Utility Cycling - The Saga of the Tea Tricycle

Some of you will remember that before Christmas, I was planning with my wife to run a mobile tea shop, based around a cargo trike. Well, we got the good news from the Council that what we were planning was possible with a peddlers license, so we went ahead and ordered the bike, and set about modifying it.

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So far, so good, but it's 3 miles down to the City Centre, and this is not a light vehicle! I ran as outrider as my wifes business partner Will rode it downtown, and a good thing too. We had a blowout on the way down, and I had to scuttle home for a tube and tools. We got there in one piece, all the tea was delivered, and we really looked ready to start trading. I should add that the trike does still have a lid, but at the time of this ride, it was being modified so that it could open out and be used as a table.

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So, all ready to go, having spent a considerable amount on preparation, we applied for a peddlers license, only to be told that a peddler's license would not in fact cover us, and that everyone else who is street trading in Southampton is gradually being prosecuted and fined for it. This was a considerable blow, and has caused us to change plans considerably. The new plan involves selling boxed tea on markets (accompanied by cups of tea where that's permitted, and free samples where it's not), having an online tea sales site, and taking bookings for mobile tea for festivals, events, fetes etc. I think we'll still do well, but it's very frustrating not to be able to sell on the street. I'm sure we would have done really well. Here's pictures from the first market Gill and Will have done.

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Thats disappointing that the regulations are making it difficult for you to operate.
I love the idea though- I wish tea were that convenient for me to get here. I'll just
have to make my own.

Well, soon there will be a Tea Tricycle retail website, with at LEAST 32 teas, and I'm sure international shipping......

but I dont get to see you ride up on a trike.

No, that's true. It was never gonna be me, I already work 60+ hours a week on my day job and various freelance stuff; it would've been the chappy with the mohawk you see here.