AN historic tearooms in Malvern has been given a new lease of life.

The Bluebird Tearooms, a feature of town centre life since before the First World War, was reopened this week by Clare and Vincent Dolan.

Among the illustrious clients who have taken tea at the Bluebird are composer Sir Edward Elgar and his friend, architect Troyte Griffith, designer of the toposcope on Worcestershire Beacon.

The new proprietors are both from the Manchester area. Under her maiden name of Joynes, Clare has just completed a stint as visitor services manager for Malvern Hills Conservators.

"I've always been interested in food, and this opportunity came up," she said.

The Bluebird first opened in 1913, and its present-day phone number still contains its original number - 166.

"It still had some of the original 1913 wiring but we had to replace that," said Clare.

However, the couple are very keen to keep the old-world look of the tearooms.

"It's a lovely historic place and we don't want to change that," said Clare.

The Bluebird is now open all afternoon, instead of shutting after lunch, and is also open on Sundays.