The owner of the popular themed afternoon tea spot, Pink Inc Cafe, has said that saying goodbye to the shop was "emotional" after closing their doors for the final time. 

Louise Tierney opened Pink Inc with her partner on Kilmarnock Road in Shawlands in 2019. 

It quickly became a hit in the South Side neighbourhood with its unique aesthetic and themed afternoon teas. 

Glasgow Times:

However, the couple has decided to close the cafe not because of the impact of Covid, but for personal family reasons. 

Louise said: "It was a really emotional day for us, more for my partner, he was quite upset when leaving for the last time. 

"It was originally set up to give him a job but it slowly became a full-time job for both of us and we were struggling to manage the cafe and personal circumstances.

"We loved the cafe and all of the customers but it was too much for us to handle."

Glasgow Times:

Louise currently looks after her father, who was told that he would need round the clock care after a hospital visit. 

This combined with the cafe became too much for the busy owner to juggle. 

Louise said: "I don't want people to think that we have closed because of Covid. 

"It has been a really difficult time for hospitality but I don't want people seeing Pink Inc closing and thinking that the future of the industry is doomed, because it isn't. 

"I definitely think it'll bounce back and people who want to launch in the future should take the plunge."

Despite Pink Inc Cafe closing, Louise is looking forward to venturing off on the next step - opening pre-loved clothing store, Unique Boutique.

The shop will offer items such as branded and designer garments and ex-high street clothes, which will be bought at the end of the fashion season, saving items from landfills.

Glasgow Times:

She said: "We are looking forward to launching Unique Boutique soon. 

"We are still looking for a premise to move into to open the shop at the moment, anywhere we can really get in Glasgow will suit us. I've already started buying stock so I'm looking forward to having the space to move again at home!

"Shwalands was a great community to be in though. I used to live here years ago before we launched the Pink Inc and I really missed it and it has changed so much over the years. 

"And it's a great place for local business. The MyShawlands BID group is fantastic in supporting businesses too."

The couple will manage the store remotely, with staff in the shop running the day-to-day operations, allowing them to take more of a backseat role in the new business.

Unique Boutique will sell pre-loved clothing, but still with a bit of the Pink Inc personality. 

Louise said: "We don't have a home yet but we have a lot of good ideas for the new place. 

"We want to do something themed in the same way Pink Inc was and people can come down and get their pre-loved clothes and get an Instagram while they're here."