The Moat Tea Rooms, Canterbury

The first tea-room visit of the new year was to the delightful Moat Tea Rooms in Canterbury.  I have visited this tea room before on a few occasions after going to Sunday Evensong at nearby Canterbury Cathedral, but these have always been in the summer months.  In contrast, yesterday was a perfect winter's day - probably the only perfect winter's day this dreadfully wet season - it was cold, clear and very sunny.  My companion and I arrived there at about 2pm.

The tea room is housed in a two storey building dating back to the fifteenth century.  There is a lovely bow window in which the day's cake selection is temptingly displayed.  We were greeted in friendly fashion and chose a table upstairs in the wood-panelled front room.  The walls are painted a rich heritage red and complemented by Rennie Mackintosh design curtains (particularly appreciated by your blogger!) and red & white spotted tablecloths. The atmosphere is warm and muted, and although I am pleased to say that the tea room was full, the noise level was quiet.

The menu features an astonishing number of teas with several varieties of black, white, green, herbal and fruit infusions as well as coffees.  My companion chose Pu Ehr - a Chinese black tea with a good, strong flavour but no dryness.  I opted for the house blend of Assam and Ceylon which was very refreshing.

The tea room offers a cream tea; a special cream tea which includes sandwiches, scones & cake; and a champagne cream tea (as above with the addition of champagne.)  There were also a number of very attractive homemade cakes:  lemon, chocolate, victoria sponge, coffee & walnut, madeleine and carrot.

I chose a slice of lemon cake which had a nice tangy lemon icing and a lemon curd filling.  The sponge was light and the slice was large but not overwhelming.  My companion chose a cream tea.  This comprised a fruit scone and a plain one - both served warm; together with strawberry jam and clotted cream.  He reported great satisfaction.  It was all served on pretty blue & white floral china.

I had imagined that the toilet facilities in such an old building might leave a little to be desired, but they have nice modern fittings and were absolutely pristine.

All in all, a delightful start to my teatime adventures!

www.moattearooms.co.uk