A nostalgic entrepreneur wants to become the "princess of tea rooms" by whisking her customers away to a bygone era.

Interlude tea room and emporium opens this week in all its 1920s glory in the original home of Shipley's famed curry house, the Aagrah, on Westgate.

Its owner, Sarah Wilson-Fleming, 41, of Shipley, and her three staff have been busy transforming the empty building into an old-time wonderland, laden with period decorations, completing the illusion with their authentic uniforms.

The front counter serves hot drinks to takeaway and at the back is the wooden beamed dining room, decorated black and white and dressed with artwork and curios.

It specialises in cream teas and frothy coffees, and 57-year-old baker Joan Stokes, of Eccleshill, Bradford, produces bread, parkin, pastries, cakes and sandwiches from old Yorkshire recipes.

Diners are entertained with Charleston-style music from a gramophone, pianola performances, and dance routines for special occasions, as well as fashion and magic shows.

Mrs Wilson-Fleming, who is a home school tutor for Education Bradford, also plans to turn an upstairs room into an exhibition space for emerging artists to showcase their work and for small groups to hire.

She said: "Aagrah is the king of curries and I want to be the princess of tearooms. When people walk through the door I want them to retreat into a different era and leave the modern world at the doorstep. I used to run a health and beauty business, so I like the idea of pampering people in a friendly atmosphere.

"The 1920s fascinate me because it was a time when women got the vote and there was this buoyancy and greater independence - this is my ode to what they achieved."

Front of House Becky Lobley, 26, of Queensbury, Bradford, said: "This is something completely different. I like the décor, the feathers and the style of the women's clothes; it makes me think of Laurel and Hardy. Apparently the word bimbo' came out of that period too.

"Mondays to Thursdays we'll be dressed up in waistcoats and bowler hats and Fridays and Saturdays we wear dresses."

Mrs Wilson-Fleming said: "Where we can, we have tried to support other small and local businesses such as RC Binns butchers in Shipley for our bacon and sausages. Bradford is a very vibrant place for young businessmen and this is a practical way to support other people."

She also hopes to offer work experience placements to children at the tea room and historical walking tours for her customers around Shipley.

e-mail: ben.barnett @bradford.newsquest.co.uk