KINGSTON SPRINGS, Tenn. (WKRN) — Nestled off Highway 70 South in Kingston Springs, The Yorkshire Deli serves up British staples in a world of its own.

Seemingly every inch of this one-of-a-kind eatery is adorned with teacups, posters, magnets and mementos — all illustrating the travels and tales of its owners and customers.

Owner Lesley Mortimer-Wallace and her husband first settled on this 15-acre farm in 2017.

“I married a carpenter, so the joke is, 'I’m the dreamer and he’s the builder of my dreams,'" Mortimer-Wallace said.

As the couple began to develop the property, she realized its potential — and that a food establishment would help anchor it as a destination.

Hailing from England, Mortimer-Wallace missed her British roots and loved to cook. The idea to open a deli came together in a phone call from an old friend, Genevieve Neace, during the pandemic.

“I just said, 'What’s going on, what are you doing?' And she was like, 'Um, want to help me open a restaurant?' And I was like, 'OK. I’m not doing anything else!'" Neace said with a laugh.

Neace and Mortimer-Wallace toured together with Guns N' Roses in 2010. The pair went their separate ways after touring, but reunited when Neace moved from Kentucky to help open the restaurant.

They shared stories of the deli's early days with News 2. They opened the restaurant in 2022 with no other employees, crafted a complex menu and patiently waited for customers to arrive.

“It was that roadie mentality — we’ve just got to get it done. And we’ll be here until midnight doing the dishes if we have to," Mortimer-Wallace said.

It wasn't long before the community caught on, though, and The Yorkshire Deli began serving hundreds of locals, regulars, hikers and passersby each day.

Their menu includes British classics like bangers and mash, Scotch eggs, sausage rolls, pasties and fully-dressed scones — along with a seasonal items like soups, salads, sandwiches and toasts.

Neace and Mortimer-Wallace said their growing pains were exacerbated by the fact that the cooking and ordering is all done in a 16-by-20-foot kitchen.

“It’s like having 300 people come to your house for lunch," the pair said with a smile. "Smaller than your house! My kitchen at home is bigger than the kitchen that we have."

Mortimer-Wallace and Neace grew from hiring one intern to employing a team of 15 to 18 young women. Each weekend, they serve lunch dishes then host private tea parties. Although they are vulnerable to extreme weather, they stay open year-round, even offering gourmet hot chocolate in their heated outdoor space during the winter months.

The entire property, dubbed The Land, has evolved alongside the deli. It now includes a nature-based gift shop, plant nursery, treehouse rental space and barnyard. Their dozens of chickens bring joy to both employees and customers; Mortimer-Wallace said five or six of the smartest ones have figured out there's a deli down the path.

 “Chicken math is ‘Oh yeah, I’m just gonna get four of this breed ... and then, you have 100," Mortimer-Wallace said surrounded by a few of her favorites (Cornelius the mini rooster, the red-headed Heathers and Anne with a ‘E').

Through the years of broken teacups, tears and lessons learned, Neace and Mortimer-Wallace beam with pride as they celebrate three years of The Yorkshire Deli this July.

“This is more than just a small business to me. This is my whole life," Mortimer-Wallace said. “If they chose to pull in this driveway and come in that door, we were going to show them the best time.”

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/on-tour-middle-tn/yorkshire-deli/