The new owner of a popular Warwick café has thanked the local community for welcoming her to the town.

Hannah Warner took over at The Thomas Oken Tea Rooms - now shortened to the Oken Tea Rooms - last month and has enjoyed a "bonkers" couple of weeks since opening.

The Castle Street coffee shop closed briefly for a makeover, before officially launching under the new ownership on Saturday 25 May.

And less than a month since welcoming her first customer, Hannah told Nub News it has been a fantastic few weeks.

The name has been shortened slightly to the 'Oken Tea Rooms' (image supplied)

"Everyone has been amazing, really welcoming and really caring," the former radio producer said. 

"People have been so positive and they care about this town, that is really nice to see!

"I was really nervous about what people would think because the business has been lovingly built up over many years by the previous owner Jo

"People have been so lovely, up for a chat and very kind. The customers have been very patient with me. 

"We have been super busy and it has been really lovely to be part of a proper community here."

The tea rooms closed for two weeks for a makeover (image supplied)

Hannah was quick to thank a number of local businesses for helping with the refurb (image supplied)

Having worked at National Trust property Hidcote after the pandemic, mother-of-four Hannah then decided to take the plunge and open her own café.

After going to see a number of units across south Warwickshire, as soon as she went to visit the 500-year-old building in Warwick, she knew it was the right place.

"It is like when you look around houses and you go into one and think 'yes I want to move here'," Hannah explained. 

"I looked round loads of cafes, and nothing was quite right. 

"But then I saw the advert for The Oken Tea Room, went to visit, and as soon as I walked in I knew it was right. 

"The whole place had such a lovely feel, and it was everything I wanted."

A range of sweet treats are also available at the Oken Tea Rooms (image supplied)

As well as shortening the name, Hannah has also given the tea rooms a makeover with new décor and furniture installed.

And she was quick to thank Phil and Mark at Trinity Décor and David and Jerry at Hatton & Harding for their help with the renovations.

"Like everything, I was hoping to be in by March and then it dragged on a bit," she said. 

"We got the keys in mid May and it has been a bonkers, whirlwind few weeks. 

"It is not a modern building, it is a historic building and we just wanted to reflect that in the redecorating. 

"We have had lots of fun over the past few weeks trying to get everything in place."

Hannah said she fell in love with the historic building as soon as she saw it (image supplied)

And having been able to keep on much of the team from before, Hannah said she has loved getting to grips with running the Oken Tea Rooms since opening.

"The first weekend was a massive baptism of fire!" she joked. 

"But luckily the team are all experienced and very capable and already know what they are doing.

"They did all the heavy lifting as I ran around like a headless chicken! 

"The team have been absolutely amazing."

To find out more about the Oken Tea Rooms, follow the Facebook page here.

The tea rooms stocks its own range of jams and chutneys! (image supplied)