Peggotty's Tea Shoppe, Tenterden

A surprisingly sunny May bank holiday, saw our little party - myself, husband and gluten-free friend - driving off through the pretty Wealden villages and the may covered lanes to Tenterden.  I'm never quite sure if Tenterden qualifies as a large village or a small town, but it is certainly a favourite destination for ladies in search of a new outfit, boasting as it does a host of middle-market dress shops, plus a Waterstone's to complete the pleasurable shopping experience (all the better of course, if one's husband is in tow with the credit card!).

We walked down the length of the High Street, and after the modest purchase of a book, arrived at Peggotty's Tea Shoppe.  This is a delightful bow windowed property in the traditional white clapboard style.  It was quite busy with the subdued murmer of a genteel tea shoppe, but we found a table and surveyed the scene.  The shop is furnished with a number of nice matching round tables and comfy chairs, set with pretty china and fresh flowers.  The decor is quirky with displays of ladies' hats and bold artwork all providing a feast of colour for the eyes.  

The menu offers a cream tea or an afternoon tea (sandwiches, scones and cake) and there are various cakes on display including the usual offerings of chocolate, Victoria sponge, lemon, coffee & walnut, but also carrot, Earl Grey tea bread, and Greek orange cake.  We noticed before having to ask, that the latter was labelled as 'gluten-free' - hoorah!

All the teas were loose-leaf, and the 'house' tea on offer was a local blend of 'Pluckley Tea' from the Kent & Sussex Tea Company.  Some discussion ensued as to the increasing significance of climate change and whether there were tea plantations in Pluckley that had hitherto gone unnoticed by any in our party, however we concluded that the tea was probably grown in hotter climes and packaged locally.  (Further research on returning home revealed that this was indeed the case!)  Speciality teas included Assam, Darjeeling, Earl Grey and various fruit teas.  We had one pot of the Pluckley Tea and a pot for two of Assam.

Turning our attention to the comestibles, our gluten-free friend was delighted with her Greek orange cake which she declared was 'as light as a feather' with a scrumptious creamy yohurty topping.  I chose the carrot cake, which was darker and richer with more fruit and nut than is usual, and also had the creamy yoghurty topping - a substantial and rewarding cake.  My husband chose the cream tea and was very pleased with the scones, cream and jam.

Greek Orange Cake

Carrot Cake

The attention and service was very good - an enquiry was made whether we would like some hot water for our tea, and although there was an ebb and flow of customers, the shop was generally busy throughout our visit.  Tables outside the shop were filled and I noticed that there was some additional seating in the pretty, shaded back garden.

The toilet facilities are accessed in an outbuilding at the back of the shop.  These are clean and functional with a most strikingly coloured lime green loo seat!

Our return stroll through the High Street took us via several charming antique shops, and then finally to one of your writer's favourite dress shops.  With the happy glow of a cream tea in his tummy, husband was quick to whip out his credit card and so concluded a most satisfactory teatime adventure!