2014 Teatime Adventure Awards!

As 2014 draws to a close, I am very delighted to have concluded a whole year of teatime adventures! It has been a lovely thing to set time aside each month to take afternoon tea with friends or family, where for a wee while nothing else matters except gentle conversation, a refreshing cup of tea and a home-made cake in lovely surroundings.  Each tea room has offered something unique and I have enjoyed every experience.  People sometimes ask me which is the best tea room I have visited, and although I have no desire to rank them in any order as each individual establishment has its own charms and everyone looks for something slightly different in their teatime experiences; nevertheless I thought it might be appropriate to highlight outstanding examples in certain categories, so here goes:  (drum roll, fanfare and very, very, very long silences before announcing winners!!!)



BEST AMBIENCE..................Hempstead House Hotel, Bapchild.

The nature of the building allows them to offer an unparalleled
ambience in the soft drawing room furnishings and leisurely
personal service offered.  To be transported to an earlier age
of gentility - this has to top them all!





BEST CHARACTER...............Melinsey Mill, Veryan

This is amazing setting for a tea room - in the grounds of an old
water mill, and the owners have created a wild and wonderfully
quirky place with a distinct personality all its own.











BEST MENU VARIETY............Oad Street, Borden

This is an undisputed winner.  Every possible teatime combination
was itemised on the menu from full sandwiches to half sandwiches,
scone varieties and cakes, which also includes a big gluten-free choice.









BEST VALUE..............Peggoty's Tea Room, Rochester

A very nice tearoom offering a good choice of cakes, nice
atmosphere and a complete bargain!  Can't go wrong!





BEST FACILITIES...............Willow Tea Room, Burwash

A nice loo always makes a teatime experience that little bit
better, and here I was quite doutful when directed out of the
tearoom and around to a separate building.  However, my doubt
turned to delight at a clean, bright loo complete with flowers and
handcream.  Perfect!  (didn't take a photo of it, though!)





BEST CAKE...................Moat Tea Rooms, Canterbury

An all-round great tea room, but with a big variety of interesting
cakes, which all looked delicious.  Certainly my lemon one with lemon curd filling and tangy lemon icing was just a perfection of lemony yumminess!










HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE AND HERE'S TO A 2015 FULL OF NEW AND WONDERFUL TEATIME ADVENTURES!