Two years ago, keen baker and seamstress Christine Clifford had a very good idea that would combine her two great loves and allow her to share them with the other bakey, crafty people of Watford, and the Little Gallery Tearoom at Watford Museum was born.

“The idea came to me that the museum, a wonderful old Georgian building, was the perfect location for a tearoom,“ remembers Christine, “and I thought wouldn’t it be lovely to do it hand-in-hand with all the talented artisans and crafters in Watford, invite them in to exhibit and sell their wares, and talk to people about how they created them.“

Since then there have been 24 ‘tearooms’ featuring all sorts of crafts people, from photographers and artists to potters and bakers, and ‘the patchwork ladies’ was held on the fourth Saturday of the month where visitors can pop in and browse the artwork, chat to the artisans and perhaps buy a cushion or painting or two, all accompanied by Christine’s Fairtrade cakes and beverages.

“All the exhibitors were wonderful and they all got the ethos of the place,“ says Christine.

“It’s been lovely to bring so many people into our town museum, and to sit and chat with people and share recipes. We get groups of ladies come in and spend all day knitting and crocheting. The tearoom’s got a really lovely feel to it.“

Next year, Christine, a retired midwife, and her husband Bill are moving to Norfolk for their retirement, so December’s tearoom, the Christmas Cheer event, will be Christine’s last – but the tearoom will continue.

“I’ll be sad to leave because we’ve achieved so much,“ says Christine, “and I’ve met so many wonderful people including the museum team. They’ve always been such happy, jolly events, that’s the success of it.“

The museum staff will be keeping the tearoom going in its current format, starting in January 2014, but are looking to expand the series of arts and crafts workshops that take place on the day.

“That was my big concern,“ Christine admits, “but I know the tearoom will be in very safe hands. In with the new!“

  • Christmas Cheer is at the Little Gallery Tearoom, Watford Museum, Lower High Street, Watford on Saturday, December 7 from 11am to 4pm. Details: 01923 232297, watfordmuseum.org.uk