A POPULAR Padgate art cafe now has a sister venue in Fairfield.

Nattallie Brown has brought her R’teapot brand to The Old School which, like the name suggests, is a former primary school that has been developed into a community hub.

The team at Fairfield and Howley Neighbourhood Project, who run the Fairfield Street venue, wanted to create a focal point for those who use the building for arts and creative learning projects.

So James Goodison, who leads on project development, contacted Nattallie for some advice after the success of R’teapot.

Nattallie Brown at Rteacup at The Old School

Nattallie Brown at R'teacup at The Old School

Nattallie said: “I’ve always been involved with The Old School and I’ve known James for quite a while.

“So I went down when he wanted some advice on launching a new cafe. He showed me the room and said: ‘At the moment it’s nondescript, there’s nothing here so how do we do it?’

“So I was just giving him little pointers like saying it needs its own entrance, it needs to be cosier and it needs to be warm and inviting.

“Because it’s an art hub as well I suggested displaying people’s work.

Nattallie Brown at R’teacup at The Old School and, below, the outdoor area of the cafe

Nattallie Brown at R’teacup at The Old School and, below, the outdoor area of the cafe

“Then he approached me and said would I be interested in doing something like that?”

At first it was a no – Nattallie had enough on her plate – but the lockdown completely changed things.

The former art teacher added: “At the time I was busy with R’teapot and other things but then Covid hit.

“I decided that I would do it all up for them over lockdown because my café had to shut and I had free time.

“It snowballed from there and I became fully involved. Altogether it took me three or four months.

“Luckily they already had a kitchen there so I just had to buy some bits to add to what was already there.”

Nattallie Brown at Rteacup at The Old School

Nattallie Brown at R'teacup at The Old School

This one will be known as R’teacup.

Nattallie said: “It’s quite eclectic. It’s similar to R’teapot. We have items from different eras to decorate the place.

“I do hoard things. I have quite a lot of retro stuff and and ordered some more during the lockdown. I think really they want The Old School to be better known and used by a wider group of people and already it is becoming the heart of the place.

“We have a regular who is 92. She used to work in the kitchen at the school. She’s been stuck in for 18 months and she’s got somewhere now to go with her friends. So that is really lovely.”

Nattallie wants the cafe, which also has a covered outdoor area, to be as inclusive as possible.

It is dementia-friendly and a welcoming space for the LGBTQIA+ community and the former St John's (Cardinal Newman) student hopes to put on events in future to attract Warrington 'crafters'.