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Mad Hatters Tea Shop & Pâtisserie has yet to reopen after bailiffs gained access to the premises on Tuesday (July 26).

The bailiffs – also known as High Court Enforcement Officers - appear to be acting on behalf of the landlord and legal notices have been taped to the cafe windows.

One notice refers to a forfeiture of the lease – this usually occurs when a landlord exercises their right to regain possession of the premises.

Mad Hatters Tea Shop & Pâtisserie in Longton appears to have shut permanently after bailiffs visited the premises on Tuesday (July 26)

A second legal notice states that all goods inside the cafe must be removed by 5pm on Tuesday, August 9.

The cafe had also taped a handwritten notice to the window following Tuesday’s visit from the bailiffs.

“Closed today. Sorry for any inconvenience,” it said. The cafe remained closed all week and the notice was still in place on Sunday evening (July 31).

The Mad Hatters Facebook page also disappeared, fuelling speculation that the cafe had closed for good and leaving customers without means of reaching the owner to enquire about bookings and deposits.

The bailiffs appear to be acting on behalf of the landlord and legal notices have been taped to the cafe windows

The page suddenly reappeared on Sunday night following the Post’s report.

It instructed customers whose bookings had not been fulfilled during the closure to contact the owner via email at [email protected].

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One customer who had booked an Afternoon Tea for her mum’s 60th birthday turned up with her family on Friday to find the doors locked and the lights off.

The shop closed following a visit from bailiffs on Tuesday, July 26 and had not reopened as of Sunday, July 31

"It’s really disappointing,” she told the Post. “We booked it weeks ago and paid a deposit and no one has been in touch to say it was closing.

"I’ve tried contacting the owner, Jayne Flanagan, but my messages go unanswered. There’s been no explanation or apology.

"It was my mum’s 60th, a special occasion, so you’d think they would have been in touch to let us know.

"Instead, our family turned up looking forward to celebrating our mum’s birthday and found the bailiff notices taped to the window.

"Just seems really unprofessional and like they have no consideration for their customers.”

Owner Jayne Flanagan was approached for comment but did not respond.

Mad Hatters Cafe in Longton closes after visit from court bailiffs and has not reopened