This England’s Finest Tea Rooms
Winter
is upon us, bringing its grey skies and chilly temperatures, so it’s the perfect time to warm up with a welcome cup of tea and tuck in to some delicious home-made cakes.
The sight of a teapot, with steam spiralling cheerfully upwards and golden liquid brewing gently inside, is one to gladden the heart. In testing times or moments of relaxation, the five words:“let’s put the kettle on” are always well-received. This simple suggestion is something that’s guaranteed to fortify tired souls and refresh jaded spirits amid the hurly-burly of life.
As it’s nearly Christmas we’ve decided to bring you a bumper brew of festive winners of the This England’s Finest Tea Rooms award. Read on and enjoy!
Our first nomination came in the form of a very impressive presentation booklet, compiled by Derek Andrews and his mother, Marjorie Broad, from Northampton. They wanted to recommend the Manvell Farm Tea Room, Kettering Road, Walgrave, Northamptonshire. Derek and Marjorie have been regular visitors since discovering the tea room a year ago. He tells us: “Natalie and Daniel, the owners, have two passions in life, food and people, so you are welcomed as very special guests. You then have a real task to decide which of the many delicious home-made cakes or sandwiches to choose. Our favourite is the blueberry and white chocolate sponge.”
Other members of Derek and Marjorie’s family can heartily recommend the hot meals served there too.
The tea room, which is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, is in an idyllic, peaceful location situated down a country lane, beside a peaceful lake, which is popular with anglers. As well as a mouth-watering menu, visitors can also enjoy the lovely views across the surrounding countryside.
Derek says: “It really is a very special place that deserves to be featured in your pages and given an award to display.” Judging by Derek’s glowing recommendation, we couldn’t agree more, so one of our special certificates will be on its way to Manvell Farm Tea Room.
This time of year is associated with pantomimes (Oh yes it is!), so what could be more appropriate than an award for Cinderella’s Tea Shop, High Street, Shanklin, Isle of Wight. Gill Paddick, who lives in Bonchurch, emailed details of this star performer.
She writes: “Although it is quite small catering for 14 people, the tea is served in bone china teapots with cups and saucers. They make all their own delicious cakes including coffee cake and ginger scones served with home-made rhubarb and ginger jam.
“The tea rooms are owned by two lovely, friendly ladies who will make you welcome; they also run a dress-hire business and have craft items for sale as well.”
Whether a tea room is large or small, we welcome them all, and we hope that our award will add a touch of glass-slipper magic to the walls of Cinderella’s.
Jackie Phair of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, was fulsome in her praise for The Fourteas 1940s Tea Room, Sheep Street, Stratfordupon-avon, Warwickshire.
“On entering this tea room the surprise was amazing,” she tells us. “You step back in time to the Second World War. The furniture and crockery were from that period — even the waitresses were dressed in the wartime style. Posters around the walls reminded us that ‘Careless talk costs lives’, and that we should ‘Dig for victory’. The windows were taped and sandbags placed at the entrance to minimise the ‘bomb damage’.”
The menu is printed inside a replica ration book and Jackie describes the choice as “mouth-watering, with lovely sandwiches, beautifully tempting cakes and a fine selection of teas and coffees.”
She is keen to return and recommends anyone visiting Stratford to “call in and be taken back in time.”
Well, Jackie, that’s a winning verdict and our award definitely isn’t on ration, so the next time you’re back in The Fourteas keep a look out for our certificate.
From the county of the Bard, we travel south to discover our next winner, Lamingtons, 25 High Street, Bletchingley, Surrey. It has been singled-out by Valerie Newton, who lives in Edenbridge, Kent. Valerie describes it as a “delightful, tiny cafe” and its business card promises “delicious cakes and sweet temptations”.
Valerie tells us that it is open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea and the menu features: “Dainty sandwiches, with every kind of filling, plus scones, cupcakes and slices of delicious cakes.”
In her opinion, “Lamingtons is not to be missed,” and she says: “I can’t wait to go again, even if only for a fabulous hot chocolate and piece of cake — my favourite being apple and ginger, but there’s so many to choose from!”
Finally, we head overseas to warmer climes with a nomination for Simply Coffee, PO Box 469, Pringle Bay 7196, Cape, South Africa. It has been nominated by Maureen Torond, of Sherborne, Dorset, and is a favourite with her and her husband as they spend the English winters in this “delightful, semi-rural location just over an hour from Cape Town”.
Maureen considers it is worthy of an award because as well as superb tea, coffee and cakes there are “the most delicious scones, jam and cream”. She also praises the hospitality on offer saying: “The owner, Morne, and his number two are the most welcoming and caring people along with their outstanding staff.”
Happy Christmas and many congratulations to all these winners. We hope you’ll display your certificates with pride. We’ll be back with more winning tea rooms — as recommended by you, our discerning readers — in the spring issue.
If you think that a tea room is deserving of an award then send your nominations to: This England’s Finest Tea Rooms, The Lypiatts, Lansdown Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 2JA, or email: editor@thisengland.co.uk .