MILKWOOD Teahouse

As you walk up the apricot cement foot path and staircase, onto a cream plank porch, the cottage is visibly refurbished, yet still creaky with a past. The smell of sulfur and coal dust fills your lungs with a single breath. A solo headless mannequin placed beside the door wears a blue apron and greets guests. As you reach for the chrome knob handle on the old heavy wooden door, an 'open' sign looks you in the face as it welcomes you in.

 

The little cottage, at 26 Sowerby Street Muswellbrook has recently been opened as a small Teahouse by lifelong friends Amanda Hobbs-Haigh and Learna Christie. By taking into account the recent closures of cafés and small business around town, the ladies risked a lot with this purchase. As a negative impact on small businesses has exponentially increased over the last few years, towns are left with little choice of where to visit.

 

"Milkwood is named after the Dylan Thomas's poem, Under Milkwood. As it depicts the comings and goings of a small town," Said Learna.

 

On the first step inside the cottage, a sense of comfort and welcomeness fills you. Portraits' of musicals and stage productions line the entry, with yet another figure at the end. An old witch-like wooden woman stands low beside the archway shocking her guests.

 

Through into a large room, bright colors tear at your sight, as the large expressionist paintings draw instant attention. With the bustling in the back kitchen, to the grinding of the coffee machine, there is so much to look at and listen too. However once the coffee machine stops, you can hum along to the French café music flowing through the cottage.

 

With cafés like Milkwood Teahouse, evoking such a homely and caring feeling, citizens of these small towns like Muswellbrook need to place more effort into supporting the small businesses.  The ubiquitous companies that are taking over smaller privately owned ones; do not assist local economy in the slightest. Realizing the effects of large companies starts in the small towns...

 

A large brown paper roll, hangs from the wall like a blind; stating the day’s delicacies. Below are Silver trays with bubble domes; underneath are treats, the origin of those sweet aromas rolling through the room.  To the right is a pressed steel counter with blue grey top, the large sink behind, has an ever slight drip that can be heard in the intermittent silence.

 

The warm steam presses against your body, as one of the owners makes a coffee. Her brown hair pulled back tight, has tendrils falling down below her ears. The black rim glasses sit snuggly on her face, magnifying those tired worn out eyes. Still with a friendly smile, she greets and offers service.

 

Amanda Hobbs-Haigh, being the brown haired woman, said Milkwood Teahouse is "inviting and aromatic".

 

Having worked throughout many cafés, restaurants and wineries, Amanda is the front of house half of the pair. Her friendly smile and quick feet, keep every customer happy and comfortable. She grinds the coffee and pours a shot. The milk is carefully frothed, with a high pitched screech emanating from the metal jug. Pouring heavily into a white mug, the creamy warmth mixes the dense coffee and spreads its aroma some more.  The clanging and banging of spoons, cups and saucers continues as people come and go.

 

The vibrant feel of this café is incomparable to that of a franchised one, where everything is dull and monotone. Unlike anywhere in this old mining town called Muswellbrook, Milkwood teahouse brings a little bit of Europe to the locals lives.