Favourite Tea Rooms

When we wander out and about, especially when we are on holiday, invariably we end up having a well earned cup of tea for me, or cup of coffee for Chris in some tea room somewhere. Usually we search for a traditional cafe or tea room - not one with plastic cups - with scones and cakes, home baking, etc. I prefer tea (loose leaf rather that tea bags) in a tea pot left to stand for about 5 minutes. I take my tea black - no milk, no sugar. Milk should of course be served separately to be added to taste. But sometimes I still get caught out eg in a cheap and cheerful seaside cafe where I have forgotten to say no milk. We have books on recommended tea rooms - "The National Teapot Trail - teashops of Great Britain, and "The Scottish Teapot Trail", but these recommendations are few and far between. Often we just have to take pot luck - and occasionally we find a new delight to add to the list of places to visit again.

From our wanderings there are lots of places that we do revisit and can recommend - but with a word of caution. A place is only as good as the people running it - if they have retired or moved elsewhere standards may have slipped. Sometimes places change names but remain almost unchanged. We used to like a tea room called Kerfuffles in Herne Bay, but it became too expensive and lost custom. It was then called Wades, and then it closed down. It's not mentioned here.

I have two other general suggestions. The first is wherever you are - don't forget church halls. These are often open as temporary tea rooms to raise funds - although they can vary in quality they are usually always good value or money. In Herne Bay United Church in Sept/08 we got a tea, a coffee, a large slice of home baked walnut cake and a large slice of excellent cream sponge all for £1.54. The lady who baked the sponge was there and I was able tell her how much I had enjoyed her baking. On the other hand you can get dry scones bought they previous day from a supermarket economy pack. Quality is variable, but its sometimes worth a try. The second suggestion is not to completely ignore chains, so I have added a mini section on these at the bottom of the following list.

Covid 19 UK National Lockdowns - 2020, 2021
UK Tearooms had to close during two national lockdowns - March to June, 2020, and 5th November, 2020 to 17th May, 2021, in England. Some did open for outside service on 12th April, 2021, but the weather was not very kind. Foreign holidays were also impossible. How many businesses will survive ?

The following is the start of a new section of tea rooms - only started in May/07 - and I have got lots more still to add.

• Afternoon Tea at Claridges - June, 2014
• Thames Afternoon Tea River Cruise - May, 2016
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• Aberdeen Tearoom - The Music Hall
• Aberdeen Tearoom - Dobbies, Lang Stracht
• Aboyne Tearoom - At the sign of the Black Faced Sheep
• Australian Tearooms - Miscellaneous
• Banchory Tearoom - Perhaps Chatterbox
• Bishop's Stortford Tearoom - Rosey Lea
• Bishops Stortford Tearoom - Caffeinn, formerly Gluttons, but deteriorated when run as "Good Food, Love Food, Knead Food"
• Bovey Tracey, Devon - The Old Cottage Tea Shop & the one at The Devon Guilds Craft Centre.
• Braemar Tearoom - Gordons Tearoom and Restaurant
• Bridlington Tearoom - Goldings
• Buckie Tearoom - Aurora / Bijou ?
• Bury St Edmunds Tearoom, Suffolk - now Old School Cafe at Just Traid, a Fair Trade Cafe
• Cambridge Tearoom - Livingstones Coffee Shop
• Cairn O Mount Tearoom - The Clatterin Brig Tearoom
• Clacton On Sea Tearoom - The Cup of Coffee
• Cleethorpes Tea Room, Gallagers formerly the Coffee Lounge and Tea Garden
• Colchester Tearoom, Fenwick Department Store
• Corgarff Tearoom - Corgarff
• Dawlish, Devon Tearoom - A Piece of Cake! - now Annies.
• Edzell Tearoom - Tweedie Coffee Shop/ The Naked Bean
• Ely Tearoom - The Cathedral Almonry
• Exmouth Tearoom - Wine of Araby
• Fakenham, Norfolk - Q's Coffee Shop and Bistro
• Fettercairn Tearoom - The Arch, Alastairs as was
• Fuengirola, Costa Del Sol, Spain - The Tearoom of the Salon Variety Theatre.
• Gibraltar Tearoom - The Royal Calpe, The Clipper
• Haverhill Tearoom - Doffy's Vintage Tearoom
• Horncastle Tearoom - the Bridge
• Huntly Tearoom - the Merry Kettle
• Lumsden Tearoom - The Bothy
• Mablethorpe Blitz Tearoom - Lincs
• Mijas, near Fuengirola, Costa Del Sol, Spain - Mango Cafe -formerly The English Tearoom.
• Milfield, on the A697, Borders region - Maelmin Cafe
• Montrose Tea Room - The Coffee House
• Newmarket Tea Room - The Pantry (& The Stable)
• Newton Abbot, Devon Tearoom - The Pharmacy
• St Andrews -McGregors
• St Albans, Abbots Kitchen in the Cathedral
• St Martins in the Field, London, Cafe in the Crypt
• Sidmouth Tearoom -The Dairy Shop and Cafe
• Southwold Tearoom -@51, formerly The Tea Shop, formerly Tillys, formerly Sarah's)
• Stonehaven Tearoom -The Waterfront Cafe Bar
• Sudbury, Suffolk Tearoom -The Strawberry Teapot
• Tarfside, Glen Esk Tearoom - The Retreat
• Tea Palace, Westbourne Grove, London
• Teignmouth Devon Tearoom, The Oyster Catcher, Northumberland Place
• Torquay Tearoom, Hoopers Department Store, Zest Tearoom.
• Totnes, Devon Tearoom, The Terrace Coffee Shop.
• Van Hage Cafe, Van Hage Garden Centre, Amwell roundabout, Ware, Hertfordshire
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• Old favourite tea rooms, no longer trading, or out of favour.
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• Chains that we use include :-
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• Although Debenhams chain is long gone : Debenhams Restaurant, e.g. Torquay, Colchester, etc
• Pret a Manger Cafe / Coffee Bar, e.g. London, Aberdeen, St Albans, Cambridge, etc

Afternoon Tea at Claridges - June, 2014

After being seated we were given a menu booklet describing what was on offer, and the other pages gave more information about the teas and the sandwiches, etc. We were asked if we had any dietery requirements. A lady on a near by table said she didn't eat meat, and so she got appropriate sandwiches. We just took all that was on offer. We started with a tray of about 5 pairs of finger sandwiches. I ate the ham, etc ones, the organic chicken, etc ones and a cucumber sandwich. They were tasty, and when we had finished them, we had the same again. Next came the scones - small, but very tasty. We had two small scones each - a plain one and a raisin one. They were served with Marco Polo preserve (strawbereyy jam) and clotted cream. We declined extra scones, because we wanted to leave room for our pastries. There were eight small pastries - we had two each, and took the others home in a doggie bag - see other picture. We also got a small packet of sweets each as we left. A very pleasant tea in lovelly surroundings, and we were made very welcome.

We were about the first to arrive, and got to choose wherever we wanted to sit. The place filled up as the afternoon progressed, but there was always plenty of room. Naturally we tried out the wash room facilities. Christine said in the Ladies, an attendant turned on the wash taps for her. Luckily I escaped this in the Gents. We dried our hands on individual small white towels. The experience lasted about 75 minutes, but we could have taken longer had we wanted to. Various ranks of hotel employee wandered over to ask if all was as it should be / were we being well catered for. We had thought that photos were not allowed, and so we did not take our camera, but we did notice that several tables had handed mobile phones to the staff who appeared pleased to take a photo of the happy party.

Would we recommend that you all rush off to Claridges for afternoon tea whenever in London - of course not, it's far, far too expensive. But if it's very special occasion - an engagement, a wedding, a special birthday, a retirement, you've won the National Lottery - in short if its an occasion when the price doesn't matter, then yes it is something "very nice" to do. Next time we are in a cafe for pot of tea at £1.80, and a scone about £1.50 we will probably comment that it is not quite the same ambience as at Claridges, but we'll pay our bill for two and get change from a tenner. You can't do that at Claridges, but that's not the point, is it ?

Thames Afternoon Tea River Cruise

We arrived at Embankment Pier about 3:00 pm, and picked up our boarding pass. The Harmony was already moored there, and we boarded about 3:15, ready to set off for the hour and a quarter cruise at 3:30. We were shown straight to our table for two (table 50) by a big window, and our glasses of champagne were waiting for us. We were later asked if we wanted a champagne top up, but we declined - we wondered later if perhaps we might have been charged for the top up - this was after being offered and later charged for some still water ?

We had a limited choice of teas - and both chose Assam. This arrived in a large glass teapot with the tea leaves in the middle in a stainless steel mesh basket. The problem with this set up is that the tea can tend to stew a little on sitting. There was no pot of hot water - but perhaps we could have asked for one had we wanted to. We got a second teapot when we had drunk the tea in the first one . The food was served all together on a three tier cake stand. On the bottom layer were the sandwiches - tasty enough - in the middle layer a scone, jam and cream, each, and the pastries and cakes were on the top tier. We finished the sandwiches first, and these were replaced, but there was no offer of an extra scone, nor extra pastries. The pastries were not the finest patisserie, but were fresh and tasty, and all in all we had more than ample to eat, and it was all very enjoyable.

The high point of the package was the cruise itself - comfortable seats by a large window, quality linen table cloth and napkins, attentive service, good lounge ambiance with the pianist, and views out of the window of a lot of London's history. What's not to like ? We thought it was a quality package, and a lovely afternoon treat.

There was only one very slight blot. When we sat down our waiter asked if we wanted still or sparking water. We chose still without thinking about it - and were later surprised to be given a bill for £3.95 for a bottle of still water. On thinking about it, it is fair enough to charge for extras, and it was Scottish water - Glenlivet Spring. But at the time, the bill came as a surprise, and perhaps it should have been mentioned that we were not being offered water, but being sold water.

Aberdeen Tearoom - The Music Hall

In July 2014, a very tasty rock cake, a fruit scone, a pot of tea and a coffee cost £6.35, a very fair price, I thought.

Aberdeen Tearoom - Dobbies , Lang Stracht

It's a huge place, with lots and lots of tables and seats And there was also an outside seating area. Prices were fair for the size and quality. A definite recommendation. We also took away a Victoria sponge as a present for a friend that we were visiting the next day. There are Dobbies Garden Centres throughout the country. I don't know what their cafes might be like, but I do recommend the new Dobbies in Aberdeen.

In July, 2014 we had two large tasty treacle scones, a large pot of tea, and a coffee for £8.40 - a bit overpriced I thought, but it's nice surroundings, and the place is always busy. In 2017 it was very pleasant to sit outside in warm sunshine ! It's very busy, and a bit noisy in 2024, but a good place to visit.

Aboyne Tearoom - At the Sign of the Black Faced Sheep

In July 2014 we had two lovely scones, a large pot of tea and a coffee for £8.30 - again I thought a bit overpriced v about £6.60 elsewhere. In Aug/15 all seemed OK. In 2017 they only had one scone left when we wanted two, and it was a small scone at that. In 2018 they didn't have any fruit scones on Tuesdays nor Thursdays, and nor could I get a toasted teacake. I noticed a newish tearoon "The Spider on a Bicycle," just round the corner on the old square. Perhaps I will give this try next time. I did try it in 2019 and it was good, but overpriced. No fruit scones again again on one of our 2020 visits, but the cheese ones were excellent. In 2021 we thought it was not quite as good as it had been. In 2024 all seemed well'

Australian Tearooms - Miscellaneous

I have previously listed two tea rooms in Australia - the Gum Nut, which used to be in the Nurses Quarter, near The Rocks in Sydney, and Lynams , a gem of a tea room which used to be in Crookwell, NSW. Both alas have now closed. But we go to Australia once a year, and we visit lots of tea rooms, so I thought I would just list a few that we have found ourselves using quite a few times.

Crookwell, NSW - The Chat-a-Way Cafe. Crookwell is two to two and a half hours drive inland from Sydney, through Goulburn, and heading towards the Blue Mountains. Crookwell is the nearest town to my son's farm near Bigga. The Chat-a-Way cafe is on the left hand side of the main road as you head inland from Sydney. Crookwell is not a large town - look for the town centre supermarket, and the cafe is just opposite. It was closed for renovation when we visited Crookwll in 2019, but presumably will open again.

We used to visit Lynams , which was a lovely old fashioned tea room with shelves lined with Australian memorabilia, but sadly Lynams closed in January, 2013. Chat-a-Way is just a few yards along the road from where Lynams used to be. You get a good pot of tea in the Chat-a-Way, there is choice of teas, to wash down some excellent cookies, or good, but smallish, scones. All in all, fair value for money in pleasant surroundings. Recently we have been using the cafe of a children's indoor play area (on right hand side as you drive away from Sydney) which is friendly and OK, but we wouldn't use it if we didn't have the grand children with us. We also use the tearoom / restaurnt of a small hotel next to the local IGA supermarket

Panania, nr Sydney - the Chilli Bean Cafe . When we visit my son and his family in Sydney, we stay with Jamie and travel in and out of Sydney on the East Hills railway line. As you head into the city, Panania is the next stop on the line from East Hills, our nearest station. Alternatively its a pleasant 45 minute walk away, along the Georges River. The Chilli Bean Cafe is on the main street of Panania - its address is 61, Howard Road - or if you get off the train at Panania station the cafe is a very short walk up a slight hill towards the main road.

You get a good cup of tea here, and some tempting cookies , etc if you are feeling peckish. We have had excellent service from a very friendly owner - including free orange juices or a lolly or jelly for grandson Lachlan and granddaughter Charlie. Their toasted raison and nut bread is excellent. Two pots of tea, and one raison toast cost c £6 in November, 2013 - very good value for money. In 2015 they were still selling Melting Moment biscuits for 80 cents, cf $1.50 or even $2 elsewhere. In 2017 they were $1.00, but still cheaper than anywhere else. In 2019 and 2020 they cost $1.50. Usually we sit at an outside table, but the cafe is air conditioned if it's too hot, or you are driven inside by the smokers. In 2015 unusually my tea consisted of a mug half filled with boiling water, and a tea pot filled with boiling water and a tea bag. Date of last visit : Still there, still good in 2024.

Padstow, nr Sydney - The Vanilla Bean and Lime Cafe. Padstow is also on The East Hills railway line, two, three stops from East Hills as you head into the city. The cafe is just outside the station on the corner of the two mainish streets of Padstow. This is mentioned for the excellent quality, but it's just a little on the expensive side. I got quite a small pot of tea and a small tea cup. Their molten chocolate volcanoes / muffins were scrummy, as was their nut and raison toast. In 2017 it seemed a very noisy place , but that is not to say it is always noisy.Date of last visit : 2020, still there in 2024.

Cronulla, near Sydney - Sadly Anna's Shop Around the Corner , which opened in 2008, closed in May, 2022 , but may reappear in a different town.

Poppies cafe, Bunya Mountains, Queensland

We usually visit Brisbane each time we visit Australia, and in 2019, for a two night stay, we visited the Bunya Mountains National Park which is about 3 hours car drive north west of Brisbane. It's a lovely setting, and the place teems with almost tame wallabies. In January, 2019 quite a few of the mum wallabies had Joeys in their pouches. Poppies cafe opening hours depend on the season, but here you get a good cup of tea, and a wide choice of cakes, and scones (including a Bunya nut scone). You can sit inside or outside in the shade - and this is a great space to just watch all the wallabies. Date of last visit :2019

Miscellaneous

Kilcoy Tearoom. In 2019, on our way from Brisbane to the Bunya Mountains National Park, and on the return journey we passed through the little town of Kilcoy, and visited a little cafe at the corner where the main road turns sharp left (heading towards the Bunya Mountains). Its a very friendly place and we got talking to the owner who has a remarkable claim to fame. Her name is Sarah Mycroft and in 2010 she became the first lady to run all the way round Australia, including round Tasmania. Sarah is a notable marathon runner, and when we visited she had helped set up a fun park run in the local Yowie Park. Our return visit was on the day of the very first run ! It's a nice little cafe and Sarah is into good nutrition and healthy eating.

Balmain, a district of Sydney. In 2019 we visited a superior cafe on the right hand side of the street at you walk up the road to Balmain from the Ferry. We got good tea and excellent raisin toast, but the claim to fame was that the tea pot was served with a sand in the glass egg timer which told us how long to leave the tea to brew. What great idea ! We have since seen this elsewhere.

Banchory Tearoom - perhaps Chatterbox, or consider Raemoir Garden Centre.

Bishop's Stortford Tearoom - Rosey Lea

I have copied their logo from their web site - hope this is OK.

Bishops Stortford is about 7 miles from where we live, and is generally a nicer place to shop than Harlow, our nearest town. I used to recommend having a cup of tea at Gluttons, but it changed for the poorer in 2012 when it had a makeover, and a change of name to the rediculous "Good Food, Love Food, Knead Food." Now we mostly use Rosey Lea, which is at 12, Market Square. Market Square is in the centre of the town just before The Halifax bank. Coming from the Harlow direction, turn left up a lane, and Rosey Lea is about 50 yards back, on the left, and up some 3 or 4 steps.

I have some reservations about recommending Rosey Lea but I do recommend tea rooms all over the country (and abroad), and so I feel I should at least recommend some local places. Rosey Lea is a bit over priced really, and if you ask for jam with your scone it comes in a little jam jar for which you are charged extra. I hate places that charge extra for jam, especially expensive places that charge extra for jam ! What do I mean by expensive ? In October 2014 we had a pot of tea, a large cup of coffee, and one fruit scone and butter which cost £7.95, whereas a caffetiere of coffee, a pot of tea, and two fruit scones costs £4.60 in Bury St Edmunds.

But at the end of the day, we do keep coming back to Rosey Lea. They do good home baking, and you get a huge pot of tea which refills the smallish china cup lots of times. I usually don't manage to empty the tea pot. They use proper tea leaves, and supply a small tea strainer per serving. Usually I forget to use the strainer when I refill the tea cup, which is somewhat annoying, but I take my tea black, so this is not really a problem. I just pour the cup back into the pot, and repour using the stainer. For the prices charged I think you should get a pot of hot water per serving - not to provide extra volume but just for use if the tea is too strong for taste. It's a big pot of tea which takes a lot of drinking, and the tea does get stronger as it sits there. The home made scones are very tasty - remember not ask for jam. It is a nice enough setting, and is usually well patronised. It's a pity they don't sell biscuits / cookies.

Rosey Lea opened in 2012. They have another site, still in Bishop's Stortford, at Wickam Hall. This opened in 2014, but we have never been there. We will need to give it a go. There was a write up in the local paper (The Herts and Essex Observer) with details of the owner, a young lady who went to the same school as my daughter ( but probably not at the same time). They have a total staff of 12, run workshops, and have a web site - google Rosey Lea, Bishop's stortford.

Bishop's Stortford Tearoom- Caffeinn

Why I went off the place for a while :-
When we visited in August 2012, the place had had a revamp, and had changed it's name and character. The main tea room facing in the picture used to have the counter, and seating, and there was extra seating in another room to the right of the picture. Now the main room was only seating, and the tables seem quite squashed together. The other room was now only the counter area, which I definitely thought was a poorer set up. They sold high quality cakes with prices to match. My teapot was china, but only just above half full. There was no extra pot of hot water, which I would expect at these prices. It's only hot water, for goodness sake - perhaps they want you to drink up, and not linger ? I'll drink up all right, and go else where. It's waitress service, but on the day we visited these were mostly youngsters, keen and polite enough, but inexperienced. All in all, I was very disappointed, it was nothing special, and I changed my Bishops Stortford recommendation as soon as I could. That said though, the place was very busy when we called - so not everyone shares my poor opinion of the place !

When we visited Bovey Tracey in 2018, we were surprised to see how quiet the town centre had become. It's surprising because there are a lot of new houses being built in town. The bank had closed, as had two of the four charity shops. It's not a good sign when charity shops close. The Old Cottage Teashop closed at 2 pm each day. Economic times must be hard in Bovey Tracey. Happily it was open when we visited in 2022. My toasted teacake was perfect, but I noticed the scones were very small, and not value for money. Although the Devon Guild of Craftsmen was also open, it's cafe was not.

Braemar Tearoom - Gordon's Tearoom and Restaurant

Driving out from Aberdeen up Deeside, there are lots of good places to stop for a cup of tea. The best by a long margin in my opinion was The Shieling in Banchory - excellent home cooking and fair value for money, but sadly now closed. The Black Faced Sheep in Aboyne is good, but just a wee bit expensive. If you are driving on to Braemar it would save some money to wait and have your tea at Gordons. That said though, the last time we visited (August, 2011), the place was too crowded, and the prices seemed a bit more expensive. We tried to visit again in 2017, but it was closed on Thursdays, and unfortunately we had tried to visit on a Thursday. It was still there in 2019. If you can't get in, wander further along the road away from the Aberdeen direction, down the hill towards the catholic church, and facing you you will find Taste , a quite a good tearoom on the mini roundabout. However in 2020 it had shrunk in size, with the Deeside Brewing Company occupying half the shop. We couldn't get a table, and left. Date of last attempted visit 2020. Didn't bother visiting in 2021, nor 2022. Alternatively, you used to be able to get a fairly priced tea or coffee, and biscuits etc in the Fyfe Arms itself - and with very comfortable lounge seats. However this closed for refurbishment in 2015, and had reopened in 2019 but there seemed to be too many "meeting and greeting" staff which we disliked. There is now (2019) a good tearoom at the Duke of Rothsay Pavillion very near the Highland Games site. Do give this a try if it's open - and it was in 2022. Also well worth a try is The Bothy besides the Sports Gear shop on the main road - very tasty food, friendly staff, and always open.

In 2024 The Bothy beside the ski shop was open. A fruit scone, butter and jam cost £3, and a pot of tea for two £3.60.
Gordon's Tearoom was closed, but apparently they are open at weekends. A local mentioned that the place is now owned by the Fife Arms, and they are having trouble getting a chef.
The Rothsay was closed Monday and Tuesday
The Patisserie was also closed, but may be open at weekends ?

Bridlington Tearoom - Goldings

Goldings is a bit variable, but we have visited there several times, and you do get a good cup of tea, and an excellent scone. When we first visited the place was quite busy, and they had their upstairs open. This was a comfortable lounge. It was waitress service. The next time we visited, it was only the downstairs that was open and it was self service. You seem to get what you ask for, and what you got depended on who served you. So if you ask for a cup of tea, you get a cup of tea, if you ask for a mug of tea, you get a mug of tea, and if you ask for a pot of tea, you get a nice pot of tea. But if you just ask for a tea, you might get a cup, or a mug, or a pot. So be careful to ask for what exactly what you want! That said, it is a good cup of tea (or pot, etc). The scones are large, seem home baked, and the prices are very fair.

Buckie Tearoom - Bijou (by the sea) / formerly Aurora. But closed in 2022.

When we visit Aberdeen, we usually manage to fit in a visit to Buckie. Buckie, or more specifically Ianstown, is where I was born (more than just a few years ago now), and I still have a cousin Jean who lives there. So I like to visit Jean, and sort of try to keep in touch with my roots. Jean has taken us to some nice places for a cup of tea or a spot of lunch - up to now the favourite has been Puddleducks, in Cullen. Puddleducks was later called Pudddleduck Patch and then sadly closed. However when we visited Jean in June, 2009, a new place had opened and we thought we would give it try for a change.

Aurora opened in November, 2008. Head from Buckie to Cullen along the coastal trail road that hugs the sea shore and just outside Buckie, on the road to Strathlene, and almost at Strathlene you will find Aurora. It is a fair sized place, with good parking. Why have I added Aurora to my list ?. Well, you will get a good cup of tea in a big tea pot that gives lots of refills, the place is very well stocked, and everything is fresh and good value for money. But most of all I recommend you visit Aurora for the the view.

Aurora has huge picture windows, and if you get a table by one of the windows the view is spectacular over the Moray Firth just a few yards away. It was a glorious day weather wise when we visited. The sun was shining brightly, it was scorchingly hot - yes, really - and the sea was as blue as blue could be. You'd have thought you were abroad looking at the Med ! But I'd also like to return to visit when the weather is stormy - you'd be warm and cosy inside, with a good view looking out at the stormy sea. When we visited (Jun/2009) there did not seem to be many customers and it is a fair sized tearoom / restaurant. There is a caravan site across the road - hopefully they will provide lots of custom in the season. I do hope it will be a commencial success. So do visit for the views whilst you can. In March/2010 Martin (who kindly supplied the Aurora photo) advised that Aurora was up for sale, and I feared that the place might close. But in August 2011 it was still open, and we met Martin and his charming wife Jean for tea and scones, and bacon baps.

When we visited Buckie in August, 2013 we found that Aurora was temporarily closed for refitting, but that it was due to reopen in September or October as a tearoom / gift shop. Apparently the place had been bought by the owners of a newsagants in Buckie. I wish them well, but there are too many shops selling stuff. And of course its now open again as Bijou.

We visited there with my cousin Jean in July, 2014 when we had a light lunch. I had a nice, big pot of tea, and I noticed that they had some large, tasty looking scones. But I had a bowl of Cullen Skink soup that was only average - it tasted OK, but it was far too thin, had been made with new potatoes, and there was not enough fish. The waitresses were young girl trainees - why not also find a place for a mature woman too ? It took far too long to queue to pay at the counter on leaving, for which they apologised. Bijou is only a stone's throw from Cullen - Cullen Skink should be better / a speciality. I would rather pay more for better quality - I was a bit disappointed. So it's still OK for tea and scones, but go elsewhere for your Cullen Skink. On the other hand a light lunch (not soup) in 2015 was excellent, and fairly priced.

2022 The place was closed. We asked at Rozzi's, their shop in the town centre, and they said they had closed originally for renovations, but the cost of materials had rocketed, so they would wait until next year. They must be losing a lot of business as there is a caravan park just across the road with lots of potential customers.

Bury St Edmunds Tearoom, Suffolk - Now Old School Cafe at Just Traid, Fair Trade Cafe

We often visit Bury St Edmunds, and it's a favourite place to take the occasional visitor. It's about 55 miles, or an hour away from us and is a charming market town with such a lot of history, some really old buildings, a magnificent cathedral, the ruins of an old abbey ( free entry to the grounds ) set within the beautiful Abbey Gardens, the smallest pub in England (the Nutshell), a local brewery (Greene King), loads of charity shops, old fashioned streets, little shops, pubs, tearooms, ducks to feed, etc, etc. There is a good market on Wednesdays and Saturdays - the local Suffolk produce is fresh and top quality, and the prices are keen. And there is an excellent Christmas market. What's not to like.

We used to visit the old Cornmarket for a cup of tea - it had a huge hall upstairs with craft stalls round the sides and tables for tea in the middle - tea, scones etc were self service from a service hatch at one end, and prices were extra-ordinarily low. Unfortunately the place closed towards the end of 2010, bought by a chain of pubs, perhaps Wetherspoons ? So now we use Just Traid, a Fair Trade Cafe in the converted church hall of St John, the Evangelist Church.

The Cafe is on the right hand side of St John's street, as you walk down St John's street, away from the market. We drive to Bury St Edmunds from the south, along the M11,the A11, and then the A14. There is a slip road off the A14, round a roundabout, and the centre of Bury St Edmunds is about 2 miles further. We park on a side street just before the town centre, and walk the last few hunded yards. Once in the town centre, the first main street to your left is St Andrew's street which leads to the bus station, and about 20 yards further on is St John Street. You can see the market in the town square (if its market day) to your right, and down on the left is St John's centre, the church, the church halls, and the cafe.

In the picture, the entrance is through the vaulted door of the church halls, just under the burglar alarm. This takes you into a fair trade shop, but the prices are a bit on the expensive side. Through the shop, and you are in the Fair Trade Cafe. It's quite a big place, and there is further seating outside if the weather is fine. It's a purpose built permanent cafe run professionally by volunteers. You get a good pot of tea, or caffetierre of coffee, and there are scones (fruit and cheese), cakes, shortbread, etc. The jam is not home made, but is served in little dishes. Prices are very good. At the serving counter they tick boxes on a form to say what you have ordered, and you later take this form to the pay counter in the shop, and pay on your way out. The toilets are off another hall, still part of the same complex, and are reached through a connecting door to the right of the kitchen counter. But if the adjoining hall has been let, the connecting door is locked, and you have to go out, round, and in another door to get to the toilets. Not the best of designs, but hardly any great hardship.

We used to come here for a cup of tea in the days before the cafe was redesigned. Then the old cafe was closed for a few months during the building alterations, and the cafe was temporarily in the actual church itself. Now its quite a nice set up, and everyone is very friendly. Its table service with a smile, or you can order at the counter as you prefer.

Cambridge Tearoom, - Livingstones Coffee Shop

Temporary recommendation - this place is too expensive !

Although we only live about 30 miles from Cambridge, we don't go there very often. If we have visitors, we might take them there for a day out, but by ourselves we usually just go to Bury St Edmunds, or London, or perhaps Clacton for the sea side. But we do go to Cambridge sometimes, so I thought I should recommend a tearoom.

Rather than having a blank opposite Cambridge, I have suggested Livingstones Coffee Shop, 43, St Andrews Street, Cambridge. It's part of St Andrews Street Baptist Church - but it's a purpose built coffee/ tea shop - not just a corner of a church hall. But I am a bit reluctant to recommend this place not because of any doubts about the quality - you get a good cup of tea, and the fruit scones are a fair size, and really fruity. The problem is that it is all a bit overpriced. In May, 2012, a tea, a coffee, and two fruit scones cost £8.30. At Fair Trade, a sort of similar set up but in Bury St Edmunds, the same round would cost only £4.40.

Livingstones is fair sized place, with friendly waitress service. There is even a play area for the kiddies, located in a corner, with books, toys, and even a Wendy House. The tables are well spread out, and it doesn't seem over busy - perhaps because of the prices ? Also there is a Witherspoons next door, where you can get a coffee/ tea, and a muffin for £2.

We usually park in the Queen Ann car park on Gonville Place. In May, 2012, 4 hours parking cost £4.50, 5 hours £6.00, but then it gets extremely expensive at £9.70 for 6 hours. Next time, I think we will try the park and ride, and see what that costs - I might even be free with my bus pass.

Roughly, at June, 2012 prices, we would expect to pay not more than £1.50 for a fruit scone and jam, £1.30 or less for tea, and say £2 or less for filter coffee - so that comes to £6.30 for the two of us, maximum. Usually we pay a lot less. £8.30 is way too expensive, so I will need to recommend somewhere else. For now, if you visit Livingstones, I'd stick to a tea and a coffee.

Cairn O Mount Tearoom - The Clatterin Brig Tearoom

We went there in July, 2014 when The Arch, at Fettercairn was closed. We had two very tasty, fair sized freshly baked scones, coffee and a pot of tea (with a pot of hot water !), very well presented with small pots of jam. There is a lovely view from the windows, and at £7.35 we thought it good value. In 2017 we had very good scones served with butter and their own little dish of jam. I had a big teapot of tea, and a pot of hot water too - and the view was just as good as ever. It was surprising to find they had no scones in 2024 - a tearoom with no scones ! Scenery was still great, though

Clacton On Sea, Essex Tearoom - The Cup of Coffee

We do like "The Pantry" (58c Rosemary Road) for a lunch time snack, but it's nothing special as a tea room. But if pressed to recommend a place for a cup of tea in Clacton, we would probably plump for "The Cup of Coffee", and so I have added it to my list of recommended places. Stand on the sea front with the pier directly behind you, and walk straight away from the sea, into the centre of Clacton, along a major road with amusement arcades, across a roundabout, up the main street past WH Smith, M&S, etc, and at the end of this street, across another roundabout, you will see "The Cup of Coffee". Don't let the name put you off - they sell good pots of tea, and tasty scones and cakes. They do small and large scones, but I always go for a large one. I wonder if anyone buys the small ones. Why not just sell big scones ? Prices are OK, nothing too expensive, but probably they are a bit above an average price for Clacton. This isn't a "must visit" place but its OK, there are lots of seats inside, it's quite nice upstairs, and is as good a place as any in Clacton.

Cleethorpes Tea Room, Gallagers, formerly The Coffee Lounge and Tea Garden

Colchester Tearoom, Fenwick's Department store

I have justy copied the photo from the internet - hope no one objects.

We used to use Patisserie Valerie in Colchester, but they closed about 2020 when the chain went burst. Nowadays we use the tearoom on the first floor of Fenwick Department store on the High Street. It's lovely to support a famous department store in these troubled times. Fenwicks is an elegant, well spaced store, and the tearoom, although a franchise, serves a good cup of tea. We like to sit by the windows which overlook the High Street. The attraction is to walk through an elegant store, and marvel at the very high prices.

Colchester is about an hour away from where we live, and it is one of the places that we occasionally visit for a day out, a list that also includes Clacton, Bury St Edmunds, St Albans, Newmarket, etc, etc. Colchester is a fair sized city with lots of fine tea rooms, lots of interesting places to look at, a fine park, and lots of charity shops. We used to park at Butt Road, one of the city centre long stay car parks, paying £2.50 for the day a few years ago, which we thought was very reasonable. (You had to press the green button on the ticket machine to access specials, one of which was the £2.50 parking deal.) Now however, we use the park and ride - with free parking and £3 for the two of us bus transfer using our bus passes.

Fenwicks is a lovely, grand, elegant department store selling high quality items, but all very, very expensive - even discounted in a sale they are still expensive. The store is immaculate and its done with good taste. There are two "cafe's " - a franchise coffee shop on the first floor, and a restaurant on the second floor. There are up and down excalators between floors.

Corgarff - Tearoom

In July, 2014 two medium sized fruit scones, a pot of tea, and a coffee cost a very fair £6.50. It's still a lovely setting getting there, and once you have found the place. In 2015 it had been slightly refurbished, increasing the cafe side, reducing the shop size. In 2020 it was only doing take away food - corona virus. We carried on to Tomintoul as it was too cold to sit outside. Business was more or less back to normal in 2022, but there were no scones. I had a toasted tea cake, and a lovely big pot of tea.

Dawlish, Devon Tearoom - A Piece of Cake, 15, Brunswick Place, now called Annies

Probably the old cafe closed but opened again as Annies when we visited in January, 2023. We didn't have time to visit, but will give it a try, and rewrite this section.

When we visited in March,2019 the place was closed. There were two signs - one said "closed on Fridays until Summer", and the other said "closed until further notice". It doesn't look hopeful ! It was again closed in July,2020 but perhaps it had not yet opened again after Corona Virus lockdown. Still ,closed in 2021!

We often visit Devon now that daughter Kirsty, son in law Andrew, and our two grand children Chloe and Alice live there - in Newton Abbot. We like the sea side and usually stay in a self catering apartment of the sea front of Teignmouth, which is about 5 miles from Newton Abbot. Travel out of Teignmouth along the coast, but in the opposite direction from Newton Abbot, and you come to another charming Devon sea side gem - Dawlish. There is a lovely park / gardens in the centre of Dawlish, adjacent to the river that runs through the town. Do look out for the famous Dawlish black swans.

Travelling into Dawlish from Teignmouth, you go down a steep hill into the town centre. Turn sharp left just before crossing the river, and you are in Brunswick Place. "A Piece of Cake" tearoom is about two thirds of the way along Brunswick Place, on the left (obviously as the river is on the right !) at No 15, and not quite as far along as the theatre. There is a large car park at the end of Brunswick Place, turn left, then sharp right in to the car park. There are swings, etc, for the youngsters, just through the par park, past the medical centre.

A Piece of Cake is open all year round - although it might be closed for a few weeks in winter if the owners are grabbing a quick out of season holiday. We often call in for tea and generously proportioned home made scones. In 2012 a fruit scone and butter cost £1.50, and a pot of tea £1.80 - so I would describe the prices as qute fair, value for money. You get a fine china tea cup which I don't mind (usually I drink from for a mug of tea at home). You also get a china tea pot, well filled, and with two tea bags. You also get a separate pot of hot water, which is as it should be.

It's nice when the town is quiet, to sit in the tea room window, and watch the swans and ducks on the river just opposite. But often, as in the picture, there is a car parked just outside, partly spoiling the view. If you want to save a little money, there is a small church a few yards further up Brunswick Place, and usually they are selling teas in the church hall for 50p a go. Support a local tearoom, or support a local church - the choice is yours. Why not do both.

Edzell Tearooms - Tweedie Coffee Shop / The Naked Bean / No name ?

Ely Tearoom - The Cathedral Almonry

Exmouth Tearoom - Wine of Araby, 20, Chapel Street

2024 : We were rather disappointed with the place when we visited in June, 2024. It was just average, a bit dated, the Gents toilet still two floors up, nothing special, and not even good prices. They asked if we would like our scones warmed up, we said "yes, please", but only a tiny bit of the base of the scone was ever so slightly warm. We had noticed better looking places in Exmouth, and decided we would try them next time. P

Exmouth is one of the nice places we visit when down on holiday in Devon, and usually based in Teignmouth. In summer it's pleasant and different to drive to and park at Starcross Railway Station, and take the small ferry over the estuary to Exmouth. Usually though we travel directly to Exmouth by car, and park in the town centre, in a car park off Union Street. This does long stay car parking and sometimes gives two extra hours parking for the same fee - i.e. pay for 4 hours, and get 6. Exit this car park, walk straight across an opposite car park, up a facing small alley, and you emerge onto Chapel Street. The Wine of Araby tearoom is very near, and to your left.

Exmouth has a lovely old indoor market, is a seaside location, has a fine town park, a huge town centre square with a war memorial, and lots of book and charity shops. The Wine of Araby tearoom serves a good pot of tea, with a pot of hot water without having to ask for it. In December, 2020 instead of my usual fruit scone, I ordered a mince pie to be seasonal, and got served two mince pies as the standard serving. A cream tea for only £2.95 in 2021 included tea, scone, generous jam, and real cream ! It's a friendly, welcoming place. However the gents toilet is two floors up - good for adding to my daily step count, but not for everyone, perhaps.

Fakenham, Norfolk - Q's Coffee Shop and Bistro

Fettercairn Tearoom - The Arch, formerly Alastairs.

When we visited in June/2009, Alastairs was closed for renovations. We were told it was to reopen in August 2009, and hoped to specialise in food cooked using local organic produce. When we visited in August, 2010 it had reopened as The Arch, Farm Shop and Cafe. It was more or less as we had remembered it but had been spruced up and looked all the better for it. It was mostly cafe - we didn't see much evidence of a farm shop, but there were some expensive tourist goods on sale - very nice, high quality, but expensive. It was run by a lady with an American accent who seemed to be having problems with the local accents. We had tea and a scone. The scone was tasty, and we got proper jam in a large pot. I didn't enthuse over the tea at first taste, but it was OK. They sold Suki tea - I wonder if this was what they used. I'd have preferred some more familiar brand. When we visited in August, 2011 the tea was fine, and the adverts for Suki tea had gone. I'm not sure, but I half think I heard them say the place was up for sale again - we shall see.

We visited The Arch again in August, 2013, and the place had indeed been sold to Fasque Estates, who had done the place up very tastefully, and got rid of most of the stuff for sale apart from a select choice in a corner. It was all a great improvement. It has also added Bisto to its name - they serve quality "executive chef" repared meals at night. We had the usual tea, coffee, and two fruit scones. The scones were fresh, very tasty, and just the right size. But it was a bit pricy at £8.50 - cf £6.50 at Nat Trust tearooms, £5.10 in Clacton for comparable quality.

The Arch was closed when we visited in July, 2014. One local gentleman said it had closed weeks ago, and no one knew what was happening. The waitress in the nearby Clatterin Brig Tearoom (q. v. ) said it often closed, and reopened under new management after a refit, and she thought this was what was happening again. We will need to wait and see. In 2015 it was open as normal. They said they were open 7 days a week in August, 2016. In 2017 it seemed to be up and running, but was closed on Mondays - and we had visited on a Monday !

The Salon Variety Theatre tearoom, Fuengirola, Costa Del Sol, Spain.

We like to visit Fuengirola in the Costa Del Sol region of Spain to get some winter sun. It is easy to get to Malaga airport from Stansted, and then to take the train to Fuengirola - the ticket machines are in English and are simple to use. Usually we get off at Los Boliches, the last but one stop, and walk the short distance to Nuria Sol apartments. It is an easy, lowish cost holiday - it doesn't cost much more to stay for 12 days v. a week.

We had been to Fuengirola lots of times, but it was not until 2014 that we were introduced to the Salon Variety Theatre by my sister and her husband who happened to be on holiday in the area at the same time. The theatre is run by a group of enthusiastic British ex pats who need lots of help to keep the place going - so hence my humble mention.

The simplest way to find the theatre is to walk along the sea front in the Malaga to Marbella direction, and turn right at a main road just at the end of the port - this road leads from the sea front up to Fuengirola train station. Turn right off the sea front, then left along a lane just before the first set of traffic lights, and you soon come to the theatre. The tea room is in the foyer of the theatre, but also spills out onto a little square in front of the theatre.

We got a good pot of tea (tea bag in a solid tea pot) with friendly service, and were surprised at the quality of their "pot of tea and a piece of cake" offer - remarkably only 2 euros ( £1.75) in March, 2014. Lots of places did such offers for about 3 euros, but their cakes were miniscule. The Salon Variety cake was a good portion. I liked their cherry cake best which came with cream and a very generous drizzle of cherry juice / jam. The cafe seems to be run by volunteers, and once I got a pot of tea with no tea bag - but this was quickly corrected with a smile, and profuse apologies. They also do light meals, baguettes, etc.

As an aside we saw their production of "Whistle Down The Wind" in March, 2014. It was 16 euros each for a seat, and the singing was good, the lead ("Jesus" ) and second lead "Swallow" were very good, and the children were excellent.

Gibraltar Tearoom - The Royal Calpe, The Clipper

Nowadays, most of our holidays are spent either in Teignmouth - two granddaughters Chloe and Alice to visit - or Sydney - grandson Lachlan to play with. But we do still manage an occasional non family visit holiday, and we usually manage to find our way to Fuengirola on the Costa Del Sol, Spain, at the start of each year, searching for some cheering sunshine. The attraction of Fuengirola is that we can easily build our own travel package - "cheap" Easyjet flights out of nearby Stansted to Malaga airport, then jump on the coastal train (20 min service) to Fuengirola, get off at Los Boliches, the stop before Fuengirola Central, walk about 150 yards up a little slope, and then into Nuria Sol Apartments, where we have booked online with Travel Republik say 10 days accommodation. The apartments are clean, well appointed, and the TV gets BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and ITV2, so we can keep up with the news without having to buy an expensive UK paper each day.

Usually we hire a car for say 5 days, and use it to go sight seeing slightly further afield to compliment using the local train. A visit to Gibraltar is a must. Gibraltar is just over 100 km, say 70 miles from Fuengirola - it's about an hour and a half drive to get near Gibraltar, and then half an hour to an hour to cross the border, zig-zag past Spanish border control, and then find a parking spot in Gibraltar. We usually head for the cable car, at the foot of which is a free car park. This seems to be well used by the locals coming and going, so if you drive round it for five to ten minutees, you should find a parking slot. Maybe we have just been lucky each time we have gone.

I have recommended The Royal Calpe - it is at 176, Main Street - because we have used it several times, and its quite a pleasant place to relax. It looks busy in the picture, but go inside, then through to the back, where there is big comfortable conservatory where we have always been able to find a seat. The tea and coffee are OK, and you can get scones and cake, etc. It's waitress service. Prices are OK - £1.25 for the tea in March, 2012 - but the scone and tea, cake and tea package was a bit overpriced - £3.30 in March, 2012. At that time we had been paying about 80p for tea in Fuengirola, and less than £2 for a scone and tea package. For better value, this is where The Clipper comes in. It's in the "Irish Town" part of Gibraltar - this is a street running parallel to Main Street. Tea and a cake at The Clipper cost £1.30 still in March, 2012, and the tea tasted just the same as at The Royal Calpe. The Clipper would also be a cheaper option than The Royal Calpe if you wanted a snack lunch.

Whilst on the subject of tea rooms near Fuengirola, if you visit Mijas, a picturesque mountain village just above Fuengirola, do look out for The English Tearoom, but it isn't open on Sundays. Walk along the main street of Mijas, heading towards the touristy old town, go past the square, and take about the last opening leading to the old town. Look into the little court yards on your left hand side walking towards the old town, and at the back of one of these you will see The English Tearoom. This is a place where the expats in Mijas meet for a morning cuppa. The tea is a good, traditional brew. Adding something to eat to the tea is a bit expensive, but a pot of tea is always affordable.

Haverhill / Suffolk Tearoom - Doffy's Vintage Tearoom

Haverhill is another of the places we visit on our days out on Wednesdays and Saturdays to places which are about an hour's drive away. For us, Haverhill is only just into Suffolk. Haverhill's history is a familiar story - as an ancient village it's market was mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086. It then multiplied in size to become a town in the 1950s /1960s to accommodate London's overspill. It's population now is about 27,000. It has a small town centre - mostly one street only - surrounded by housing and industrial estates. I was surprised to read that Haverhill has been called "the chav capital of the UK" - how can anywhere in Suffolk deserve such a title ? It's not a place where you would take sight seeing foreign visitors, but the attractions for us are are lots of good charity shops which we visit, book searching. Market day is Saturday, with a smaller one on Friday. There is no railway station, but there is a big bus station - and we usually park in the large adjacent car park which is very central. From the car park cut through one of many side lanes to the main street, turn right, and Doffy's is down at the end on the right.

We have visited Doffy's tea room several times including during the second Covid national lockdown when cafes opened again on April 12th for outside service only, and were due to open for inside service on May 17th. In 2021 we paid £9.70 for two huge scones, a pot of tea and a coffee - a premium price for a premium quality. My fruit scone was served on a long rectangular plate, lightly dusted, and with three portions of butter, and a big pot of tasty raspberry jam. The scone was huge, warm, home baked and very tasty. My pot of tea was likewise generous - it was loose leaf, with a tea strainer. Christine enjoyed her cheese scone. I prefer mugs to china crockery, but china is OK as a change. In 2023 I was charged an extra 50p for my jam - it's so much nicer not to do this.

Horncastle Tearoom - the Bridge

Huntly Tearoom - the Merry Kettle

Lumsden Tearoom - The Bothy

Mablethorpe, Linconshire - Blitz Tearooms, Fitzwilliam Street -

When we visit Lincolnshire, we usually base ourselves in Skegness, and then do day trips to lots of places - Alford, Boston, Cleethorpes, Horncastle, Lincoln, Louth, Spilsby, etc. Mablethorpe is about 20 miles up the coast, north of Skegness. It's a traditional English seaside resort with a huge expanse of a sandy beach, yes, with donkeys on the beach, tourist shops, indoor markets, fish and chips, 2p bandits, mini pleasure beach, souvenir shops, etc, etc.

I shouldn't really recommend a place on the basis of only one visit, but it may be years before I can make a second visit, so let's just carry on. As you walk along the main street in Mablethorpe, heading towards the sea, Fitzwilliam Street is about the last street on the left, and the Blitz Tearooms are about 50 yards along, on the right. It's quite a small place, and it seems to have regulars - always a good sign.

The theme is 2nd world war, 1940s, and all around the walls there are posters of the period, old adverts for products long gone, pictures of Churchill, Vera Lynn, jokes, etc, etc. We had two pots of good loose leaf tea, and I had a thick slice of delicious home made plum loaf, and it all came to only £3.40. Actually, according to the menu it should have been £3.20, but I wasn't bothered, and didn't say anything. There are lots of surprise items on the menu - e.g. Camp coffee (how many remember that), Ovaltine, toast and Marmite, toast and dripping. There is a toilet with more posters (such as Careless Talk costs Lives), and they take cash or credit cards. Next time we visit I'll definitely have some more of that plum loaf.

Mango Cafe -English Tearoom, Mijas, near Fuengirola, Costa del Sol, Spain

Sultana scones were just out of the oven, so we had two scones and strawberry jam at Euro 2.50 each. They were medium sized scones, presented on a rectangular plate with little individual pots of jam and butter. I had a good sized pot of Yorkshire tea, and Christine had a large cup one third full of very strong coffee, and a jug of hot water to dilute the coffee to taste. Both drinks cost euro 1.95. I thought the prices were very fair.

The owners were friendly and welcoming. Strangely, we were the only customers in the place - it was about 10:30 am on a Tuesday in May. The cafe is somewhat tucked away at the back of a small arcade. Hopefully, they usually get more customers.
We visited again twice (May and Oct) in 2019 and I enjoyed my teacake and pot of tea - and happily there were a couple of other customers there too.

When we visited in May, 2015 the English Tearoom was closed, and a notice in the window said that, as the building had recently been sold, they were no longer running the tearoom at Mijas. Possibly this only meant that the place would have a change of ownership, but would open again under new owners. So, I left this write up here, pending our next visit to Mijas. In April, 2016, the place was still closed, and the premises still vacant. Nothing else had opened in the spot. We then visited again in November, 2016 and found that the place had opened again under the name Mango Cafe. Sadly though, it was a Monday when we called, and the cafe did not open on Mondays. I should not really "recommend" a place I have not visited, but next time we go, we will make sure it is not a Monday.

We usually visit Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol, Spain say once a year to get some winter sun. It's an easy, reasonably priced holiday flying Stansted to Malaga, train along the coast, and then a short walk to say the NuriaSol apartments. We might go for a week, or 12 days or so, and usually hire a car for part of the stay. And the first day's car trip is usually the short one inland from Fuengirola for a few miles into the mountains to the lovely little, picturesque village of Mijas. There are lots of tourist shops, cafes, whitewashed buildings, a bull ring, an old church, quaint narrow lanes, the donkeys, and a mini botanical garden with panoramic views down to the sea. The English Tearoom has been there for years - to find it walk along the main road along which you entered Mijas from Fuengirola, and turn right to head up to the old town at the very last turning, and the tearoom is on your left. If you go up the steps from the crescent / square in the middle of Mijas, turn left and head away from the old quarter, and the tea room should be on your right. Mijas is not that big a place, so it should be easy to find the tearoom

We have visited this tearoom lots of times, and I thought it was on my list of "recommended" tearooms, but when I went to do an update after our March 2014 visit I was surprised to find that it was not listed. I usually add tearooms in interesting places that we have visited several times - it was always a good place for a cup of tea, but it did tend to be on the expensive side - so perhaps this is why I did not include it. Anyway, it is added now.

This tearoom seems to change hands regularly, but more or less stays the same. In March, 2014 the owners had taken over some six months ago. They were a Yorkshire couple, who offered various teas, but "specialised" in offering Yorkshire tea - but not Yorkshire water, of course. Everyone there spoke English, the customers were a mix of visitors and local ex pats, and everyone was very friendly and chatty. I got a good cup of Yorkshire tea in a large tea pot, and it came with an equally lage pot of top up hot water. We thought that the prices were very reasonable (exch. rate 1.14 euros to £ ) with £1.75 for a scone and butter, and £1 for the tea.

If this place were in England there would be nothing special about it to warrent inclusion, but in Spain it is a good tea room in an interesting location. It was still there in 2018 when we paid only euro 3.70 for a good, large pot of Yorkshire tea, and a cup of Americano coffee.

Milfield, on the A697, Borders Region - Maelmin Cafe

It's a bright welcoming place, and you get a good cup of tea. There used to be shelves with tourist items for sale, but most of these went when it was revamped as Cafe Maelmin. There also used to be more information about the local area, but most of this has also gone. I much preferred it as it was, but someone must have thought it was time for a change. Who am I to disagree ? However you still get a good cup of tea, so if in the area why not give it a go.

When we visited in November, 2012 we wanted a quick snack - eg a cup of tea and a bacon, or black pudding, or sausage roll. These didn't appear to be on the menu any longer, so we left, and carried on to Services at Brandon, on the AI. We visited for a cup of tea only in February, 2013.

We visited twice in July, 2014. Once was on the way to Scotland on a Friday afternoon when we had two tasty cheese scones, a tea and a coffee - a bit pricey at £7.80, £6.80 would have been OK. On the way back the place was busier, and rather than wait whilst two tables in front of us were served, we left. The place was better before it switched to table service !

As an alternative, if the Milfield / Maelmin cafe was busy and we were heading towards Scotland, we used to continue on for a few miles and stop at the Bluebell Inn. Here also you used to get a good cup of tea, and perhaps a biscuit. It's quite a while since we have done this, though. The Bluebell Inn closed, and then re-opened. However in 2017 we discovered a lovely little tearoom attached to Glendale Garden Centre, just outside Wooler. Wooler is just before Milfield if you are heading north, and the garden centre is just as you come into Wooler, on the right hand side heading north, just after a caravan park set back on the left hand side. In 2017 we got a pot of tea with a separate pot of water, a coffee, and two scones for only £7.10. The cheese scone was served with chutney, the fruit scone with it's own little dish of jam. Very tasty ! Very sadly this place closed in early 2019 - reportedly because it all became too much of a tie for the lady who ran it.

Montrose Tea Room - The Coffee House

The Coffee House is not the cheapest tea room in town, but gives good quality with fair prices. I got a huge pot of tea which refilled my cup lots of times. The scone was tasty, but the jam came in a plastic sachet for which I was charged 15p. Including this, tea, scone and jam cost £2.10 - the same as lunch. Black marks for the plastic sachet, but each time we visit Montrose, we usually visit this tea room - so all in all, a safe recommendation. They were still charging 15 p for jam in 2013.

We had a light lunch there in July, 2014. It was £7.80 for two coronation chicken "Baguettes" (long, soft rolls, really), a tea, and a coffee. A fair price, I thought. In 2017 I had a very tasty rock cake, although it was a bit on the small side. It was very busy in 2019. In 2022 it was still open, but surrounded by scaffolding. Prices are cheap, but my rock cake was tiny, and the fruit scones were tiny too. In 2024 we ordered two black teas, but got two indifferent coffees. When I queried this, the young waitress argued that we had ordered two Americanos. We definitely didn't. Someone else in the tearoom called over the manager, and observed that the waitress's attitude was completely wrong. Why antagonise paying customers ?

Newmarket Tea Room - The Pantry (& The Stable & Victor Victoria)

Newmarket is a nice, unspoiled market town, only just over the border into Suffolk. Prices there are mostly modest, but there are also some very expensive houses in the area - Newmarket is the UK home of horse racing - so I guess it's a sort of mixed economy. The town is about 37 miles from where we live, so it's just over 50 minutes away by car. It's one of a collection of places that we visit regularly for a day trip - others include Bury St Edmunds, Ely, St Albans, Clacton on Sea, etc. It's quite a small, compact town centre - and it doesn't really fill a full day away, but almost does. There are lots of charity shops for us to explore.

There are lots of places that do a good cup of tea, but the one we use most, if we can get a seat, is The Pantry (see top picture). It's just at the corner of the The Guineas Shopping Centre just off the High Street, to the left as you enter Newmarket from the South. It's quite an upmarket kind of place - it's also a delicatessen, with a huge range of cheeses. The restaurant / teashop side of things also sells wine, bottled beer, and bottles of champagne, presumably to celebrate successful days out at the Races. They do lovely, large, very tasty, white dusted fruit scones which are served with proper individual butter and jam portions in little dishes. For the quality, I thought the prices were very reasonable - £8.95 for two scones, with butter and jam, a large pot of tea for one, and a large coffee, (in July 2020). The place does get a bit noisy, though !

I have also recommended The Stable on the High Street (it's No. 65). This is a community facility set up and supported by various Newmarket churches. It serves teas, coffees, and meals, is a meeting place, and they run a safe environment coffee bar in the evenings for the local youth. It's in the door of the picture, and upstairs - there is a lift if required. Once upstairs, there is a fair sized hall, with a big kitchen and serving counter to the left. We usually go here for a very tasty and modestly priced proper home, freshly cooked lunch. Their own baked quiche is especially recommended - light, fluffy, and very tasty - and is served with a salad. A quiche and salad, baked potato and cheese with salad, a pot of tea (you do get a pot of hot water too !) and a coffee cost £10.15 (in March, 2016). A bargain, I thought. After difficult Covid times, they are now (April, 2023) trying to re-establish themselves, and there was a note up apologising for the curtailed menu and asking for suggestions. We though the place was not quite what it used to be. There were plain and cheese scones, but no fruit ones. The cheese scone was very cold, almost semi frozen, but they readily put it in the microwave when we asked. There was only a limited cake selection. I had two biscuits for 50 p, so no complaints. I got a fair sized and ample pot of tea but no pot of hot water - as used to be the case. No doubt I'd have got hot water had I asked. All in all, still a good cause, and we'll give them another try next time.

Victor Victoria Coffee is a lovely alternative if The Stable is closed. It is up Sun Lane off the High Street, on the left hand side where Sun Lane meets Palace Street. It is a nice village atmosphere setting away from the High Street. Home baking is their speciality and the freshly baked daily fruit scones were delicious in June, 2021. There is a counter full of all sorts of tasty treats, and I heard some customers asking what latest bake had just come out of the oven before deciding what to order. Prices were acceptable for the quality - £2.50 for a black Americano coffee, £2.00 for a pot of tea for one, and £2.95 for a delicious fruit scone and jam. Service was friendly and it wasn't as noisy as The Pantry.

Newton Abbot, Devon Tea Room - The Pharmacy

As the name suggests, the shop began life as a pharmacy, and all the old pharmacy fittings have been left in place - huge wooden cupboards with little drawers each labelled in latin with the name of old chemicals and remedies - all I fear of doubtful use, but all that was available at the time.

There is a good choice of teas, coffees, scones, cakes, and lots to look at. The toilets and extra seating are upstairs. Everyone is very friendly - it is Devon, after all.

I picked up a leaflet about the history of the shop -i.e. from when it was J Bibbings and Son, Pharmacy. George Bibbings was born in Newton Abbot in 1816, and earned a living as a blacksmith. He had two daughters and four sons, and John, one of his sons, became a pharmacist and opened his Queen Street shop in 1877. The leaflet explains that his first customer was a tramp, and his second, an earl. There were minor interior alterations to the shop in 1897, but otherwise the shop remains as it was. The floor of the shop is an original mosaic, on which stand the magnificient mahogany fixtures and 10 foot high cupboards. A date holder dates to 1877, and is still in daily use.

Well worth a visit !

In 2019 we walked past but had already had tea (at "The Country Garden"). The Pharmacy had been updated, a serving counter had been removed, and there were more tables for customers. In 2023 we liked Austin's (on the main precinct) as another alternative. We had an excellent treacle and fruit scone at the Country Table.

St Albans, the Abbot's Kitchen in the Cathedral

Although St Albans is only about 30 miles from where we live, we seldom go there. We prefer to visit Bury St Edmunds as it is larger, and there are more, and varied things to do and see there. But St Albans is a lovely, historical place with some very old buildings and a thriving market. Once in St Albans you cannot miss the Cathedral - there are lots of signs or just look up for the spire, and head in that direction. Entrance to the Cathedral is free, but they do suggest a donation. We didn't think this applied to us, as we headed straight to the kitchen / tea room. Most places that charge for admission do allow free entry to their tea room. We did have a look round the cathedral afterwards - it is difficult not to, and we were impressed by the displays, and especially a working model of an exceptionally old astronomical clock, but not always on display. And of course we sometimes do make a small extra donation over and above what we buy in the tea room.

We used to enter the Cathedral by the side door, the one nearest the town centre, and had to walk along a well signposted long corridor to get to their tea room - called appropriately "The Abbots Kitchen". If you enter by the new welcome building the Abbot's Kitchen is just to the left. It is a nice setting in the tea room, and the place is very well staffed augmented by volunteers. It used to be waitress service, but changed to self service about 2015. The scones were good, there were other goodies to eat, and I got a big pot of strong tea - or you can have a cup of tea with a tea bag. Prices were reasonable for the setting but a little expensive perhaps. To be honest, although a good pleasant tea room, it's not exceptional. It is recommended more for the setting, everyone was very friendly, and it is a good cause.

St Andrews - McGregors

St Martins in the Field, London, The Cafe in the Crypt

Anyway, when in central London as often as not we will visit the Cafe in the Crypt at St Martins in the Field for a cup of tea, and perhaps a biscuit or a muffin, etc.

When on holiday we often come across coffee mornings in church halls, and usually pop in to see what is on offer. Quality is sometimes a bit variable, but these coffee mornings are nearly always very good value for money (ie you can get a cheap cup of tea). However, do not confuse what is on offer at St Martins with a coffee morning in a church hall. The setting in St Martins is very impressive, and the catering is done professionally. The entrance to the Cafe at the Crypt is through an imposing glass structure at the left side of the church. There is a glass lift down to the Crypt for wheel chair access, or a short flight of steps. From the lift or from the steps you emerge into the large vaults of the church, an open space which amongst other things houses quite a good gift shop. The Cafe is easy to find through some arches. It's self service and there are lots of tables set out like a refectory. You can get a pot of tea for about £1.70 (2009) and a cup of filter coffee for about the same price, which is not bad for central London. And of course you are helping a most deserving charity. There are usually packets of biscuits for less than £1, but I mostly pass on the pastries which seem tempting but just a little expensive - although again not for central London. If you are hungry they also serve some tasty looking meals.

We have one small adverse comment to make however. Once, when we ordered a cup of black coffee, we got very poor measure - only a half cup really. We had to ask them to top up the cup, which of course they did without comment, but this should not have happened. When you order tea, you get a pot of tea, but when you order coffee you get a mug of coffee. It's fair enough to leave a bit of a space for milk, but serving short messure is not on! It only happened once, has not occurred again, and so we still use and recommend the place.

Whilst in St Martins, be sure to go exploring. There are all sorts of displays advising of the history of the place, the charity work done, etc, etc. The gift shop is a good one, with quality gifts but unfortunately at quality prices. On a cold day, the Crypt is always warm and welcoming. Its well worth a visit, and you are supporting an excellent charity.

Because of Covid and lockdown restrictions, we didn't visit London, nor the London theatres for all of 2020 , and most of 2021 . However we did revisit in December 2021, and found "The Crypt" just as good as ever. My choc chip shortbread slab of a biscuit kept me munching for ages - goodness knows how many calories ? But in 2022 there was little choice, no cookies, and my muesli bar was too dry. In January 2023 we had to wait until 11:00am before the cafe opened, and there was not much choice, e.g. again no cookies. At the start of 2024 we again were arriving at the Crypt before 11:00 am and finding the place not open yet, but later in the year it changed to a more acceptable 10:00 am opening. Sadly, though, the place is not what it used to be for choice of cakes, biscuits, fancies to eat. Very annoying !

Sidmouth Tearoom, The Dairy Shop and Cafe

We have been visting the Dairy for years - I don't know why I only added this to my web site in 2024. We did recommend another place, Trumps, but it closed in 2014.

Southwold Tearoom - No 51 (formerly @51, formerly The Tea Shop, formerly Tillys, formerly Sarah's)

Not sure if I would recommend a visit - somewhat expensive.

We revisited in June, 2017, and September, 2018.

When we revisited in June, 2017, there had been a refurbishment to a bright, clean cafe format, and a change of name to "@51" (from it's address). A tea, a coffee, and two scones with jam and butter cost £9.90 (or £9.9 as they would have it !) - about £2 to £3 too much. The menu prices were shown as £1.9 not £1.90 - very pretentious I thought. The scones were home baked and very tasty, but not very big, and not worth £3 each. The price did include a little sealed jar of jam - a very expensive way of serving a single portion. Also it looks nicer in a dish. However we could have had scone, butter, jam and cream for the same price.

In September, 2018 not much had changed, but £3 for a scone, jam and cream did not seem so expensive after all. The jam was still in a little sealed jar, and the cream in a prepacked pack. A pot of tea for £1.90 was fair.

As before, there was a tiny outside tea garden, beside the outdoor loo.

Not a terrible place, so I have just decided to leave it here pending its next reincarnation - but not value for money. Go further along the High Street (heading away from the sea), cross the road, and try Adnams restaurant where a very tasty looking large fruit scone costs £1.95.

In 2022 we noticed that @51 is still there but we visited Adnams where we discovered that their tearoom has no till, they cannot take cash, and it's credit card only. I think coin of the realm should always be accepted - as simple as that.

This is what I said before :-

Southwold is a lovely old fashioned place on the Suffolk Coast. It has a new pier, traditional beach huts, and a main street - the High Street - with proper, small, varied shops. It also has Adnams Brewery and the horses. In short - it is completely unspoiled. There is free parking on the sea front, and side streets.

When we first visited Southwold, the tearoom was called Sarah's Tea Room. It is on the High Street (No 51a) - on the left hand side with the sea behind you. We warned that in season Southwold and Sarah's can get very busy. That Sarah's is quite a small place and it can be difficult to get a table - even in its sheltered garden. The toilets are in the garden shed. There were also gifts for sale dotted throughout the shop. There is tea / coffee and scones or cakes - but mostly Sarah's is just a nice location. Sit in the window if you can, and watch the world go by.

When we visited in May, 2009, Sarah's had changed, and was now called Tillys. The waitresses wore black outfits with white aprons. The gifts had gone, and the shop was entirely a tearoom. Prices seemed just a little on the high side. We didn't think it was quite as good as before, not as much character, but nevertheless I left it in the list.

We then visited Southwold twice in the same week in 2013 - we were staying in Gt Yarmouth for a week. Amazingly, the place had yet another name - The Tea Shop. We could not sample the fare as on each day the place had not yet opened. It seems to open about 11:00 am, which is far too late. We are usually more than ready for a cup of tea at about 10:30. I think I will need to recommend some other place. There used to be a goodish tea room / cafe down by the river which is a fair distance from the High Street, but it's a pleasant walk. When you get to the river, turn right, walk past the ferry to Walberswick, and keep going past the wooden shed where they sell good fish and chips, and eventually you come to another wooden shed - and there they used to serve a good a cup of tea, and a scone or whatever. But now they are an expensive bistro serving meals and glasses of wine.

Stonehaven Tearoom - The Waterfront Cafe Bar

In July, 2014 it was only £6.35 for two fair sized tasty scones, a pot of tea and a coffee - very fair value. And surprisingly it was a hot, sunny day - we were almost tempted to sit outside on their verandah (but don't like smokers).

As a footnote, in both 2015, 2016, and 2017 we also visited, and liked the Splash Cafe in Stonehaven's famous Open Air Swimming Pool. There is no entrance fee to visit the cafe, and you can sit by the big windows and watch the hardy swimmers outside. A good cup of tea, home bakes and biscuits, and modest prices. In 2016 we thought The Waterfront seemed very noisy, and thought Arduthie House in Ann Street more pleasant. No such problems in 2017, however. Possibly we started to go off the Splash cafe in 2017 - we had walked past a row of good looking cafes on the seafront all with sea views. Perhaps the novelty of a cafe attached to a swimming pool has started to fade.

In 2019 The Waterfront was as popular as always but very noisy. When we left people were queuing for a table. In 2020 the strawberry scone was soggy as I might have expected. In 2022 my fruit scone had an unpleasant crust to it, and the small pot of tea is barely a cup full. Maybe time to try somewhere else - eg Molly's along the sea front near the Swimming Pool. However all was OK again in 2024 when a large scone, butter and jam only sost £2.95 - some places charge separately for jam.

Sudbury is a nice, historical market town just over the border into Suffolk. It's another of those places that we like to visit on a day out - it's about 40 miles from where we live in Sawbridgworth, and about an hour's drive away.

We usually park centrally in a long stay car park next to the "Roys of Wroxham" discount store, and just opposite Waitrose. Parking used to cost £2 for the day, but increased to £3 in 2020. We have never ever had any problem in finding a space.

There is a lovely museum in the centre of town at the Sudbury Heritage Centre, in Gaol Lane, off the main square. It's just the sort of place to visit often for say half an hour, and always find something of interest. Sudbury has a lace making history, as mentioned in the museum. The artist Gainsborough was born in Sudbury (1727) and there is much about him in the museum - there is also a separate Gainsborough House in the town with an extensive collection of his work, but there is an entrance fee. There was an American bomber squadron stationed at RAF Sudbury during WW2, and this is very well displayed in the museum. In days gone by, Sudbury was notorious as a "rotten borough" where votes were bought and sold, and was the model for "Eatenswill" in Dickens' book "The Pickwick Papers." Dodie Smith, the author of "1001 Dalmations" lived just outside Sudbury.

The Strawberry Teapot is at 5, Friars Street - with the church behind you, walk straight down from the main square into Friars Street, and the tea room is very near on the left hand side. This is a nostalgia place with a true 1940's theme. There are numerous displays, and an old radio appears to be playing Vera Lynn songs and similiar tunes from the 1940's. Very catchy. It's all done very well. You almost expect to see Captian Mainwaring and Sergeant Wilson sitting there having their morning cuppa. Cups, saucers, teapots, and tea strainers match the period. Most importantly of all, though, you do get a good pot of tea, or coffee, and there are tasty scones, and home bakes. Prices are very reasonable.

It's a terrific little place, and well worth repeat visits.

Tarfside Glen Esk Tearoom - The Retreat

When we visited in July, 2014 entry to their museum was free. This was a splendid portrayal of life in Glen Esk through the years - but sadly also one of declining numbers of families living in the glen. This seems to be an all too familiar story. Museum just as good and still free in 2017. I got a huge pot of tea for one, and a separate pot of hot water.

The Retreat had been closed for a few years, but we were delighted to see it open again in 2022 , but only doing basics in the way of refreshments - i.e. tea, coffee, and a choice of wrapped biscuits, Kit-Kat, etc (I had a Tunnock's Carmel Wafer). Evrything was back up and running in 2024, and the museaum is still well worth a visit.

Tea Palace, Westbourne Grove, London

Teignmouth Tearoom, The Oyster Catcher, Northumberland Place

The Oyster Catcher is a very friendly place and does a good pot of tea. There are cakes and the usual choice of bits and pieces to eat. Sometimes they have Ugli Buns, made by a local bakery in Shaldon. These are very large, spicy, chelsea bun like creations - one between two usually works ! It also does lunch time snacks, when it can get a bit busy, but so far we have always managed to get a table, even when there were 5 or 6 of us. Once when we ordered babyccinos for the grand children the particular lady who served us confessed that she had never made them before, but she would give it a go. We had of course had babyccinos there on previous visits, but obviously from a different waitress. And all that said, we got two splendid babyccinos, which disappeared quickly enough, obviously passing quality control.

Just opposite the Oyster Catcher is a tattoo shop, with a statue of a fierce pirate on the pavement outside. Jamie, Jacqui, and Lachlan were over from Sydney in early 2012 - and the sight of this pirate prompted Uncle Jamie to suggest to his young niece Chloe (3 at the time) that they might see some real pirates. We then all took the small passenger ferry across the river Teign to Shaldon. After the crossing, Uncle Jamie again brought up the subject of pirates, telling Chloe how disappointed he was not to have seen any. "Well", confided young Chloe, in best tourist humouring mode "sometimes you see them, sometimes you don't." These pearls of wisdom I have been quoting ever since.

Torquay Tearoom : Hooper's Department Store, Zest Tearoom

Debenhams had been in financial trouble for years, but fell into administration / receivership in 2020, and I think they made all the cafe staff redundant. The Torquay cafe was definitely closed when we called in July and December, 2020, but I left the write up hoping that there may be a reprieve. Some Debenhams cafes did open later in 2020, e.g. Colchester. Debenhams, now, is no more. Although it is not open on Sundays, Hoopers Department Store , only yards away has a good cafe Zest on the third floor were the harbour views are the same, and the scones tasty and generous. (2022)

When we are in Devon, we usually base ourselves in Teignmouth - in a self catering apartment on the sea front beside the pier with sea view from a big bay window, etc. Teignmouth is a good centre for touring, and there are lots of places within easy reach. One of these places is Torquay - just over 10 miles away. We used to be able to find free parking on the sea front (back in March, 2011), and then we walked along the sea front back to the town centre, and past the Princess Theatre, the Pavillion, the Marina, and towards the harbour. It's a pleasant stroll, with lots to see. Now, free parking is no more - we usually use the multi-storey on the sea front just beside the main street.



The first picture is a view over the harbour from the sea side, just round from the marina, and the light coloured long middle building in the distance is Debenhams department store, which overlooks the harbour. The second picture is the inside of Quay Reflections and is borrowed from their web site.




Date of last visit : 2023, checked it's still there 2024.



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Totnes, Devon Tearoom, The Terrace Coffee Shop

Totnes is a delightful little town in Devon, about 10 miles inland from Newton Abbot. It sits on the river Dart, and has one main street running up a hill at right angles to the river. There are lots of traditional shops on this main street - butchers, bakers, high class grocers, a Devon fudge shop, etc - just as High Streets used to be. It's quite an old historic town, and there is an old arch that straddles the main street about half way up the hill. Walking up the hill, away from the river, The Terrace Coffee Shop is on the right hand side, not far from the arch, a few yards up a little turning, beside the local Co-Op.

There are lots of tempting tea rooms on the main street, but each time we have visited Totnes we have usually visited The Terrace Coffee Shop, and never been disappointed. You get a good pot of tea, and there is a good choice of cakes, buns, etc to tempt the palate. There are usually free newspapers to peruse whilst enjoying your cup of tea. That said though, in 2016 Christine thought the coffee was dreadful and very weak !

When we visited in November, 2010, the place was very quiet, and we got talking to the waitress. She was a young opera singer, and was waiting to hear about her audition to try to gain entrance to the Guild Hall (I think) College of Music in London. Fingers crossed that all went well.

In 2022 there was a notice on the tearoom saying closed 02.01.22 to 28.02.22. There was a similar notice in January, 2023 saying closed until 1st March, so they are being consistent. Alternatives : We like Anne of Cleeves on the main street, and an excellent new one the Evensfield Farm Shop and Cafe , down to the end of the main street, and turn right -the cafe is upstairs. Sadly Evershields seemed closed later in October, 2023, had renovation work taking place in 2024 and Anne of Cleeves was disappointing in 2024.

When we visited Totnes in 2019 we heard a local guide telling some tourists that Totnes was twinned with Narnia. She also pointed out local sources of alternative medicine. That is typically Totnes !






Date of last visit : 2020, still there 2024



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Van Hage Cafe, Van Hage Garden Centre, Amwell roundabout, Ware, Herts

When we visit Van Hages, and especially if we have guests with us, we usually visit the Van Hage Cafe - its quite a superior cafe, but here the prices are affordable. They serve meals of course, but it is good place to visit just for a cup of tea. You get a good pot of tea (but ask for a pot of hot water if you want one), and there is always plenty of space to find a seat. There are biscuits, muffins, scones, pastries, etc, etc. In short there is wide range of tasty fare. Butter or Flora with your scone is free (ie included in the price of the scone) but jam unfortunately is in little jars that you have to buy. I would rather have home made jam in pots on each table, but I guess this place is just too large for that.

If you buy a lot of plants it might be worth paying an annual subscription to be a friend of Van Hages, and then you get a discount on all the plants that you buy. When I "retired" the second time I got a generous gift of Van Hake gift vouchers. To buy even more with the vouchers I found it cost effective to join the annual membership scheme. That was a few years ago now, but the point of mentioning it here is that one of the side benefits of membership was to get a free pot of tea in the Cafe - but this was only available in the mornings. Perhaps the offer still stands.

Prices were still very reasonable in 2018 : large scones (cherry, fruit or cheese), large toasted teacake, pot of tea - all £1.95 each, and £2.45 for a large mug of Americano coffee.

Pret a Manger Cafe / Coffee bar

We often have a light lunch when we are in London at the Pret a Manger branch in Fleet Street / The Strand opposite the Royal Courts of Justice. You get proper cups if you are dining in (as opposed to take away), the coffee is OK, the tea is just a tea bag in a mug, but its OK too. Their baguettes are very fresh and tasty - but 660 calories for a posh pickle one. Do look at the very old tea shop next door - Twinings have been trading there for over 300 years !

We have also used the Pret a Manger branch on Union Street in Aberdeen - eg in 2017 when The Music Hall was still closed for renovations. I had a mug of tea and a really smashing raisin, spelt and oats cookie. Prices are very fair.

In Cambridge we have rather gone off Livingstones Coffee Shop , and quite often use the Pret a Manger branch near the Market Square. Like all branches Pret a Manger branches, it can get very busy at times.