A DATE has finally been set for the long-awaited launch of Bullocks Tea Rooms and Bistro in Droitwich.

The doors of the historic tea rooms in High Street will be thrown open to the public once again at 9am on Wednesday, January 6, around four years after they last closed in 2011.

However the road to re-opening has not been smooth, with owners Steve Weaver and Andrew Probyn waiting 12-weeks for BT to install phone lines and broadband to the newly refurbished property.

Following an article in the Droitwich News, engineers came out to fit the phone lines and broadband is also being installed.

Mr Weaver, who had wanted to open in December, but was forced to postpone the date due to the BT delay, said: "It will be great when it gets going, but we have lost all the Christmas trade.

"I think we will see if we can get some compensation from them.

"We could have made a lot of money and got it on the map but anyway, it is what it is and we are just looking forward to next week."

A special launch event will be held on Tuesday afternoon for Droitwich dignitaries to celebrate the Grade II-listed landmark returning to its roots as a tea room.

Former owner Betty Abbey will cut the ribbon, while former members of staff from when Bullocks was last a tea room will also come down for the event.

Claire Lloyd, of Historic Droitwich Group which has been involved in the revamp project, said: "It will be lovely to see this iconic business open and I know that people are very keen to get in there.

"I just think it will be wonderful and I think that Steve and Andrew care very much about the building and they want to make it special. We just hope that the business will be a great success."

The building has most recently been home to Wychavon District Council's Community Contact Centre, but before that was a well-loved and popular tea room for many decades.

As part of the 18-month, £300,000 refurbishment works, four flats have been built above the old section of the building, while the traditional-style tea rooms, 40-seat restaurant and new coffee lounge based in the former bakers will help restore Bullock's to its original glory.

And a new glass atrium roof has been installed in the heart of the building with blue-tinted glass.

Councillor Graham Beale, Mayor of Droitwich, said: "It is going to look very nice when it's finished. I hope it goes well because it has been a long, long time coming back into use."

A new website is set to be launched this week, which can be found at bullocksofdroitwichspa.co.uk