Devon cream teas and afternoon tea on Dartmoor.
Now that's what we like to see - a warm sunny smile on a wet and dreary day. And good food to go with it! This pretty waitress at the Primrose Cottage tearooms at Lustleigh should surely be on a front cover. Read the review.
Take a tip from me before you visit the Mill End Hotel at Chagford for afternoon tea. Don't have anything more than the lightest of lunches, and don't bother booking an evening meal either! Click here to see the full review.
My latest favourite cafe for a cream tea has to be the Brookside cafe at Bovey Tracey. New best friend Pat
and I called in for a quick lunch one quiet Tuesday in June and found the place buzzing. We chose a BLT baguette and a jacket potato and both dishes scored 10 out of 10. The 5 ladies who were waiting on table were all friendly and obliging, and service was as swift as it could be with food cooked to order. Nothing was too much trouble and there seemed to be a large following of regulars who the staff all knew by name. We shared a cream tea in the name of duty don't you know, and the tea was refreshing, the scone well made, the jam was good and fruity and the local clotted cream was made at the Dartmoor Farmhouse dairy, not 2 miles from where I am typing. Good range of cakes. AND it has it's own car park. Brill.
As at all National Trust food outlets, the Waterfall Tea Room at Lydford Gorge one of 2 cafes at this NT site, welcomes children with open arms. I nipped into this cafe next to the car park and main entrance for a pot of tea on the first day of June and soon got chatting to Kim the friendly lady in charge. I thought she would dread the summer holidays when every National Trust eatery gets packed with boisterous kids but she said no, she loves having children in the tearoom. The cafe has special children's plates and drinks ware. The usual children's selection picnic box is on offer too and I was able to take pictures of a party of 3 cheerful children making their food choices. Kim and her daughter who also serves behind the counter, are happy to heat baby food in the microwave - "No problem!" Website.
In January '10 the Old Forge at Chagford turned into The New Forge at Chagford. It was taken over by Lei and his wife, local girl Chloe (our daughter Elizabeth used to babysit for Chloe). It's been newly decorated with a couple of accent walls now sporting a warm scarlet colour, and I'm glad to sayit retains the welcome and quality that predecessors Colin and Phill used to offer. Sunday Brunch is one the new things on offer. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Forge website.
One tearoom that might be easily overlooked because it is up a hidden alley is Donella's in Tavistock .
We nipped in one afternoon in September just as the need for a cup of tea overwhelmed us. They were happy to
supply a pot of tea with both 'normal' teabag and an Earl Grey teabag without any fuss, didn't mind that we would be sharing the generously sized flapjack; and when I asked if we might attempt the crossword in the newspaper, the
dear lady owner agreed and suggested that we take it home with us if we wished, as the cafe would be closing in an
hour or so. I love people who are considerate and generous minded. The flapjack was 10/10 on the tick list, extra
milk was offered, and sitting in the shade on the small decking area outside, the feel good factor was evident.
Check out Rob's face. This teashop, coffee shop, cafe is open all through the year. The only days they close are
Sundays. Donella's, 5 Paddons Row, Brook Street, Tavistock. PL19 0HF 01822 612888
The Dartmoor Tearooms, Moretonhampstead, possibly our favourite of all. Wonderful morning coffees, a range of good lunches and mouthwatering afternoon teas. George is a talented cook and he makes his own fresh teacakes each day. With over 50 teas on offer from all over the World. They are closed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday except for Bank Holidays. See my 2008 write up of the tearooms, and my 2009 write up and the tearooms own website.
