A woman who previously worked at a tearoom in Wales that has since shut down has successfully pursued an employment tribunal claim after a judge determined she was wrongfully terminated and should receive compensation exceeding £12,000.

Employment Judge T. Vincent Ryan delivered the decision at the Welshpool tribunal, establishing that the applicant, Mrs D. Spencer, who presented her own case, had been unfairly dismissed by reason of redundancy by The Bay Tree Vintage Tea Rooms on June 20 the previous year.

The Bay Tree’s representatives in Welshpool were absent from the hearing and submitted no defence to the claim, according to the County Times.

The tribunal determined that Mrs Spencer’s redundancy process was conducted unlawfully. She received a statutory redundancy payment of £6,127.62, calculated according to her duration of employment with the company.

Furthermore, The Bay Tree Welshpool Ltd was found to have violated her employment agreement by not providing the appropriate notice period. Having served the business for a complete 11 years, she was entitled to 11 weeks’ notice.

An award of £4,348.63 in notice pay was granted, before statutory tax and National Insurance contributions, according to documentation dispatched to the parties last month and uploaded online the previous week.

Judge Ryan also accepted her grievance regarding improper wage deductions. This concerned a fortnight of sick leave amounting to £237.50, which the tribunal mandated should be returned.

The tribunal directed The Bay Tree Welshpool Ltd to remit £12,183.53 in total, encompassing amounts subject to statutory deductions.

Since the proprietors did not engage with the proceedings, the tribunal based its decision on Mrs Spencer’s unchallenged testimony. The ruling stated that all claims were well founded and succeed.

The Bay Tree Tea Rooms declared on social media on June 24 the previous year that the establishment would be closed temporarily due to some personal health problems.

The Church Street location has subsequently been purchased and relaunched this month under the name Gifts of Wales following the gift shop’s relocation.

The Bay Tree Welshpool Ltd has been asked to provide a response.