A NEW café in Worcester city centre has created 18 jobs and started forging local links.

Boston Tea Party has opened in the former TJs Bar building on the corner of Angel Place.

As well as creating more than a dozen new jobs just before Christmas, the award-winning café chain is working with local independent producers to support the Worcestershire economy.

Paintings by Worcester artist Richard Hawkings adorn the walls and even the sandwiches have been named with Worcestershire in mind.

There is the Warrior sandwich, in honour of the city’s rugby team, the Nimrod, named after Sir Edward Elgar’s famous Enigma Variations movement, and the Chicken George, named after the well-known Worcester character George Webb, who used to dance along to buskers and who died in 2006.

“We’re really keen to get involved in the community,” said Suzy Lowe, café manager.

Suppliers being used by the café include Worcester bakery Foregate Patisserie, wholesalers Pershore Produce, the Three Choirs Winery and Herefordshire-based companies Tyrrells and Oliver’s Cider and Perry. “We’re a South West company so we have those products, but we’ve also picked up local produce as well,” said Ms Lowe.

“We get fresh deliveries from local suppliers and we’re selling locally made wine, cider and perry.

“I’m thinking about having a poetry night and maybe some acoustic music nights, if we get a licence.”

Any artists who would be interested in displaying their work inside Boston Tea Party can call 01905 26472.