The Teapot on Wheels
1754 Rogue River Highway • Gold Hill, Oregon 97525
541-855-4343 • theteapotonwheels.com
While Jan Martinez, a spirited lover of tea, always dreamed of opening her own tea house—a dream that came true for her and her husband, Denny, in 2014— she hadn’t imagined that her business would double as a picturesque wedding venue. When Jan originally started her own business almost a decade ago renting out teacups, teapots, linens, and other tea party essentials, she didn’t realize that she was gathering the perfect stock to host matrimonial celebrations. That venture eventually transformed into a true tea-selling business, which inspired the moniker, The Teapot on Wheels. “We ship out tea all over the United States,” Jan says. “Our tea to your door. Vroom, vroom. You need wheels for that.”
When an initial search for a storefront from which the couple could sell their teas didn’t pan out, Jan and Denny shifted their parameters to include event venues. “When we found the property where we are now located, it was a rundown heap,” Jan recalls. “But it had great potential, and it had a restaurant on the grounds, so we jumped on it. We took 13 months to remodel the inside and outside of this property. But we are so glad we took the risk to jump in, not knowing how it would turn out.” They are still shipping tea to customers across the country, but The Teapot on Wheels found a permanent home in its brick-and-mortar location that opened in 2014.
Seven years later, The Teapot on Wheels has become a site not only for afternoon tea, but also a spot where couples celebrate their union in marriage. For weddings, Jan says that they go all out when setting the scene for these fêtes, using an eclectic collection of teacups, plates, and silverware. Each menu is specially crafted by Jan and Denny, who try to incorporate flavors of the season to create an experience “that will make your taste buds do a happy dance.” The tearoom itself offers a charming environment for the occasion with fun vintage chairs, floral arrangements on the ceiling, curtains made out of old fabrics, and a homemade teacup chandelier hanging in one of the venue’s dining rooms. Couples wishing to host an outdoor ceremony and reception will find ample space on the site’s lawn, which is designed to offer the feel of an English country garden and can accommodate approximately 300 people.
For those only looking to stop in for a pot of tea and some food, The Teapot on Wheels’ High Tea, which costs $25 per person and $35 for gluten-free substitutes, starts with a house pasta salad, followed by fresh scones with lemon curd, Devon cream, and jam, and concludes with a selection of finger sandwiches, savories, and desserts. Diners have a choice from more than 50 loose-leaf teas, all from the Teapot on Wheels’ own collection, which are available for purchase through the company’s website. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tearoom adjusted its dining model so that guests can enjoy its high tea and full menu under the venue’s tent or take their fare to go. The Teapot on Wheels is open for tea Wednesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
