Castle Cottage Cafe, Oakham was a quirky venue for an excellent Afternoon Tea: September 2019

Castle Cottage has lots of outside seating and a very pretty garden but we chose to sit inside for our meal

Yesterday I had an interesting visit with a friend to Oakham, the County Town of Rutland. I used to live in the area over 40 years ago and my son was born in Oakham Hospital so the place held significant memories for me. It’s an attractive market town steeped in medieval history with lots of independent shops and we were spoiled for choice in the number of cafes and eateries. We had read excellent reviews of Castle Cottage Cafe so thought we would seek it out for lunch.  It’s easy to find although somewhat tucked away in Church Passage, which is just off the Market Place.

The Butter Cross in the Market Place at Oakham features the town pump and some unusual stocks.

Castle Cottage Cafe is located in Church Passage off the Market Place in Oakham.

The cafe interior is delightful with fairy lights, fresh flowers and lots of quirky vintage pieces.

Castle Cottage has lots of outside seating and a very attractive garden but we chose to sit inside for our meal.

The cafe interior is charming, quirky and shabby chic in style.

Although it was lunchtime we chose to order the traditional Afternoon Tea which was served on pretty mismatched china. We ordered a second pot of tea at no extra charge.

We were served very promptly with a splendid Afternoon Tea on the traditional three-tiered stand.

The bottom tier held a selection of freshly-made sandwiches with interesting tasty fillings.

My favourite was the smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich. The bread was soft and very fresh.

We shared a warm freshly-baked large fruit scone with fresh strawberries, strawberry jam, and clotted cream.

The selection of cakes on the middle tier were home-made and absolutely delicious.

We both considered the lemon cake with lemon curd filling and buttercream topping to be light and truly scrumptious.

The cafe interior is delightful with fairy lights, bunting, fresh flowers and lots of quirky vintage pieces. The concept really worked and the food was excellent too!

The entrance to the extensive garden of the cafe, which had a marquee, a summer-house and lots of nice sheltered seating areas.

The cost of our Afternoon Tea was of exceptional value for money at £12 per person and it was probably the best I have ever come across in terms of price, quality, and quantity.

Castle Cottage Cafe,

Church Passage, Off Market Place, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6DR

Tel: 01572 757952

Castle Cottage is a real find and well worth seeking out if you are looking for somewhere to eat in Oakham.

 

Mothers Day Afternoon Tea at Quy Mill

Once a historic watermill, Quy Mill Hotel and Spa is a secluded haven of peace and tranquillity only a few miles outside Cambridge city centre. My daughter and I celebrated Mothering Sunday a day early this year by taking Afternoon Tea at this lovely location.

The charming rear view of Quy Mill Hotel from the garden

We enjoyed the traditional Afternoon Tea which was served on a three-tiered stand

The sandwiches were freshly made with tasty fillings including smoked salmon, chicken, and curried egg, except the Mozzarella and watercress filling which we found rather bland

The scones were exceptionally good and served warm. We chose fruit and cheese from a selection, served with an excellent rhubarb jam and clotted cream

My daughter loved her warm cheese scone served with butter

The sweet tier consisted of crispy hazelnut and cocoa mousse lollipops, baked passion fruit cheesecake, layered sponge and opera chocolate slice, white cafe cappuccino souffle, praline macaroon, and coconut shortbread biscuit.

The traditional Afternoon Tea was reasonably priced at £18.95 per person and was good value.  For the man in your life, it’s worth noting that a Gentlemen’s Afternoon Tea with a delightful savoury selection is also available at £22 per person.

Minor niggles were that the crockery wasn’t bone china which I always look for when sampling an Afternoon Tea anywhere. The sandwich fillings were an odd twist on the usual selection and the Mozzarella and watercress one was too bland for us. These small criticisms were outweighed by the pleasant and relaxed surroundings, the prompt and friendly service, and the fact that it was altogether an enjoyable experience. Finally, the scones were exceptionally good and the rhubarb jam and baked passion fruit cheesecake were different and delightful additions to the sweet feast.

This is a popular destination so book in advance. Highly recommended.

Quy Mill Hotel and Spa

Church Road
Stow-Cum-Quy 
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire
CB25 9AF
England

 (01223) 293383

http://www.cambridgequymill.co.uk

 

Afternoon Tea at The Ivy Brasserie, Cambridge

Last month I enjoyed a delicious Afternoon Tea at The Ivy Brasserie in Cambridge to celebrate a friends birthday. 

We chose the traditional Afternoon Tea which included a selection of savoury delights, warm fruited scones and unusual sweet treats served with pots of tea or coffee.

Served on a three-tiered silver stand we tucked into a tasty and unusual selection of savouries which included truffled chicken brioche rolls, marinated cucumber and dill finger sandwiches, and smoked salmon on dark rye bread with cream cheese and chives. On a separate cake stand we were served warm fruited scones with Dorset clotted cream and strawberry preserve.  The sweet treats of Raspberry cheesecake, Chocolate and salted caramel mousse and Crème Brulee doughnuts completed a splendid Afternoon Tea. The mousse was amusingly served in a miniature ceramic plant pot and decorated with fresh flowers which was a surreal touch.

This is my third visit to The Ivy which is a vibrant and sophisticated addition to the Cambridge dining scene but each time my experience has been rather let down by some minor niggles about the service. On this occasion we had to ask twice for some milk for my friends tea and it was a very long wait and when I asked for a second pot of tea it didn’t arrive until I had asked for the bill! I must add that having spoken to friends about this they were very complimentary about the service at The Ivy so it must be that my experience is not the norm. As it was a birthday celebration my friend was delighted to receive a mini cheesecake with a candle as a surprise from a member of staff. A nice touch and highly recommended for at £18.95 per person this is probably the best value Afternoon Tea in Cambridge. Served daily from 3-5pm. 

The Ivy Cambridge Brasserie

16 Trinity Street

Cambridge

CB2 1TB

Tel : 01223 344044

http://www.theivycambridgebrasserie.com

 

Afternoon Tea at PARKER’s Tavern, University Arms Hotel, Cambridge: September 2018

 

PARKER’s Tavern restaurant is located on the ground floor of the University Arms Hotel on Regent Street in Cambridge

After more than two years of renovation work costing £80 million, Cambridge’s most historic and iconic hotel re-opened last month and I couldn’t wait to visit to sample the food in PARKER’s Tavern restaurant. I had enjoyed a splendid lunch there within days of the hotel opening and returned this week to experience Afternoon Tea with a friend.

The PARKER’s Tavern creative and stylish Afternoon Tea was served in the hotel library on a traditional three-tier stand

We started with the savouries which included a selection of sandwiches, warm sausage rolls and Crayfish pastry boats

The Plum Pudding scones were served warm and accompanied by caramelised apple butter, plum jam and clotted cream

The bespoke china is full of interesting images which reflect Cambridge history

The top tier held an unusual selection of sweet treats – Parkers Football truffles, Sir Isaac Newton’s Apple, Rice Pudding Macaroon, and Iced saffron and rose cake

We were too full to eat all the scones and cakes so we took a ‘doggy bag’ home

I also took my slice of Duke of Cambridge tart home to enjoy later

This Afternoon Tea is innovative and offers a whimsical take on the traditional and clearly a lot of thought has gone into the invention of it. Every sweet and savoury treat created by chef Tristan Welch was inspired by the city’s literary legacy which is explained in the interesting Afternoon Tea menu booklet.

On this occasion one or two things could have been better as the sandwiches were dry and appeared not to have been freshly made, also we weren’t very impressed with the fillings of Coronation Chicken, Spiced Beef and Smoked Trout. However the sausage roll and crayfish pastry boat were very enjoyable. The still-warm scones were light and fruity and we both loved the plum jam. The sweet treats were all delightful, being unusual and creative and there was plenty to enjoy. A choice of teas are available to accompany the food and fresh pots were offered throughout the meal which is always welcome. Service was polished and professional. I think this Afternoon Tea is over-priced as it’s more expensive than any other I have come across in Cambridge but if you are looking for somewhere impressive and indulgent to take a visitor or for a special occasion then PARKER’s Tavern would fit the bill.

Finally the hotel lavatories are well worth a visit as one can hear the dulcet tones of Alan Bennett reading from the ‘Wind in the Willows’ whilst using the facilities!

The PARKER’s Tavern Afternoon Tea is available by reservation only at least 24 hours in advance and costs £33 per person plus 12.5% service charge.

PARKER’s Tavern

University Arms
Regent Street
Cambridge
CB2 1AD

Tel: 01223 606066

For Reservations, email: reservations@universityarms.com

https://parkerstavern.com

Lavenham Blue Vintage Tea Rooms, Suffolk: July 2018

Lavenham is a very pretty historic village in Suffolk, England, noted for its 15th century church, half-timbered medieval cottages and a circular walk. It’s a popular day trip destination with tourists and yesterday I visited with a friend for the first time and I was astonished at the sheer number of teashops! We had already booked a table at the Lavenham Blue Vintage Tea Rooms because it had been highly recommended and we weren’t disappointed. Housed in a beautiful 15th century building we enjoyed a Traditional Afternoon Tea which included a selection of finger sandwiches, scones, strawberry jam and fresh strawberries, clotted cream, mini trifles, and cakes with a pot of tea or coffee and free refills.  Freshly made food, prompt and friendly service, and great value at £16.50 pp (minimum two people) in delightful surroundings with a choice of eating inside or in the attractive cottage garden at the rear. Highly recommended.

Lavenham Blue Vintage Tea Rooms are located on a corner of the Market Place in the centre of the village

I was very impressed with the attention to detail. A lot of thought and effort had gone into creating an authentic retro look in the teashop

 

Our Afternoon Tea was served on a traditional three-tiered china cake stand. I admired the matching floral tea cosy and place mats

On the bottom tier we tucked into a selection of finger sandwiches which had tasty fillings of smoked salmon, ham, cream cheese and cucumber and egg and cress

On the second tier we enjoyed freshly baked scones which were light as a feather with clotted cream, strawberry jam and fresh strawberries

On the third tier we were treated to a mini trifle dessert, and chocolate fudge cake and slices of Victoria sponge

 

Lavenham Blue Vintage Tea Rooms 

Market Place
Lavenham
CO10 9QZ

Tel: 01787 248295

email : amanda@lavenhambluetearooms.com

http://www.lavenhambluetearooms.com

The delights of Nancy’s Vintage Teashop, Newmarket, Suffolk: June 2017

Last week my daughter and I enjoyed a delightful Afternoon Tea at Nancy’s Vintage Teashop in Newmarket. It had been recommended to me by two people recently so I was keen to try this local independent teashop for myself and I’m pleased to say it didn’t disappoint.

Nancy’s Vintage Teashop is located on Old Station Road in Newmarket, at the Clock Tower end of the High Street.

Nancy’s classic Afternoon Tea was served on a vintage three-tiered cake stand full of tasty treats. I was very surprised by this as it’s unusual to be given a stand each and very generous too!

This classic Afternoon Tea featured a selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with jam and cream, a mini dessert and petit fours. At £15 per person, it was excellent value for money.

All Nancy’s food is home-baked on the premises and she pointed out that even the Battenburg cake was made in the colours of their own pink and brown livery – a cute touch!

The delicious strawberry and cream mini-desserts and the scones were fresh, light and tasty and I was so busy eating them I forgot to take photos before I tucked in!

At Nancy’s a choice of 20 unique blends of tea or coffee are available to accompany the food

We were too full to eat all the cakes so we both brought them home in a bespoke goodie box!

Nancy’s Teashop in Newmarket has been serving specially blended teas, with Afternoon Tea being a speciality for four years now, and it’s deservedly created a brand with a good reputation. At Nancy’s it’s obvious that traditional standards of service and quality are paramount, and all the food is homemade on the premises and locally sourced. If you are visiting Newmarket, I can highly recommend Nancy’s to enjoy tasty treats in this elegant and comfortable vintage-themed teashop, which is styled with an eclectic mix of mismatching antique teapots and china, patchwork sofas, pastel pink dining chairs, and hand-sewn collages and bunting. Altogether bright, attractive and highly effective, and I would say that Nancy’s is the best value quality Afternoon Tea I have come across yet!

Due to popular demand, the owner and founder of the teashop Nancy Clack has recently opened an Afternoon Tea Lounge above the teashop. Seating 24 people and plushly furnished it reflects the same quirky vintage hand-crafted feel as the cafe below. Bookings for the Afternoon Tea Lounge from parties of four upwards are available from 27th June. I suggest that this venue would be perfect to enjoy Nancy’s Classic Afternoon Teas for special occasions like birthday parties, anniversaries, baby and bridal showers.

Nancy’s Vintage Teashop

18 Old Station Road

Newmarket

Suffolk

CB8 8DN

Tel : 01638 667064

http://www.nancysteashop.co.uk

enquiries@nancysteashop.co.uk

Afternoon Tea at Cambridge’s cool new hotel The Tamburlaine

The Tamburlaine hotel is located on Station Road in Cambridge, very close to the railway station

We enjoyed our traditional Afternoon Tea in the plush and luxurious Garden Room

Afternoon Tea was served on pretty bespoke china with linen napkins

Unusually The Tamburlaine Afternoon Tea was served on a floor-standing three tiered stand

The finger sandwiches were freshly made with delicious fillings of egg, smoked salmon, ham and cheese and cucumber

The large freshly baked raisin and plain scones were served warm, and there were two of each

The top tier held a selection of gorgeous miniature cakes and sweet and tangy Mango Panna Cotta mini desserts

The scones were light and fluffy and served with strawberry jam and fresh cream

This brand new four-star hotel is the first UK property from the Irish O’Callaghan group, who own four stylish hotels in Dublin. The Tamburlaine is ideally located on Station Road close to the rail station at the heart of the extensive regeneration of this business and residential area, which has now changed out of all recognition. The 155-room hotel had only been open for three weeks when I visited yesterday, and work is still ongoing inside and out. The staff are very friendly and enthusiastic and they gave us a guided tour after our tea. I noticed that the restaurant has an impressive fine dining menu which I intend to sample sometime.

By the way, the hotel’s name Tamburlaine references a 16th-century play by Christopher Marlowe, who attended Corpus Christi College in the city.

My friend and I were celebrating her birthday and taking Afternoon Tea amid the genteel grandeur of the Colonial-style Garden Room made an excellent start to her celebrations. With ornate Victorian wallpaper and gorgeous silk velvet sofas, this is an exceptionally light and splendid room with a unique style.

The Tamburlaine traditional Afternoon Tea cost £21.50 per person and is priced on the high side for Cambridge, so not the best value for money but the surroundings more than compensate with a strong sense of occasion. One minor quibble though – I was surprised that a selection of loose-leaf tea blends wasn’t available, although we could have unlimited tea or coffee to accompany the food. Highly recommended.

Tamburlaine
27-29 Station Road
Cambridge
CB1 2FB
Tel: 01223 792888

email: z.pearse@ocallaghanhotels.com

http://www.thetamburlaine.co.uk

A Cambridge institution, Afternoon tea at Fitzbillies January 2016

Fitzbillies old-school bakery and cafe in Trumpington Street

This week a friend and I enjoyed a classic Afternoon Tea at a Cambridge institution to start this New Year off in fine style. Fitzbillies is an old-school bakery and cafe which is famous for it’s sticky Chelsea Buns, made and sold on the premises since 1921.

Fitzbillies famously sticky Chelsea Buns

Inside the decor has a retro feel and …..

a lovely warm ambiance

I loved the stylish lights……

which gave a mellow glow

The service was prompt and friendly, and although it was busy there was no wait for a table

Conveniently served from 12 noon, we had the Afternoon Tea in place of lunch

We enjoyed a traditional Afternoon Tea, which was beautifully presented on the classic three-tiered stand with a pot of tea from a selection available

I loved the top tier of delicious mini-cakes

The sweet treats were very moreish!

Fitzbillies has a classic and distinctive Art Nouveau frontage and ….

serves traditional pastries with artisan coffee and East Anglian fare

The Fitzbillies Afternoon Tea consisted of a tier of white and brown freshly-made finger sandwiches with fillings of egg mayonnaise, smoked salmon and cream cheese, ham and whole-grain mustard, and cheese and chutney. This was followed by a fruit scone with home-made jam and clotted cream, and a selection of mini-cakes. It was served with a pot of tea from a variety available, and we were offered a second brew free of charge. My only slight criticism was that the scone was served cold, and a bit dry for my taste. At £18 per person it’s great value, especially if like us you have the Afternoon Tea as a meal substitute.

Granny Apples says  – Fitzbillies is possibly the best cafe in Cambridge for a quality Afternoon Tea in lovely surroundings, with prompt and friendly service. Highly recommended.

Fitzbillies

51-52 Trumpington Street

Cambridge

CB2 1RG

Tel: 01223 352500

http://www.fitzbillies.com

 

 

 

A Healthy Afternoon Tea at Champneys Tring, Herts: August 2015

Last month my daughter and I stayed at Champneys Premier health spa resort at Tring for a birthday treat for me. We were very fortunate to enjoy two days of pampering, and rest and relaxation whilst basking in glorious hot sunshine. Having skipped lunch on the day we arrived we decided to sample the Champneys Healthy Afternoon Tea, which was an interesting and different take on the usual fare.

The view of the rear of the spa resort showing the Mansion House and the Terrace café

Our Healthy Afternoon Tea was served al fresco on the café terrace on a classic three tiered stand, in brilliant sunshine

A sweet and savoury tier

And a second tier of cakes

Another view of our healthy afternoon tea!

The Champneys Healthy Afternoon Tea menu included sandwiches made with Granary bread, filled with Coronation Chicken and Free Range Egg and Watercress, with an Oat biscuit topped with Smoked Scottish Salmon and Cottage Cheese for the savoury tier.  A homemade Wholemeal and Cranberry Scone with Strawberry Jam and Fromage Frais, and a selection of mini tartletts of lemon curd and raspberry, chocolate and orange mouse, vanilla cream and blueberry, with a square of carob and beetroot cake, and a square of carrot cake. Also included were a pot of tea or coffee or a choice of herbal infusions. Very good value at £25.00 for two people.

Freshly made and simply delicious!

A selection of beautiful  flowering plants adorned the terrace and patio of the cafe

The view from our patio as we lay on the sun loungers soaking up the heat of the day 

‘Granny Apples’ reclining on a bed of green velvet cushions in her favourite spot, a pagoda in the grounds of the spa

We stayed in a ground floor garden room with patio in the new low rise block behind the glass pool to the far right of this pic

The impressive rear view of the Mansion House, and adjoining Terrace Cafe, which are set in spectacular gardens

A perfect summer’s day and Champneys Tring provided the perfect setting to enjoy our al fresco healthy afternoon tea

More information on Champneys Tring, the original health spa at http://www.champneys.com

Tel: 0843 3162222 for Reservations

Other Champneys resorts are available at Henlow, Forest Mere and Springs for day spas and spa breaks.

Top tip – it’s well worth signing up to Champneys mailing list for offers, as we do. The ‘Bring a friend for free’ deal makes a spa stay an affordable treat when it becomes half price and you can split the cost.