A YORK gift shop is planning to open a tearoom to boost business.

Jeremy Piercy, owner of Shared Earth, said the tearoom would be called Another World, because he liked the sound of people saying they were going to another world for a cup of coffee.

He said that when the business cut back its office staff during the recession they could all fit in the third floor of the building, based on the corner of Low Petergate and Minster Gates.

The tearoom in the vacant space above the shop will create new jobs, he said, including a manager and part-time staff.

Mr Piercy said he was inspired to create a tearoom after visiting another fair trade shop in Bath. The Bath shop's sales had been very badly hit by the recession and had almost halved over three years, but after opening a tearoom, sales went back to previous levels.

He said he hoped Shared Earth could benefit from a similar boost in business. “It’s a way of ensuring the continuing safety of Shared Earth as a business.

“Shared Earth has been in York since 1986, which is 26 years now and we would like it to continue for another 26 years, or longer.”

The business has applied to City of York Council for planning permission to change the use of the second floor and Mr Piercy said that if all goes to plan, he hopes to open at the end of August.

The tearoom will have a distinctive feel, he said, with individual tables and chairs decorated by Mermaid & Miller, a co-operative of people with learning disabilities based at the Melbourne Centre off Fishergate.

He said visitors would also get a free gift when they bought a hot a drink and would earn a voucher for a meal at another York restaurant for every 100 cups.

The tearoom, which will seat 30 to 35 people, will have fair trade, local and organic principles at heart, serving cold snacks, such as salads, sandwiches and cake, sometimes with themes, such as African or Asian recipes.