Go West!

3rd June 2009

In the second focus on regional tea rooms, Alexandra Fullerton visits the West Country, including The Cotswolds, and finds award-winning afternoon teas aplenty!

The West Country, spanning Somerset , Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire is renowned for it's beautiful scenery, quaint villages and historical attractions. But we think the region should also be in the guide books for the excellent quality of afternoon teas available! Western England is home to both this year's winner of The Tea Guild's Top Tea Place Award and 2008's prize-winner! We recommend you arrange a day-out or holiday to the region ASAP. Just make sure you leave plenty of time for a relaxing afternoon tea at at least one of the excellent tea rooms we've found for you...

The Bridge Tea Rooms

The main reason for visiting the West Country should be to take tea at this year's winner of The Tea Guild's Top Tea Place Award! Taking tea at The Bridge is a brilliant experience which owner Roy Hayward describes as "like stepping back into the Victorian era with traditional afternoon tea served on cake stands by costumed waitresses". The tea room's interior is styled like a snug Victorian living room and there is "old fashioned friendly service" to match the antique furniture. The Tea Guild's expert judges, who visited The Bridge anonymously to unearth the UK's top tea rooms, praised this venues' "impressive dedication" to tea in their score sheets and visitors can choose from an outstanding selection of more than 30 loose leaf teas (the top selling blend being English Breakfast). But as well as a huge array of teas there are delicious homemade cakes, gateaux, scones and pastries on the menu too. If a trip to the country's #1 Tea shop isn't enough of a day out, Roy recommends visiting the town's Saxon Church or historic Tithe Barn too. As long as you remember to a table for tea at The Bridge for when you're done with sight-seeing... Since winning this year's title Roy revealed that business has been going very well, "at times we don't have enough tables!"
24a Bridge Street, Bradford-On-Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 1BY. 01255 865537
www.thebridgeatbradford.co.uk

Juri's

This Gloucestershire tea room won The Tea Guild's coveted Top Tea Place Award in 2008. This year Juri's is continuing it's tradition of excellence... Run by the Miyawaki family (Iwao, Junko and daughter Juri) from Japan , the tea room offers the "total package" for visitors looking for the ultimate afternoon tea experience. There are 18 teas on the menu with three Japanese varieties available (including the finely powdered Matcha blend) and all the food is "handmade on the premises" by Juri, who uses organic and free range ingredients wherever possible. Visitors with a sweet tooth simply must order the wonderful (and "best selling") strawberry shortcake. The owners confided that this sweet treat is a mix of "French and Japanese influences" and is made from three layers of cream, shortbread and strawberries. Heaven! Since scooping last year's award the tearoom has seen a "tremendous increase" in visitors and Juri's has become a Cotswold destination in it's own right! Guests from America , Asia and Australia have all visited the small village of Winchcombe specifically to take tea at Juri's! If you're looking for some other entertainment in the area, the Miyawaki family recommend visiting nearby Sudeley Castle and Winchcombe Pottery - the oldest pottery in the Cotswolds.
High Street, Winchcombe, Near Cheltenham, Gloucestershite, GL54 5LJ. 01242 602469
www.juris-tearoom.co.uk

Searcys at The Pump Room

From it's Roman incarnation as Aquae Sulis (when it was famed for the healing properties of it's waters) through it's position as a hub of high society during the Regency era, visitors have flocked to the beautiful city of Bath for centuries. Fans of Jane Austen will know that Bath featured heavily in her novels and will love taking tea in Searcys' elegant tearoom, situated in the city's famous Pump Rooms. Delicious teas, scrumptious scones and mouth-watering cakes await today's guests at the Award of Excellence-winning venue and guests will also be treated to a recital of soothing, live classical music. Bliss.
Stall Street, Bath, Somerset , BA1 1LZ. 01225 444477
www.searcys.co.uk

Any Jane Austen fans' trip to Bath should also include a visit to the Jane Austen Centre, followed by a delicious afternoon tea in the elegant Regency Tea Rooms upstairs.
40 Gay Street, Bat, BA1 2NT. 01225 442187
www.janeausten.co.uk/tearooms

Marshmallow

This "quintessentially English" and Award of Excellence winning tea room is based in the small bustling town of Moreton-In-Marsh , where visitors can shop for antiques or peruse the wares in the market (something owner Sally Ann Webb suggests guests do). With an extensive menu offering 25 teas the House Blend - a mix of Assam , Kenya and Ceylon tea - is the best choice for those in search of a classic cup of tea. We recommend that hungry visitors order the "signature" High Tea, which includes a selection of sandwiches, homemade scones, a choice of cakes - and a pot of tea, of course! - to sate their appetite. And now that the weather is warmer, visitors can enjoy taking their tea in Marshmallow's pretty courtyard garden.
High Street, Moreton-In-Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 0AT. 01608 651536

Manor House Hotel

As well as a plethora of dedicated tea rooms, the West Country also offers slightly grander surroundings for tea-taking at the ancient Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe. Although the hotel building dates back to 1400s it's had a Twenty first century make-over to ensure guests can take tea (and stay the night) in the upmost comfort. This Michelin-starred hotel has, this year, been awarded a Tea Guild Award of Excellence and their superb Cream tea - including home made scones, clotted cream, strawberry jam and a pot of tea, comes highly recommended... But if that isn't enough of a draw, Castle Combe has been described as being 'the prettiest village in England ' with honey-coloured Cotswold stone buildings completing the traditional setting.
Castle Combe, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 7HE. 01249 782206
www.exclusivehotels.co.uk

Tisanes

The most northerly tea-room in this region's round-up, Tisanes is situated in the beautiful village of Broadway. Described by some as 'The Jewel of The Costwolds', Broadway is the perfect place to spend an afternoon absorbing this area's charm. Stroll up the unusually wide High Street or visit nearby Broadway Tower - it's one of the highest points on the Cotswold ridge and, set in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there are stunning views over the nearby countryside. Round off a day spent sight-seeing - or perhaps escape unpredictable weather - with a delicious afternoon tea in Tisane's Award of Excellence-winning tea room. With almost thirty teas available, including Rwanda Burundi, Cotswold Afternoon and China Caravan blends, Tisane's is a destination for the true tea fan - along with those just keen to take the weight off their feet! And as well as tasty teas you would do well to order a slice of Tisane's "superb" coffee and walnut cake too. The perfect end to a perfect day, we imagine!
Cotswold House, 21 The Green, Broadway, Worcestershire WR12 7AA. 01386 853296
www.tisanes-tearooms.co.uk