THE Royal Oak in Hollywater, near Bordon, is inviting customers to drop in for a cuppa after converting half of the bar into the Acorn Tea Rooms, where toasted tea cakes are a favourite on the menu.

In a bid to boost trade, Liza Fennell, whose mother Dawn is the licensee, suggested part of the pub could be converted into a tea room during the day by putting up folding doors across half of the bar. Last month staff were serving their first customers.

As well as cakes and tea, there are light snacks, such as jacket potatoes.

The tea room is open from 10am to 2pm on weekdays. At weekends a full English breakfast is served between 9.30am and 12.30pm.

Ms Fennell said: “If the tea room and our toasted tea cakes are proving popular, we might consider serving evening meals as well.”