How to Run a Secret Tearoom - Online Courses - Adult Learning

Ever dreamed of running your own, hidden tearoom or charity afternoon tea events? Discover how to turn that idea into reality with your very own secret tearoom. Whether it’s in your home or in a pop-up venue like a village hall, you can create a unique and memorable afternoon tea experience.

All you need is a passion for baking, a love of afternoon tea, and a desire to start something of your own.

This course explores the practical steps involved in setting up and running your own secret tearoom, from choosing the right equipment to creating a simple and appealing menu. There will be plenty of helpful tips along the way, including how to prepare in advance, stay organised, and make sure your event runs smoothly on the day. As well as important things you need to have in place, such as food safety training and other key essentials.

By the end, you’ll feel more confident about planning and hosting your own secret tearoom—whether it’s for a one-off event or something you’d like to develop further.

The course will help you decide if running a secret tearoom or charity afternoon tea event is right for you. If it is, the key things to do to get started and how to run an event.

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Describe what a secret tearoom is and its purpose

• Identify the basic equipment and resources needed to set up

• Plan an afternoon tea menu

• Demonstrate how to prepare and organise for an event in advance

• Identify key requirements such as food safety training and other essential considerations

As this course is online, a suitable device such as laptop or computer will be required to access the course.

Funding and Fees

If you receive certain benefits, you may be able to take the course for free.
If money is stopping you from enrolling, please visit our funding page to see what help is available.

Living in England

To book and join one of our courses, you must live in England permanently and either:

• Live inside the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) area (Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire)

or

• Live outside the devolved areas listed below

You cannot enrol if you live in these devolved areas:

• Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

• Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

• North East Combined Authority

• South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority

• Tees Valley Combined Authority

• West Midlands Combined Authority

• West of England Combined Authority

• West Yorkshire Combined Authority

• Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority

• York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

• Hull and East Yorkshire

• Greater Lincolnshire

• Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority

• Cornwall Council

• Lancashire Combined County Authority

• Buckinghamshire Council

Residency Requirements (Additional Information)

If you live in the UK on a visa, we’ll need evidence of your visa to confirm funding. You can upload this when applying, and you’ll need to complete a short questionnaire.

Some exceptions include:

• Your visa must last until after your course ends.

• Asylum seekers must have lived in the UK for at least 6 months while their claim is being processed.

• You are supported by your local authority under Section 23C or 23CA of the Children Act 1989, or under the Care Act 2014.

Anyone who does not meet the funding criteria would need to pay full course fees.