As it turns one, Jade Wright meets the team behind Liverpool’s award winning tea shop

WHEN most of us think of a tea shop, what springs to mind is an old-fashioned cafe, filled with doilies and ladies of a certain age.

But Leaf on Bold Street is one of a new generation of tea shops that’s as likely to attract students as pensioners. Looking around the busy ground floor, it’s packed with all age groups, tucking into artisan teas and delicious homemade cakes.

“We wanted to create a space that could be used all day and through into the evening by all kinds of people,” explains owner Natalie Haywood, 29.

“We’re open from 9am until 2am a lot of days, so in that time you get people coming in for all sorts of reasons. Some might want breakfast and a coffee, others will come in for tea and cake during the afternoon, or have dinner on their way to a gig or a film. Then there’s another crowd who might just come in for drinks in the evening, and for them it’s more like a bar.”

Natalie set up the first incarnation of Leaf at the Roscoe gallery five years ago – at the tender age of 24. She cut her teeth with Korova Corporation, promoting venues such as Alma de Cuba and Baby Cream. In 2009 Leaf moved to Upper Parliament Street, before upping sticks again to its current base on Bold Street.

The tea shop celebrates its first anniversary on Bold Street this month with three birthday themed events – starting with nibbles and treats to ease into birthday shenanigans at the open mic night with Johnny Sands on Thursday November 22.

That will be followed by nine-piece, New Orleans style brass band Brassroots on Friday November 25, and it finishes with a very special edition of the regular pudding club on Monday November 28.

“It’s going to be a great week,” grins Natalie. “We’re really excited about it. Plus, it’s going to be extra special for me, because it’s my 30th birthday the night Brassroots play, so I’m claiming that as my party too!”

The 29-strong team at Leaf have more than enough reason to celebrate – in the last year they’ve won a clutch of awards, including the Hippest of the Hipsters in the BBC Olive Alternative Food Awards, Best New Business from the Morgan Foundation, and been named in the Top 10 Multi-Purpose Venues in Britain by the Guardian and the Top 50 Tea Rooms in the UK in the Independent.

“We’ve been amazed at the response,” says Natalie.

“Since we moved, it’s like it’s all fallen into place for us. We’re getting a lot more custom.

“The Upper Parliament Street site was good, but people just couldn’t find us or easily walk there.

“Now we get a lot of passing trade, and once people come once and enjoy it, they tend to come back. We’ve kept a lot of friends from those days, though.

“One of the highlights of this year was hosting The Wombats’ album launch party. They used to have the rehearsal room above us for two years, so we got to know them pretty well and when they were thinking about venues they came to us, which was great.”

As well its core business, Leaf hosts daily events, putting on everything from open mic nights to art classes.

“The life drawing sessions have been very popular,” says Natalie. “We weren’t sure how it would work, but people have really gone for it.

“We have a regular pudding club, and that is usually fully booked. Once people come once, they tend to book again and again.

“There are also the Craft Creative workshops, which feature live music, as well as a different craft subject each time. They’ve been a real success.

“We’re really lucky. Almost everything we’ve tried, people have embraced. It helps that we have a really good team. It takes a certain type of person to work at Leaf. They need to have a real passion for what we do, and I’m so lucky that we have found the right people.”

As well as the right people, Natalie works hard to make sure they offer the right menu.

“We had to make sure we knew what we were and what we weren’t,” she says. “We offer good value for money, home made, fresh accessible food. We call it creative comfort food. We aren’t a special occasion place. we’re somewhere that you can pop into to have your tea without feeling like you have to dress up.”

Inside, the decor is quirky and welcoming, with stripped wooden floors and vintage lampshades.

It’s the kind of place you could happily laze away an afternoon browsing the papers and people-watching with a glass of wine.

“We get some people who come in every day,” adds Natalie. “A lot come in just for the cakes. The brownies, carrot cake, lemon tart and cheesecakes just fly out. We have to make so many every day because we know there’s demand.”

Natalie has spent the last five years building up Leaf. Now, before the age of 30 she’s amassed a thriving business and a mantelpiece full of awards.

“I’d like to have achieved more before I hit the big 30,” she laughs. “But I’ve got a few plans up my sleeve. I’ve done some consultancy this year, which I really enjoyed.

“At some point I’d like to open up another Leaf. I don’t think we’d do it in the city centre, and it wont be just yet, but it would be nice to have another shop somewhere. I always like to have another goal and another project on the horizon. It gives you something to aim for.”

LEAF, 65-67, Bold Street, L1 4EZ, www.thisisleaf.co.uk. Tel: 0151 707 7747.