Exeter locals celebrate IKEA's upcoming opening with the Big Cream Tea Break

Home furnishings retailer, IKEA, yesterday hosted its own unique take on a Devonshire tradition – the cream tea. The event came as part of IKEA’s “Wonderful Everyday Tour”, a series of ten exciting mini-events and installations designed to surprise and delight the people of Exeter and Devon ahead of the new store opening on 10th May 2018.

On Sunday 22nd April between 2.30-5pm, over 2,000 local residents flocked to Exeter’s quayside to enjoy IKEA’s mouth-watering Big Cream Tea Break.

Attendees were in awe when Exeter Rowing Club delivered IKEA’s iconic lingonberry jam to the quayside on a Viking ship. Local dairy farmers also provided delicious Devonshire cream to accompany the Swedish jam and an impressive array of tasty scones. Over 500 attendees enjoyed a complementary tea and scone at the event, which also saw live music performed by local artists. Other lucky locals enjoyed scones to takeaway and received IKEA tokens for an instore free drink.

Before the festivities began, IKEA also worked with the Exeter Catering School to organise four fun scone making workshops for pupils from St Luke’s Secondary School – one of the store’s new neighbours – as part of the retailer’s commitment to being involved in the local community.

The Big Cream Tea Break was part of IKEA’s “Wonderful Everyday Tour” running from 13th April to 10thMay, which will bring IKEA’s philosophy of the “Wonderful Everyday” to life and give Devon residents a preview of what’s to come when the new store opens.

Nick Earle, IKEA Exeter Store Manager, said: “The Big Cream Tea Break was a great way to bring people together and celebrate IKEA’s arrival to the city. I enjoyed meeting members of the local community and it was brilliant to see everyone enjoying a fantastic Devonshire tradition with a unique Swedish twist.

Exeter’s reaction to the Wonderful Everyday Tour has been incredible so far, and it has been great to give people a taste of what to expect when the store opens in Exeter on 10th May.”

To reduce waste, and as part of IKEA’s ongoing commitment to having a positive impact on the planet, all teas and coffees served at The Big Cream Tea Break were served in China cups. 

To find out more about The Wonderful Everyday Tour, visit IKEA.co.uk/Exeter and join the conversation on social media at: #WonderfulEveryday