Former tearoom to transform into trendy business specialising in coffee, matcha and acai in Northampton
A former tearoom of 10 years is in the process of being transformed into a trendy new business, specialising in coffee, matcha and acai in Northampton.
The Village Tearoom on Main Road, Duston, which was known as Number 50 Tearoom until May 2025, closed its doors for the final time at the end of March.
Owner Jodie Roberts took to social media to announce the decision after much consideration, telling her followers it is time for a new start and fresh beginning.
Jodie will continue to run its sister business Wootton Coffee Shop, formerly known as Number 50 Coffee Lounge, while her daughter Sophie Francks launches brand new business Nourish – and the two will be completely separate entities moving forward.
“We knew the tearoom had the potential to be something bigger,” Sophie told the Chronicle & Echo. “With the upcoming trend of matcha and acai, we knew it was the best time to do it.”
The hospitality industry has always been a big part of Sophie’s life due to her mother’s business ventures, with memories of her interest in making coffee from as young as 11 years old.
Wootton Coffee Shop opened when she was 14 and she began working there officially two years later. Sophie is now 19 and began training to be a primary school teacher at university last September.
She continued working at Wootton Coffee Shop alongside her studies as she enjoyed it so much, which led to the realisation that this is what she wanted to do with her future.
Sophie took the lead on the highly popular introduction of acai at Wootton Coffee Shop last August, which she described as a “huge success”, and this is now a permanent offering on the menu.
The 19-year-old left university last month to pursue the opening of Nourish at the heart of Duston village, with the determination to make her vision a successful reality.
“My main aim is that I want it to be a whole experience rather than just the coffee and acai,” said Sophie. “We’re getting the whole place to match the aesthetics of the menu, so it’s a place people want to take pictures in and post on social media. Duston especially was lacking somewhere like that.”
As well as specialising in coffee, matcha and build-your-own acai bowls, the brunch and lunch menu will feature toasties, bagels, sourdoughs, sandwiches, build-your-own pancakes and fresh smoothies.
The team is aiming to open at the end of April, with building works still underway, and Sophie was asked why she believes Northampton needs a business like Nourish.
She said: “When you go to London or other cities, these cafes are popping up everywhere. You come back to Northampton and it’s missing that vibe. No one has brought it to Northampton yet.”
Although the tearoom was “so loved” by its regular customers, Sophie made sure to visit them ahead of the closure to tell them about the new plans – which they were all excited to come back and enjoy.