John and Lynwen Gott, who are retiring after running Berry's Coffee House in Church Stretton for 23 years
A long-standing worker in the railways, John described Lynwen as the"driving force" behind the coffee house, who previously worked as a dietician in London and wanted to provide health food for the business. Recalling how they found the building that became home to Berry's Coffee House, John said:"We found the place one lunchtime when we were having a long weekend in Ludlow.
The building has been used for hospitality from as early as 1898, when it was known as the 'Central Boarding House and Family Hotel'.Two self-contained holiday apartments, staff accommodation, the cafe and an enclosed courtyard are all included in the sale. "They are all ready to go," he added."They're just waiting for someone to have the energy to take them on."It's hoped any buyer will keep the building as a coffee house
"We had one girl, really terrified when she started. She'd carry trays out, shaking, and we'd have someone behind her in case she was going to drop it