ONE of Wiltshire's most famous cafes, Marlborough's Polly Tea Rooms, is to acquire a sister restaurant.

Owner Sir Brian Mussell, who bought the business two years ago, and his new partner Christopher McHugh are opening a second Polly in Salisbury.

The pair have also revealed plans to restore the upper floors of the tea rooms in Marlborough that were destroyed in a blaze in 1966.

The upper storeys will became a restaurant under plans which have yet to be passed by Kennet district councillors.

It's 70 years since Polly first put the kettle on in Marlborough although no-one is sure why the name was chosen.

One version is that the two women who set it up had a parrot but Sir Brian prefers the idea that it came from the nursery rhyme Polly Put the Kettle On.

Over the last 70 years, the Polly has become very popular, with thousands of tourists passing through its doors.

Today the Polly is as popular as ever and the sight of people queuing at weekends and on bank holidays is by no means unusual.

Magazines and travel books worldwide have raved about the cream teas served at the Polly.

The names of stars of the screen and stage including the late Cary Grant who used to take his mother there for tea in the 1950s can be found in its visitors book and the occasional royal visitor has been known to call in.

It's waistline busting gateaux, scones and cream cakes are all made on the premises by a team led by Christine Fishlock, who has worked at the Polly for 36 years.

Now its delicacies are to be replicated in Salisbury where its owners have bought the Snells tea rooms and chocolate factory in the centre of the city in St Thomas Square.

Michael Snell, whose family has been running the business for many years, is retiring.

Sir Brian and Mr McHugh will be taking the Polly's patisserie skills to Salisbury where they will be establishing a new team to make everything on the premises.

Snells will continue to make its famous handmade chocolates and they will be sold in Marlbourough as well as Salisbury.

Until now imported chocolates from Switzerland and Belgium have been the only finished product bought-in by the Polly.

The partners plan to recreate the Polly cuisine, ambience and popularity in Wiltshire's only city.

Sir Brian said: "The Polly has long since been an integral part of Marlborough's history.

"Over the years, it has built up a sound reputation combining a quintessential tea room atmosphere, complete with cakes and cream teas, with a varied, seasonal menu for lunchtimes."

Sir Brian put the continuing success of the Polly which he bought in June 2002 from the West family who owned it for 40 years down to the fact the tea rooms have changed little over the years.

He said: "We are very much looking forward to continuing the Polly tradition for a very long time to come.

"We thoroughly believe that Salisbury, with its own historic features, is the perfect location for the Marlborough Polly's first sister restaurant."

Sir Brian and Mr McHugh told the Gazette that they have long term plans to open at least two more Polly Tea Rooms in Bath and Cheltenham

Eventually they might expand to Winchester, too.

They will soon be submitting plans to the planning authority to use the two upper floors of the Marlborough tea rooms as a restaurant.

This means that, for the first time in its 70 years history, the Polly can offer evening meals.

nkerton@newswilts.co.uk