Quirky Places For Afternoon Tea in London, Kent & Sussex
We’ve rounded up a delightful selection of quirky places to enjoy the very English tradition of Afternoon Tea locally – with a few fun suggestions a little further afield.
Image Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash
The Franklin, London
Enjoy the magical Wicked Wizard Afternoon Tea
The Franklin London invites you to “follow the yellow brick road to the Wicked Wizard of The Franklin Afternoon Tea, where the beloved tale unfolds in an enchanting, fairy-tale experience...On the winding path to the Emerald City, draw courage from the tangy lemon meringue tart of The Lion, embrace your heart with The Tin Man tiramisu, and awaken wisdom with The Scarecrow’s velvety chocolate mousse ice cream”. And if you visit there this Easter, the hotel has partnered with wildlife conservation charity Elephant Family for a four-week botanical-inspired programme running from 23rd March to 19th April, where you will get to see the magnificent artwork “Eden, in an Eggshell” – a striking decorative egg sculpture crafted by the artist and florist Ruth Davis.
• Visit collezione.starhotels.com
The Landing Hotel, Biggin Hill
Enjoy and aviation-themed afternoon tea to the side of the airport runway
With great views towards London and over London Biggin Hill Airport itself, at this independent boutique hotel you can watch the world go by while sitting to the side of runway 03. The Landing Hotel has a stylish bar and restaurant aptly named The Approach, with a choice of relaxing dining areas. Their delicious aviation-themed Traditional Afternoon Tea is pre-bookable daily from 12noon to 4pm – and if you feel like spoiling yourself then try the Champagne Afternoon Tea! Their menu comprises of sandwiches such as roasted sirloin of beef, horseradish and fresh roquette, smoked salmon, lemon and cracked black pepper, fresh egg and cress mayonnaise and prawn Marie rose. Add to this freshly-baked fruit scones, and seasonal fancies and you will be in for a treat.
• Visit thelandinghotel.co.uk
The Old Piggery Farm Shop & Tea Room, Chichester
A unique tea room and farm shop considered a 'hidden gem'
This unique tearoom, famous for its crab sandwiches, also offers delightful afternoon teas, cream teas and tasty ciabattas – and in the summer they invite you to refresh yourself with their homemade lemonade, a thick milkshake or their signature ice cream sundae. Their afternoon tea (which you will need to book 24 hours in advance) includes scrummy cakes, large fruit scones with strawberry jam and a dollop of Cornish clotted cream, plus a selection of finger sandwiches and a pot of tea. Being dog friendly, you can bring your four-legged friends on a visit and enjoy one of the nearby wonderful walks to be taken before or after your refreshments. Then before you leave pop into the well-stocked farm shop where you can buy some freshly-sourced fruit and veg, goodies such as fruit wines and giant marshmallows, trays upon trays of eggs, plus a range of jams and marmalade.
• Visit www.the-old-piggery.co.uk
The Grand Brighton
Extend your Afternoon Tea experience with an overnight stay
The original 'Palace By The Sea’, The Grand Brighton hotel's Afternoon Tea by the Sea has been designed by Executive Head Chef, Neil, and is served every day in the Victoria Terrace & Lounge, from 12noon to 4pm. The afternoon tea includes three tiers of sweet and savoury delights, your choice of tea from a bespoke selection and a slice of Grand cakes served from their cake trolley. They also offer a vegan or gluten-free afternoon tea.
• Visit www.grandbrighton.co.uk
Blakes Bar & Beach Terrace, Beachcroft Hotel, Bognor Regis, Sussex
Feature dining pod offers a unique setting overlooking the sea
Try some al fresco dining, beach style at "West Sussex’s finest beachfront terrace". Experience the delights of the new Blakes Bar & Beach Terrace which serves a selection of freshly made sandwiches, light lunches and classic dishes as well as traditional English afternoon tea and a great selection of hot and cold beverages. Make the occasion extra special by relaxing in their feature private dining pod – a truly magical experience offering a unique and memorable dining space for garden gatherings of up to four guests.
• Visit https://beachcroft-hotel.co.uk/our-restaurants/blakesbarbeachterrace/
Bridget’s Bakery, London
Tour London on a bus while enjoying a classic Afternoon Tea
Experience afternoon tea with a difference on the exclusive and unique Brigit's Bakery Classic Afternoon Tea Bus London Tour where you will be driven through the streets of Central London on a vintage routemaster double decker bus, taking in some of the City’s best sights. High tea, accompanied with an array of tasty sandwiches and delicious cakes and pastries, is available on the sightseeing tour which lasts approximately 90 minutes.
• Visit https://b-bakery.com/london/bus-tours/afternoon-tea-bus-london
Frasers of Egerton, near Ashford, Kent
Relax on an eco country estate with an upcycled bar housed in a shipping container!
The award-winning restaurant at Frasers of Egerton is located in the heart of the beautiful Kent countryside with an abundance of fresh, seasonal produce to inspire the menu and tantalise the taste buds of its diners. The quintessential afternoon teas are all made on site using the finest home-grown ingredients and their luxury carrot cake even has a Great Taste Award.
• Visit https://frasersegerton.co.uk/eat/
Peggy Porschen, London
You’ve got to love the colour pink!
Offering afternoon tea in picture perfect café, often referred to as “the prettiest cafes in the world”, Peggy Porschen has several venues across London. Of the style of the cafes they say: “Built on Peggy’s love of a pink and pastel colour palette, modern romance, craftsmanship and exquisite tastes, the Parlour provides a fairy-tale setting, which changes through the year to please both sweet-toothed Londoners and tourists from all around the globe.”
• Visit https://www.peggyporschen.com/collections/lovestruck-afternoon-tea
The Honey Pot, Shoreham
A small hidden gem with a big heart
The Honey Pot is a quaint tearoom in Shoreham where you can enjoy the countryside and all the history of the local area, with its buildings that are hundreds of years old and beautiful views including The Cross – the emblem on the hill representing the war. Whether you are “on a walk, riding a bike or looking for a drive out for a bite to eat”, this tearoom offers a warm welcome for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, offering a wide menu – from sausage rolls and jacket potatoes to slices of cake, ice cream and milkshakes. They also cater for gluten free, vegan and vegetarian diets.
• Visit https://thehoneypotshoreham.co.uk
The Home Front Tea Room, Ramsgate
Experience the 1940s while enjoying a cuppa!
The Home Front Tea Room, in Ramsgate offers the chance to “experience the atmosphere and surroundings of a 1940s environment whilst enjoying good quality products, such as cakes, scones, sandwiches, cream teas, soup and various light lunches”. This lovely tea room was born from wanting to combine the camaraderie of the 40s with the great British tradition of partaking in a cup of tea and has culminated in a little gem of a tea room in an ideal location given Ramsgate’s connections with World War Two. Not only does the décor reflect the era, but there is also 40s music playing through a wireless and the menu reflects items that would have been available.
• Visit http://40stearoom.co.uk
The Lane, Deal
Afternoon tea with a twist
A “small funky restaurant located just off the main high street”, The Lane in Deal specialises in breakfasts, homemade burgers and Afternoon Teas with a twist, which are served on mini picnic tables! Founded in 2014, their ethos is to keep things simple, producing great food, cocktails and indulgent cakes. The Lane offers a relaxed environment, and is both family and dog friendly.
• Visit https://www.thelanedeal.co.uk
Joanna’s Boutique Tea Room, Pulborough
A slice of The Savoy in Sussex
Lovers of the nicer things in life are invited to this beautifully appointed tearoom within its own courtyard garden. Attracting customers from far and wide, it is recommended to book before you visit Joanna’s Boutique Tea Room, an elegantly decorated venue with chandeliers, polished cake trays, vintage tea sets and freshly cut flowers. While you are at the tearoom that has been described by one customer as ‘a slice of The Savoy in Sussex’, there is also chance to explore the village with its lovely antique shops and quirky stores.
• Visit https://www.joannasboutiquetearoom.com
Where Memories Meet, Wateringbury
It is also home to an antiques/vintage shop!
This quirky tea room in Kent offers a friendly and welcoming atmosphere and is also “an antiques/vintage shop where you can buy everything from the pictures on the wall to the chairs you sit on”. Downstairs is the Antiques & Vintage Centre where you can browse through the numerous items on display. Located in a Grade II listed building, it also has its own spring-fed well! So whether you are marking a special occasion or just having a treat, head there for a traditional afternoon tea.
• Visit http://www.wherememoriesmeet.com
Pooh Corner, Hartfield
Visit the free museum showcasing the life of A.A. Milne
The perfect place to enjoy an afternoon tea in Sussex and soak up a little bit of history is Pooh Corner in Hartfield. There are two unique areas to chose between in the tea room with the full out fun Piglets tea room, celebrating the colourful world of Pooh – perfect for the whole family – or for those wanting a retreat or more historic space for meetings or couples retreat is the E.H. Shepard tea room, full of vintage and much-loved artwork. Check out the free museum showcasing the life of A.A. Milne, E.H. Shepard, Christopher Robin – from artwork to toys and books. Then take a walk to Pooh Sticks Bridge – the original bridge was built in 1907 and local historians suggest it is the bridge on which Milne and Christoper Milne first played the game.
• Visit http://www.poohcorner.co.uk
The Bucket & Spade Coffee Shop, Dymchurch
Enjoy a wide selection of sweet treats
The Bucket & Spade Coffee Shop, in Dymchurch serves light lunches including freshly made sandwiches, toasties, paninis, baguettes and much more. With a five star rating on TripAdvisor, the family run coffee shop, offers Espresso coffee and freshly made tea too. There is also a wide selection of sweet treats from home made cake to muffins and more. Or why not try one of the speciality milkshakes?
• Visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Coffee-Shop/Bucket-Spade-Coffee-Shop
Deblyns Tea Shop & Garden, New Romney
It is believed it was originally a medieval hall house, with the main structure dating from circa 1700
New Romney’s 'best kept secret', Deblyns Tea Shop & Garden, is a Grade II listed teashop, with a tranquil walled courtyard garden at the rear, ideal for enjoying a great Afternoon Tea in Kent. Having worked there for five years, Katie Marsh’s dream came true when her family bought the shop in 2020 and they offer you a warm welcome, so why not head there and try one of their speciality Cream Teas or Vintage Afternoon Tea, which include daily home cooked scones and fresh clotted cream from Cornwall, as well as a selection of freshly homemade cakes? As well as the teashop there is an upstairs Lounge area, allowing customers to have some “quiet space” for relaxing and chatting.
• Visit https://www.deblyns.co.uk
Walpole Bay Hotel, Margate
Make a visit to its museum while you’re there!
Discover the heritage of Thanet at the same time as enjoying a Cream Tea on a visit to Walpole Bay Hotel in Margate. As they say: “From the moment you enter The Walpole Bay Hotel you step back in time to the ambience of a bygone era.” See their corridor of curiousities and explore the Napery with its unique artworks at the hotel which was built in 1914. The hotel has also been the backdrop of many TV programmes. They are writing a book about the renovations and they hope that eventually period exhibits and displays will fill every nook and cranny of the Walpole. So head to Walpole Bay Hotel, where they say: “It is most interesting browsing through our memorabilia and documentation or absorbing our educational displays on the Isle of Thanet with its 26 miles of sandy beaches, geological features and archaeological remains.”
• Visit https://www.walpolebayhotel.co.uk
Miss Mollett’s High Class Tea Room, Appledore
The tea room has history dating back 100 years and also has its own floristry
Head to Miss Mollett’s High Class Tea Room for a delicious cream tea, freshly brewed coffee or a light meal in the lovely village of Appledore. Don’t fear if you are not a tea drinker, they have added a craft coffee maker and the menu has been evolved, "whilst maintaining the traditional cream tea and cake loved by regulars and visitors alike". All their food is freshly prepared to order and their delicious cakes are sourced as locally as possible. Having added a floristry to the tea room, they also keep a fresh selection of plants and cut flowers at the tearoom that can be purchased when you visit.
• Visit http://www.missmollettstearoom.co.uk
Castle Cottage Tearoom, Pevensey
A nostalgic venue, nestling against the walls of Pevensey Castle
If you’re looking for a lovely spot to enjoy an afternoon tea in Sussex then a warm welcome awaits from Julie and Andy at their lovely tearoom and garden in Pevensey. They say: “Sitting snugly alongside Pevensey Castle, whose ancient walls have warlike tales to tell, Castle Cottage Tearoom recalls instead the leisurely pace of taking tea and its peaceful place in history.” Serving traditional tearoom fare prepared on the premises, enjoy a morning coffee, light lunch or indulge in an afternoon tea!
• Visit https://www.castlecottagetearoom.com
The Tulip Tree, Chiddingstone
The Tulip Tree is a charming British tea room in the historic village of Chiddingstone serving homemade cakes, breakfast, lunch and afternoon teas. Set in a converted coach house it has a cosy, bright, country feel and is good for all seasons with both a wood burner for colder days and a courtyard and back garden for warmer ones. The food is made in house and prepared fresh and they offer a selection of breakfast favourites, build your own sandwiches or you can indulge in one of their much-loved cakes. While you're there check out the gift shop, which is reputedly the oldest working shop in the country.
• Visit www.chiddingstonestores.co.uk
The Cobbles Tea Room, Rye
The Cobbles Tea Room, as the name suggests, is located on a cobbled street in the beautiful setting of Rye. Awarded a Travellers Choice Award by TripAdvisor, the tea room offers home made cakes and delicious scones to enjoy as part of your afternoon tea, or you could partake in a light lunch. Sit back and devour a delightful cream tea in their pretty tea room or there is also a small garden that you can relax in.
• Visit https://www.facebook.com/thecobblesrye/
Amberley Castle, near Arundel
Located in the beautiful West Sussex countryside in a picturesque village, Amberley Castle is a unique luxury hotel steeped in over 900 years of history. Afternoon teas are served in their lounges, the Great Room and on the terrace, where you will enjoy a sumptuous home-made array of finger sandwiches, fruit and plain scones with clotted cream and seasonal preserve. This comes served with your choice of tea or coffee.
• Visit https://www.amberleycastle.co.uk/dining-drinking/afternoon-tea
How about a Great stay in Brighton as well?
Chilston Park Hotel, Lenham
Partake in one of the finest experiences of afternoon tea in Kent at this historic country house hotel. Chilston Park Hotel say: “This great country house was built for pleasure and it is in the Marble Lounge where this spirit is most prevalent – here you can allow yourself to be outrageously indulgent as you devour our selection of carefully prepared pastries, sandwiches and the finest leaf tea under beautiful chandeliers.”
• Visit https://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/chilstonpark/eat-and-drink/our-services/traditional-afternoon-tea
The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, London
Try a sugar-free tribute to British botany
At The Carlton Tower Jumeirah guests will experience a fresh take on the traditional afternoon tea, with a menu that steps away from refined sugars, instead focusing on the natural sweetness of whole fruits to deliver a unique sensory experience through the best of British flavours. Delivering a luxurious celebration of British classics with a refreshing twist, the hotel’s Scone Experience is a particular highlight, taking diners on a journey through four flavours of scone in a respectful ode to the British tradition.
• Visit www.jumeirah.com/
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