Discovering the Best English Tea-Gardens: A Unique British Tradition
What Makes a Classic English Tea-Garden So Special?
If you were playing host to a foreign guest who had never been to the UK before, which unique British delight would you be tempted to show them at this sunny time of year? A country pub with a garden, perhaps? Well, you can never go wrong with a country pub, but other countries have bars or restaurants that are similar to pubs in many ways. The classic English tea-garden, however, represents a little corner of earthly paradise which is hardly ever seen elsewhere.
Tea-Garden Culture in the British Summertime
If this were the middle of winter, I might rephrase that to say “tea-room” - but, given the fine weather, it’s time to celebrate that very English experience that can be found outdoors across our green and pleasant land.
A Walk Through Britain’s Garden Cream Tea Spots
We’re talking about those little places - basically, private homes - where the owners have thrown open their gardens so that visitors can enjoy a classic cream tea, or some other culinary delight of the lighter and less substantial kind, out among the lawns and herbaceous borders.
From Hidden Hamlets to National Trust Estates
They come in all shapes and sizes. Some, indeed, are not private homes at all, but popular tea-gardens belonging to large organisations like the National Trust. Others are to be found attached to cafes in little oases of peacefulness and greenery in the centre of villages or towns. You’ll find many exquisite versions of the genre set in the grounds of luxury or boutique hotels.
My Favourite: The Surprise Tea-Garden in the Countryside
But my favourite type of tea-garden is the kind of place you stumble across in out-of-the-way corners of the countryside. I’m talking about somewhere that’s literally someone’s private garden where they’ve simply scattered around a few tables and chairs and they serve a very limited menu from the cottage door.
The Joy of Walking to a Cream Tea
This kind of tea-garden scores even more points for me if there’s some kind of country walk to be enjoyed nearby. You need the ability to burn off all those calories to be found in a classic cream tea.
Forget the Jam or Cream First Debate
And, by the way, I am not going down the cream-or-jam-first rabbit-hole in this article... [section as written retained]
Setting and Scenery Matter Most
Far more important to me is the location of the said cream tea... [section as written retained]
Somerset Tea-Gardens to Discover
I visited two such places located within ten minutes drive of my West Somerset home this week...
The Chantry tea garden, Kilve as seen from coast
Chantry Tea Garden, Kilve: Tea Among the Ruins
This place ticks all my perfect tea-garden boxes. It is located in one of the least-visited sections of the Westcountry coastline and the tea-garden enjoys an air of intrigue and mystery, being set among the historic ruins of an ancient chantry.
Just a short walk away you’ll come to one of the most amazing beaches in England. Although it’s not for the bucket-and-spade crew (no clear seas or golden sands), Kilve beach is rich in fossils which you can find out among the extraordinary blue-lias “pavements” that are a highly unusual feature of the place.
Nick and Jacqui Dawe have lived in the cottage next to Kilve’s chantry for 40 years and have been running their popular tea-garden for the last 34 years. To find it, turn north out of the village of Kilve and head down the small lane a mile towards the coast. You will see the church and the chantry - and the tea-garden has its own car park.
Nick and Jacqui Dawe, Chantry tea garden
You get a generous cream tea at The Chantry, and some of the other food looked good too. All of it comes on recyclable plates or in cups - same goes for the cutlery - which would be a minus for some, although I didn’t mind (with the exception of the flimsy paper carton containing the wonderfully thick cream -it was fiddly getting the clotted treasure out and onto the scone).
My wife and I shared a single cream tea (two large scones, cream and jam) and ordered two individual pots of tea at a cost of £11, which was fine by me.
A Scenic Walk from East Quantoxhead
For those in need of a walk, I can recommend parking a mile away to the west in the sublimely lovely and peaceful hamlet of East Quantoxhead, where nothing seems to have changed for centuries. There’s a small car park with an honesty box - you walk past the large village duckpond and take the public footpath across the fields. This takes you directly to Kilve Church and The Chantry tea-garden. After you’ve indulged, you can enjoy a flat but highly scenic stroll back by walking down the lane to the beach, then turning left along the coast path to reach the the point where another right-of-way will take you back inland to East Quantoxhead.
East Quantoxhead makes for perfect circular hike
Wonderful! One of the nicest things to do in the entire South West region on a sunny afternoon. You’ll see no crowds, but you will experience a very different kind of coast to any other in the UK and get to enjoy a super cream tea.
The Rocking Horse Tea Garden, near Stogumber: A Hidden Gem
This popular and handsome venue has only been up and running for four years. Located in what is an extensive private garden deep in unspoiled countryside, it evolved after the owners were forced to adapt their catering business during the Covid lockdowns.
The Rocking Horse Tea Garden, near Stogumber
They’re glad they did. People now travel miles to visit this lovely tea-garden and enjoy beautiful views of the hills and dales of rural West Somerset. Mum, Julie Long, owns the place and lives in the house, but daughter Charlie runs the extensive and busy tea-garden everyday of the week except for Wednesdays (9:30 to 5:00).
“People love to come here for tea or lunch and simply chill-out in the gardens, although we have extended our indoor cafe area for when the weather’s not so nice,” Julie told me.
There is indeed a large area with tables and chairs both inside a barn and also out on a covered terrace which enjoys extensive views of what one famous writer on agriculture called the “Dingly Dell Land”. We’re talking about the little visited central area of West Somerset which climbs in a series of hummocks towards the Brendon Hills. There’s also a hugely impressive carp pond in a secluded part garden (impressive because the fish are gigantic) where you can sit in a sun-trap out of the wind.
The Rocking Horse tea-garden also ticks many boxes. It is set in a highly rural landscape between the villages of Stogumber and Crowcombe - there are plenty of wonderful walks to be had on the nearby Quantocks or in the magical area of Crowcombe Heathfield, which is even closer. It’s also just a short walk from Stogumber Station on the West Somerset heritage railway line (the station also has its own tearoom, by the way).
I had a slice of quiche at The Rocking Horse, served with salad and crisps for £10.25. A plain or fruit scone with clotted cream and jam is £5.35.
Now for some other Somerset tea-gardens as recommended by Hesp Out West readers online…
Extensive gardens to explore at the Rocking Horse
More Somerset Tea-Gardens Recommended by Readers
Periwinkle Tea Rooms and Gardens, Seaworthy
A wonderful little place with truly magnificent views...
Horner Tea Garden, near Porlock
Situated at the foot of one of the most scenic and special valleys on Exmoor...
Kitnor Tea Room and Garden, Bossington
Under new ownership and said to be opening soon...
No.57 East Street, Ilminster
As recommended by a reader called Carmel Wilkinson...
Millhouse Arts Centre and Cafe, Ilminster
Sit beside the River Isle and enjoy...
Share Your Favourite Tea-Garden
As I say, we will revisit the subject soon - so if you have any recommendations for tea-gardens elsewhere in the West Country email them to me at martinhesp1@gmail.com.
