Wanted to treat my daughter, son-in-law and 2 granddaughters to a nice tea and Mabel's Tea Rooms is not too far from where we live.
They do a number of different "teas" depending upon how much you want to pay. We weren't looking for an old-fashioned tea time with sandwiches and cakes - we just wanted a cream tea.
We opted for the Mini Cream Tea which is priced at £6 person for which each person gets a fruited or plain scone which can be served either with butter and jam or clotted cream and jam.
We had a choice of teas (or coffee) included in the price. Cups and saucers are vintage china, mismatched as this somehow makes it more "twee" but definitely NOT authentic Victorian (what good mannered Victorian lady would offer her guests mis-matched china?). Large pots of tea, milk in milk jugs and cubed sugar - exactly what you'd expect for a nice tea. What came next was a total disappointment, though!
I can see why they called it "Mini" !!!! We four adults were each given a plate with a small scone (about the size of a boxed small bakewell tart!), two small glass containers, one with a spoonful of jam, one with a spoonful of cream - hardly generous portions! My granddaughters each wanted a slice of lemon drizzle cake which, at a cost of £3.95 per slice, I could've made a whole cake for that price!
We've been to many tea rooms over the years and I can honestly say that the cream tea we had here was the most stingy I've ever experienced. The scone could be eaten in two mouthfuls. This venue is off the beaten track but I wouldn't advise you to rush to visit when there are tea rooms that are much better value. read more