the most exciting thing I have done in my life to date, I want to relish the feeling and tell as many people about it as I can. The second reason is to pass on knowledge of my experiences and inspire others, so if you are planning to launch your own business or have a dream I hope my words advise.
I threw my life in the air just under two years ago with the hope that when it landed I would satisfy an inner desire to turn a hobby into a living. Unfortunately the two best words that explain my story are somewhat clichéd, for now set aside your cynicism and let me tell you about my journey to live my dream.
I am 30 years old and extremely proud to live in Cardiff with my partner. Like many honorary Cardiffians I moved to the city to study and never left. The plan was to read Hospitality Management at UWIC (now Cardiff Metropolitan University) with the aim of working in the hotel trade. Surprisingly my life went very much to plan over the first few years, enjoying university life, working part time at the Angel Hotel, graduating and then taking on a full time management position for Paramount Hotels who operated the Angel during Cardiff’s Hotel heyday.
By 2010 I was fortunate enough to hold the position of Director of Sales – South UK for the international hotel group Barceló Hotels, enjoying good success in the role and a rather rosy future in front of me. I make a point of not being ungrateful, I knew exactly how lucky I was to work in my chosen profession and hold a respected position, but a growing sense of dissatisfaction had settled on me. The fact of the matter was that I was working very hard, long hours, huge mileage and a slave to the buzz of the Blackberry.
In June 2010 I decided to plan my great escape and turned to my love of baking, making and crafting as inspiration for what direction I wanted to go in. Turning your life around is like steering a ridiculously large ship, if you spin the wheel on impulse you’ll probably roll everything over causing untold damage. Like all good planners, I opened excel and wrote lists!
Having worked in hotels, restaurants, pubs and bars, I picked a Tea Room as my desired trade. Since I was a little child visiting Greys of Totnes with my mum and her friend Jane, I have been captivated by the magical simplicity, elegance and sheer Britishness of the Tea Room. My taste for Earl Grey originated from childhood boredom as the friendly waiting staff delivered yet more tea to the table! I soon started asking if I could have a cup. After all I loved going to the Tea Rooms but my mum and Jane could sit there literally all day, much to the delight of Totnes Councils parking attendants.
The most difficult part of turning my dream into a reality has been in finding the perfect the venue. I spent weeks and months driving around all areas of Cardiff looking for potential locations. Then I stumbled entirely by chance upon the Bute Park Restoration Project and their plans to develop the West Lodge as a traditional style Tea Rooms. I do not much believe in fate, but sometimes it seems that things truly are meant to be. Today, Friday 10th February 2012, I have had confirmation that my tender with Cardiff Council has been successful. Changing the course of my life has taken time, patience and passion, but the way ahead is clear, the seas look calm and I am the most excited and contented I have even been.
Join me on my journey to opening my Tea Room in the West Lodge, Castle Street, in Bute Park in late March early April 2012. All the latest news will always be on my blog http://iwanttobakefree.blogspot.com
My reasons for writing the blog were simple. Firstly my memory is not great and this has to be the most exciting thing I have done in my life to date, I want to relish the feeling and tell as many people about it as I can. The second reason is to pass on knowledge of my experiences and inspire others, so if you are planning to launch your own business or have a dream I hope my words advise.
I threw my life in the air just under two years ago with the hope that when it landed I would satisfy an inner desire to turn a hobby into a living. Unfortunately the two best words that explain my story are somewhat clichéd, for now set aside your cynicism and let me tell you about my journey to live my dream.
I am 30 years old and extremely proud to live in Cardiff with my partner. Like many honorary Cardiffians I moved to the city to study and never left. The plan was to read Hospitality Management at UWIC (now Cardiff Metropolitan University) with the aim of working in the hotel trade. Surprisingly my life went very much to plan over the first few years, enjoying university life, working part time at the Angel Hotel, graduating and then taking on a full time management position for Paramount Hotels who operated the Angel during Cardiff’s Hotel heyday.
By 2010 I was fortunate enough to hold the position of Director of Sales – South UK for the international hotel group Barceló Hotels, enjoying good success in the role and a rather rosy future in front of me. I make a point of not being ungrateful, I knew exactly how lucky I was to work in my chosen profession and hold a respected position, but a growing sense of dissatisfaction had settled on me. The fact of the matter was that I was working very hard, long hours, huge mileage and a slave to the buzz of the Blackberry.
In June 2010 I decided to plan my great escape and turned to my love of baking, making and crafting as inspiration for what direction I wanted to go in. Turning your life around is like steering a ridiculously large ship, if you spin the wheel on impulse you’ll probably roll everything over causing untold damage. Like all good planners, I opened excel and wrote lists!
Having worked in hotels, restaurants, pubs and bars, I picked a Tea Room as my desired trade. Since I was a little child visiting Greys of Totnes with my mum and her friend Jane, I have been captivated by the magical simplicity, elegance and sheer Britishness of the Tea Room. My taste for Earl Grey originated from childhood boredom as the friendly waiting staff delivered yet more tea to the table! I soon started asking if I could have a cup. After all I loved going to the Tea Rooms but my mum and Jane could sit there literally all day, much to the delight of Totnes Councils parking attendants.
The most difficult part of turning my dream into a reality has been in finding the perfect the venue. I spent weeks and months driving around all areas of Cardiff looking for potential locations. Then I stumbled entirely by chance upon the Bute Park Restoration Project and their plans to develop the West Lodge as a traditional style Tea Rooms. I do not much believe in fate, but sometimes it seems that things truly are meant to be. Today, Friday 10th February 2012, I have had confirmation that my tender with Cardiff Council has been successful. Changing the course of my life has taken time, patience and passion, but the way ahead is clear, the seas look calm and I am the most excited and contented I have even been.
Join me on my journey to opening my Tea Room in the West Lodge, Castle Street, in Bute Park in late March early April 2012. All the latest news will always be on my blog http://iwanttobakefree.blogspot.com
