Southern Comforts

15th July 2009

In the third part of our focus on the best tea rooms around the country, Alex Fullerton heads South and investigates the tea-time treats on offer in Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent...

From Kent's coastline in the far East through through to Hampshire in the West. The Southern counties of Britain span seaside views, woodland vistas, gently rolling farmland and genteel market towns. You're never far from a fabulous cup of tea and the South offers the perfect place to take a tour of tea-rooms...

Claris's

Combining a charming craft and gift shop with a tea room is a genius idea, and one that Brian and Janet Wingham have elevated into an afternoon tea art form. Having stopped off for tea at Claris's in 1985 the Wingham's promptly bought the tea shop and, with some conversions, have run the venue for twenty-four years! As a founding member of The Tea Guild, Claris's is a consistent winner of the Guild's Award of Excellence.

As well as being one of the longest-running Tea Guild members, Claris's is one of the oldest buildings too! Built around 1450 by Flemish weavers, the first floor was used as their workshop (which is why the windows are so large - to let is plenty of light) and the whole row of quaint cottages was originally been one continuous building (although they're now subdivided into individual cottages and shops). Andrew Wingham, Janet and Brian's son, revealed that the building has one of the longest cat slide roofs in the UK which stretches from one end of the high street to the other. As to the tea room's name however, Andrew admitted, "we (are) unable to throw any light on that - we have never known why is was called Claris’s!"

We say, what's in a name, when the menu includes indulgences such as meringues filled with fresh, local cream, walnut bread with apricot preserve, caramel shortbread, coffee and walnut cake and almond slices... and teas including Nepalese Gurkha tea, Keemum and Lady Grey blends...

Claris's, 1-3 High Street, Biddenden, Kent TN27 8AL. 01580 291025

Tiffin

Tiffin tea rooms have been in business for nearly thirty years, but current owners Sharon and Chris Pendlebury (who've owned the tea shop since 2005) are the ones who put Tiffin on the map as a must-visit destination for afternoon tea fans. But how did they come to own a Tea Guild tea shop? "I used to supply Tiffin with homemade cakes," Sharon revealed to Tea.co.uk. "I made cakes for family and friends but found myself making more and more cakes for different tea rooms. It was getting too much to run from home and we were looking for premises when Tiffin's previous owner decided to retire". Since buying the shop in 2005 it's now Chris who does most of the cooking while Sharon runs the shop. As well as indulging in afternoon tea, visitors to Arlesford should wander round the Georgian town's charming streets and independent boutiques or take a trip on the nearby steam train, The Watercress Line.

Tiffin are currently running a Lavender event where visitors can delight in lavender-scented treats. Lavender and lemon scones with lavender jelly, lavender shortbread and lavender cake are all homemade from locally gown lavender. Luscious !

Tiffin Tearooms, 50 West Street, Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9AU. 01962 734 394

Gilbert White's Tea Parlour

Tassophiles in search of an afternoon tea venue with a side order of history should head to Gilbert White's Tea Parlour. Set in a beautiful manor house that was once home to The Reverend Gilbert White - renowned as the "founding father of modern natural history recording" - the Award of Excellence-winning tea parlour is an elegant space and, like most rooms at Gilbert White's, has been carefully restored to it's Georgian glory using White's original descriptions of the rooms. Tea and homemade cakes are served, with some recipes based on 18th century dishes that White himself would have enjoyed! The house is also home to The Oates Museum, a space full of fascinating artifacts from the adventures of the explorer Captain Lawrence Oates.

July 18th is Gilbert White Day when visitors to the house can celebrate the naturalist's 289th birthday with craft activities and garden tours, alongside characters in period costume.

Gilbert White's House & The Oates Museum, The Wakes, Selborne, Hampshire, GU34 3JH. 01420 511275

Lainston House

As well as a wealth of quaint, cottage-style tea rooms, Southern England boasts several grand country hotels. For a special occasion, nothing beats spending the afternoon in the lap of Lainston House's luxurious environment. Tea time visitors will be in good company: Madonna, Sting, Michael Caine, Bond actor Roger Moore, Mariah Carey and former US president George Bush have all visited the hotel. History buffs should note that the house dates from the late 17th century - although there is evidence that a dwelling has been on the site since medieval times. The hotel has been here since 1981.

Take a stroll round the grounds after your tea and you could come across the extensive kitchen garden which includes includes pear, apricot, nectarine, pear, damson, quince, fig, mulberry, greengage and plum trees - the fruits of which end up in some spectacular tea-time treats.

Lainston House Hotel, Sparsholt, Winchester, Hampshire SO12 2LT. 01962 863 588

Hasketts

Fans of the golden age of glamour - the 1920s and 30s - will adore Hasketts. The Surrey tea shop is decorated in period style with vintage posters of the era adorning the walls, but Hasketts' history goes back far further than the start of last century. The building dates from the 1600s and has been granted Grade II listed status to protect it's significant architectural importance... which includes a cave and 220ft deep well which were unearthed in the basement of the property! Now safely sealed off, visitors can wonder at what lies beneath their feet. A consistent Award of Excellence-winner, Hasketts offers an extensive menu with 25 different types of tea to tempt visitors.

86b South Street, Dorking, Surrey RH4 2EW. 01306 885833

Bingham

What was once a pair of Georgian town houses - and home to Lady Ann Bingham in 1821 - has been transformed into the chic and contemporary Bingham hotel. Although immaculately updated with a modern luxe feel, Bingham is at pains to ensure their "unfaltering service (is) reminiscent of a bygone time". As well as previous aristocratic owners, Bingham also hosted Katherine Harris Bradley and Edith Emma Cooper, two poets writing under the name Michael Field in 1899. With such illustrious guests gracing Bingham in the past, it's only fair to assume the hotel's afternoon tea will be equally note-worthy. Under the supervision of executive chef Shay Cooper, it is, with delicate pastries and a tasty selection of treats on offer.

Tea-drinking twitchers may be intrigued to find out that Bingham's guests frequently spot tropical birds in the hotel's gardens - which flank the banks of the River Thames.

61-63 Petersham Rd, Richmond-Upon-Thames, Surrey, TW10 6UT. 020 8940 0902

Ashdown Park

Like many stately homes, Ashdown Park has gone through many changes of use. From family home to hospital the imposing mansion also functioned as a convalescent home for injured World War I soldiers, a university and nun's novitiate. If a building can have a vocation, that of luxury hotel suits Ashdown Park best! Afternoon tea is either taken inside, in three smartly decorated drawing rooms, or - when the weather allows - on the terrace. The Award of Excellence-winning tea uses locally sourced ingredients as much as possible. Scones, cakes, pastries, tea-breads and finger sandwiches are all on the menu.

Ashdown Park, Wych Cross, Nr Forest Row, East Sussex RH18 5JR. 01342 824 988

Buxted Park

Prime Ministers (Winston Churchill), Hollywood royalty (Marlon Brando), iconic wordsmiths (William Wordsworth) and empire leaders (Queen Victoria) have all set foot in the environs of Buxted Park, which dates back over 900 years (although the present house was built in 1722). Despite a fire in 1940, Buxted House was immaculately restored, using architectural gems salvaged from other stately homes bombed in The Blitz, and today guests can take tea in an ornate and elegant drawing room or the glamourous Crystal Bar.

The 18th century building was built by Thomas Medley, who made his fortune importing port wine, so it's apt that another drink - tea - is ensuring the house stays in the spotlight in the 21st century with a delicious afternoon tea menu. Cucumber and smoked salmon finger sandwiches, warm scones, homemade cakes and freshly brewed loose leaf teas are all on the menu along with a selection of teas.

Buxted Park Hotel, Buxted, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 4AY. 0845 072 7412

Food for Thought

The pretty Kentish village of Westerham is famed for it's connections to Winston Churchill - with a statue of the wartime premier dominating the verdant village green. But now Westerham has a new attraction in one of the Tea Guild's newest members, Food for Thought. Mixing brasserie style food and traditional afternoon teas it's a one-stop tea shop for all your eating needs!

Food for Thought, 19 - 20 The Green, Westerham Kent, TN16 1AX. 01959 569 888

The Ascot Bar at Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa

Another new member of The Tea Guild, The Ascot Bar is an incredibly elegant venue in which to take afternoon tea. Guests can choose from a range of set teas, including the Traditional Ascot Afternoon Tea, which includes fresh finger sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserve, a selection of pastries and cakes along with a pot of tea from their extensive and detailed tea menu. During the sunny Summer months afternoon tea is an extra special treat when taken on the hotels' terrace.

Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa, London Road, Bagshot, Surrey, GU19 5EU. 01276 471774