When St. Petersburg's new Chattaway owners tore out the restaurant's English-themed tea room to make space for more restaurant seating, they also ended a decades-old tradition of afternoon tea service. Amanda Kitto, a daughter of Chattaway founder Jillian Frers, is opening Violet's Cup of Tea at 5325 Gulfport Boulevard in Gulfport.
Kitto began working at The Chattaway at age 14. New owners purchased the restaurant and property, and The Chattaway reopened on September 25, 2026, according to St Pete Rising. Her mother, Jillian Frers, is originally from Blackheath, England, and Frers helped create the Chattaway tea room, sharing her heritage with St. Petersburg diners inside the restaurant's dining room, per thechattawayteas.com. Established in 1951, The Chattaway was family owned and operated for decades.
Violet's Cup of Tea is planned for 5325 Gulfport Boulevard, in a pink building next to the Boulevard Shoppe and across from Habana Cafe. The shop sits in the former home of Sail Market Boutique & Gifts, according to an earlier report from localshops1.com.
The Chattaway's Tea Room
Debbie painted The Chattaway tea room blue and white.
Melissa Reid, a former Chattaway server who helped Kitto handle the restaurant's final months of afternoon tea reservations, will be baking for Violet's. The shop's name comes from an even younger member of the family: Violet is Kitto's two-year-old granddaughter, who often tagged along during preparations for The Chattaway's tea services. Kitto recalled the toddler's habit of undoing her work, saying, “She would help me unset the table when I would set it.”
The Shop
Violet's Cup of Tea is planned as a tea-focused shop.
The shop plans to offer roughly 20 tea varieties, spanning traditional English black tea, flavored and seasonal options, and both caffeinated and caffeine-free choices. If guests at the same table want different teas, Violet's will bring out separate pots for each. Kids haven't been forgotten either — children's service will include peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and lemonade served in a teapot. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options will be available upon request, though gluten-free service will carry an extra charge.
Reservations and Everyday Business
Guests are advised to book afternoon tea reservations at least 48 hours in advance, and the shop will welcome solo guests, couples, and larger groups alike. Kitto estimates Violet's could accommodate about 50 guests between its indoor space and a shared courtyard.
Violet's Cup of Tea is planned as a Gulfport shop. Jillian Frers, who is from England, helped create The Chattaway's tea room.
