New online chapter for Mother Murphy's after closure of Falkirk tearoom

Debra and Jim Murphy have launched Mother Murphy's as an online business after closing the tearoom in Falkirk during the summer

Like other hospitality businesses, the tearoom on Ladysmill was forced to close its doors back in March when the country went into lockdown.

With the lease on the premises up for renewal in August, and all talk of premises reopening needing safety measures in place such as social distancing, Debra and husband Jim took the difficult decision to close the tearoom, giving up the lease, as they felt it would be no longer viable for Mother Murphy’s.

However, Debra spoke of plans to continue Mother Murphy’s as an online business from their home, offering homemade cakes and biscuits to be delivered to people’s doorsteps.

The selection of favourite cakes from the tearoom which were included in October's monthly box, handmade by Mother Murphy's.

Now, she’s doing just that and has been enjoying success in the first few weeks of offering monthly boxes.

Debra said: “Our box for October is six individual cakes and we’ve gone for the ones that were most popular in the tearoom – apricot and ginger, carrot cake, cherry, lemon drizzle, coffee and chocolate cake.

"In November we’re going to be doing a biscuit box with some of our dairy and gluten free family favourites.

“Customers can order online and we’ll post the cakes and biscuits to them. We’ve already sent an order to France as well as those in the UK.

These Nice Coconut Creams are some of the biscuits that will be available from Mother Murphy's and delivered straight to your door in November.

“It’s been quite different to having the tearoom, but with the current situation you’ve just got to go with the flow. We hope that everyone who used to come into the tearoom is doing okay. We’re missing all our customers.

“Mother Murphy's has always been about more than just eating cake with a cup of tea.

“It would be easy just to throw cakes and biscuits into a box, but it’s important to us that they look good and can make someone feel special when they open the box.”

Debra says continuing the online business wouldn’t have been possible without the tremendous support of Business Gateway East Dunbartonshire.

“Business Gateway have been a great help, especially Ann. It’s been heart-warming that there’s people who still believe in us and believe Mother Murphy’s is something worth pursuing and keeping going.”

But it’s not all about the new online aspect of Mother Murphy’s for Debra. She’s also preparing to launch her book – The Magical Tearoom on the Hill: Recipes, tales and adventures – next month.

She said: “The book tells the story of how Mother Murphy’s came to be, from me growing up in Yorkshire to opening the tearoom. It’s a recipe book with a storyline to it.”

Visit https://mothermurphys.co.uk