FOOD+DRINK
KENT’S FINEST AFTERNOON TEAS CONT.
Bessie’s Tea Parlour, Broadstairs
www.bessiesteaparlour.co.uk
Bessie’s Tea Parlour is designed to bring a touch of
nostalgia to our busy, work-heavy lives. Coming
here is a chance to forget about everything except
the amazing smell of freshly baked cakes and the
look and feel of a true seaside tea parlour from days
gone by. And of course, what would a traditional
tea parlour be without a traditional afternoon tea?
This particular one comes with the famous finger
sandwiches, cakes and, of course, scones with all the
trimmings as well as as much tea as you can handle.
Add champagne, or switch tea for one of the
incredible milkshakes that Bessie’s offers and you’ll
have everything you could want.
Elvey Farm Country Hotel, Pluckley
www.elveyfarm.co.uk
Elvey Farm, nestled in the middle of the beautiful
Kentish countryside, was once a medieval farmstead
and is now a delightful guest house that offers not
only lovely rooms in a stunning setting, but fabulous
BESSIE’S TEA PARLOUR
82
food too. And that includes an exceptional
afternoon tea. You can enjoy your afternoon
tea on dainty vintage china plates, on a table
covered in crisp, white linen. Homemade cakes,
traditional finger sandwiches, scones with jam and
clotted cream, and a variety of loose leaf teas from
the Pluckley Tea Company make this something
truly special. If you want to add some sparkle, you
can opt for the Champagne Tea, which includes a
glass of bubbly.
Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, Sevenoaks
www.riverhillgardens.co.uk
If you want to combine a traditional cream tea with
an untraditional (to say the least!) day out, then the
Riverhill Himalayan Gardens should suit you
perfectly. Here there are world class British sculptures,
den building activities, secret pathways, beautiful
views, a wealth of history and a yeti. Yes. A yeti. See
if you can spot him as you enjoy the stunning
surroundings of Riverhill. And when you have (or
even if he is being elusive), treat yourself to an
indulgent afternoon tea. Everything is homemade
and all the ingredients are locally sourced, so you
can’t get much more Kentish than this.
Chiddingstone Castle, Chiddingstone
www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk
The cosy tea room at Chiddingstone Castle has both
indoor and outdoor seating, allowing you to enjoy
the fine weather during the summer months. Here
you can enjoy delicious homemade scones with
cream from Cornwall and mouthwatering jam all
served on vintage china crockery. You don’t even
have to enter the castle grounds to enjoy the tea
room (although it is highly recommended), so there
is no entrance fee to pay if you are visiting just for
the sumptuous sweet treats on offer here. For the
larger cream tea with extra sandwiches and pastries,
you must book in advance to save disappointment.