Tealby Tea Rooms - a taste of the traditional

Tealby tearooms can be found on the main road through the village of Tealby, just on the edge of the stunning scenery of the Lincolnshire Wolds. Stepping inside is something like going back in time, as this is certainly a traditional tea room, with old-fashioned décor and red and white tablecloths.

I was out on a bike ride in the Wolds on the day of my visit and it was a scorching day. Cyclists are known for their coffee and cake stops, so the Tealby tearooms seemed like the perfect place to pause.

The room itself is quite small and attaches to the rest of the owners’ house. I was the only customer for much of my visit, but this didn’t feel uncomfortable as the owner popped in and out – he wasn’t standing watching me eat, as you sometimes find in small cafes.

The service I received was friendly, although I was a little taken aback that the owner swore twice within a short conversation, concerned about people who had gone off for a walk for the day, leaving their car outside his tearoom. However, I am fairly sure that this was just friendly ‘banter’ with a young person; he certainly didn’t speak in the same way to the elderly lady who came into the tearoom later on, and he was actually very welcoming and pleasant.

Having completed a long, hot ride through the Wolds, I needed something a little more substantial to eat than cake, although the selection of homemade scones and cakes on offer did look incredibly inviting. I ordered a ham sandwich and a cup of tea, both of which were brought out to me pretty quickly.

The sandwich was rather basic, but with ham from Lincolnshire and bread baked just down the road in Market Rasen, it seemed well worth the price I paid. In fact, it was extremely tasty and just what I needed. It wasn’t a fancy meal, just good food that filled a gap.


The Tealby Tea Rooms is not the sort of place I would suggest you go out of your way to, for a special visit, but if you are in the area and fancy a cup of tea and something to eat, you will find it a very pleasant experience. Being reasonably priced and in one of the most beautiful villages in Lincolnshire, they seem to be onto a good thing.
Cup of tea: £1.65
Ham sandwich: £3.20
Total: £4.85



The Tealby Tea Rooms
http://www.tealbytearooms.co.uk/
Groups welcome by appointment
All groups visits in include, with no obligation, a free talk on Tealby history,famous for its paper mills and the Tennyson connection. 12 Front StreetTealbyMarket RasenLN8 3XU
01673 838261info@tealbytearooms.co.uk

A tea room of your own

Setting up a tea room

For any seasoned visitor to tea rooms, the idea of actually taking the plunge and setting up your own is a far-fetched fantasy that will probably never be realised. But what if you decide to follow your heart? Here is our guide to the necessary steps that will put you on your way to fulfilling your tea room dream.

A reality check

The first thing to be taken into consideration is that owning a tea room is very different to visiting a tea room. This may sound obvious, but you would be surprised how much of the action happens behind the scenes.

As a customer, you won’t see the owner getting up at the crack of dawn to bake cakes, nor will you see the careful budgeting that goes into buying the right quantities of ingredients in order to meet the demands of different seasons.

The decision to take on a tea room should be a business minded one rather than an idealistic dream of freshly baked cakes and friendly chats with happy customers, though one would hope there would be a bit of that involved too.

Location, location, location

Where you choose to set up your tea room will be of paramount importance to the success of your business. A touristy area will be the most lucrative during the busy summer period, but consider how you will make money during the quieter months. A tea room in the middle of nowhere may look picturesque, but may get little trade in the winter.

Bear in mind the cost of the property in a popular tourist location, however. Beware of taking on a high rent on a building for your business; you will need to be certain of the amount of income you will be able to generate and this might put too much pressure on the early days of getting established.

You may find that taking on an existing tea room is the easiest way to get started. This will make the initial process much easier, but may be harder to stamp your character on the place.

A little bit of personality

When you have your premises and are ready to get going, consider what atmosphere you want to create in your tea room. One of the differences between a tea room and a café is that a tea room will often reflect the personality and character of its owner more than a café will.

Whether it is through your décor, your furniture, the style of ordering, the menus or even the font that you use in your sign, you have the chance to make the tearoom your own. If you are going to draw people to your tea room again and again, tempting them away from the big chain coffee houses, you will need to provide a unique experience.

Sticking to the rules

One thing that you must do, when you have your business, is contact your local council about rules and regulations affecting the environment. You will need to register as a food premises and comply with rules regarding food hygiene and temperature.

Your council will be able to advise you on advertising and shop design, as well as on planning regulations regarding any signs you want to put up. They may also be able to help with any queries you have regarding budgeting and tax.

All about the money

How much your business will cost to set up and run will obviously depend on the type of tea room, its location, its size, the number of hours you want to be open for and the number of staff you employ.

Before embarking on this adventure you will need to have a clear idea of how much it will cost to start the business (including how much you will need for furniture and initial outlays such as ovens and other kitchen equipment.)

Other tea room owners will be able to give you a clearer idea of this, as they will be able to explain their breakdown of costs. Also consider asking other tea room or café owners in the area for advice on suppliers and other local technicalities.

Something different

In order to set your tea room apart from others, you may like to consider offering a particular service, such as walk-in tea parties on particular afternoons, or taking exclusive bookings for tea parties. Another idea might be to aim your tea room specifically at walkers or cyclists, providing a service tailored to their particular needs.

Having a particular type of tea room can be useful as it will allow you to advertise widely within that field. Cyclists could be encouraged to start a group ride from your tea room and perhaps if you were able to offer a group discount on tea and cake when they returned, they might make it a regular haunt.

People person

One of the most important things to remember when setting up a tea room is that you must enjoy it. Owning a tea room is a way of life rather than a job. You have to really want to provide the best service you can and you have to really want to interact with people.

Make your tea room a unique place where people will get an experience they cannot get anywhere else. Empty tea rooms look unappealing, so tourists will be drawn to the place if it is bustling, and regulars will keep coming back to you because they enjoy the whole experience you offer. For further advice on setting up a tea room, the following websites may be useful.

Dalton Business.com

Cobweb Business Information

Small Business UK

Startups.co.uk

A taste of the exotic

Imperial Teas is one of the draws to Lincolnshire; people come here from around the country to buy exotic teas from all over the world. What people might not have realised is that tucked around the corner is a spacious tearoom, where tea-lovers can sample the delights on sale in the shop next door.

Situated on the historic Steep Hill, Imperial Teas occupies a Norman House and the entrance to the Tea shop is on the far end of the building. It was a little daunting, as it looks rather like a cathedral vault, entered through big heavy wooden double doors.

Inside, however, the atmosphere was surprising. It has been decorated with a modern, fresh touch, and the décor feels slick and contemporary. One wall is lit entirely by fairy lights, while the colour scheme is green, with surrounding tranquil images of tea leaves and tea fields. We were immediately made to feel at ease.

One of the features of the tearoom is their tea-tasting experience, where you can select a range of teas to try and each comes in a miniature teapot, enabling you to sample snippets of the unusual flavours. While this looks fascinating, and as a tea-addict, I will certainly be returning to give this a go, on this particular visit, I just wanted a cup of tea and a piece of cake.

Despite my unadventurous requirements, we were treated warmly and were talked through the different teas on offer. If you are unsure of the different flavours, you can simply tell them what type of tea you like and they will select a variety based on that. If your tipple is bog-standard English Breakfast tea, they are more than happy to provide this for you!.

Being the only couple in the shop for the majority of our visit, we felt a little self-conscious, but the spacious, peaceful space soon put me at ease. When our tea arrived, we were shown how long each tea needed to infuse, and then advised to remove the infuser, so that the tea did not get too strong. We were even provided with a little timer that beeped when 'the specified infusing time was up', as our waitress explained. Personally, I am unable to go to a tearoom without sampling their cake, and I couldn’t resist a piece of Victoria Sponge that looked home made. Although there wasn’t a wide selection of cakes available, they looked fresh and tasty. In fact the sponge was slightly on the dry side, but accompanied by the tea, was perfectly edible.

While Imperial Teas is not the cheapest tearoom in Lincolnshire, a pot of tea provides roughly four cups, so you certainly get your money’s worth. For a truly unique tea experience, I can highly recommend a visit, particularly if you are a more adventurous tea-drinker than I am.

Tea cup rating:

1 Pot of Darjeeling Avangrove £3.00
1 Pot Earl; Grey Gold £3.50
1 Slice Victoria Sponge £2.00

Imperial Teas of Lincoln
47 Steep Hill Lincoln
LN2 1LU
01522 560008
http://www.imperialteas.co.uk/

Tea Room Designs

The design of a tea room can influence your experience and can be one of the reasons you stay at a specific tea room.

There are numerous designs from the old fashioned traditional tea room to Asian inspired tea rooms, all welcoming thousands of people through their doors.

Here is a selection of pictures showing tea room designs from all over the world:





Asian Inspired Tea Room

 





50's Style Wallpaper

  


Mad Hatters





Cauliflower Cake





Conservatory Tea Room



Vintage Tea pot



Tea Room Fabric

Wooden Style Tea Room



Vintage Style Cups and Saucers

The Famous Bettys'

Tea Room Linen



English Tea Room



Tea Room Wallpaper

Russian Tea Room Wallpaper



Vintage Style Tea Room

These are just a selection of some designs from around the world and from years ago.  They may differ greatly in design but they all have one thing in common - people go there to buy and drink cups of tea!

Tea: a brief history

Tea may have become pretty much our national hot drink but the story behind our brew of choice started a long time ago, far, far away.

The beginnings.
Tea was first discovered 2800BC in China. Allegedly die to the wind blowing tea bush leaves into a pot of boiling water. In the centuries that followed tea became a popular drink throughout China and by 350AD the word tea found had made its way into the Chinese dictionary. In 805AD tea started to go global when Dengyo Dash brings it to Japan, 400 years later the legendary tea ceremony is invented by Buddhist monks. But not everybody seems to be approving of the brew. After the Japanese Sung Dynasty considered it a national drink, under Mongol rule drinking tea is considered decadent. The Ming Dynasty that followed Mongol rule were quick to reinstate the drink in its rightful place and introduced the greatest tea-related invention yet: the tea pot.

The English get in on the action.
In 1660 Samuel Pepys is the first English person to mention a "Cupp of Tee" in writing. ("did send for a Cupp of Tee (a China drink) of which I never drank before") Four years later saw the first legal import of tea into England. Courtesy of the Dutch East India Company in Java: 100lbs of Chinese tea. By this point the drink had already become popular common good in Portugal. Charles II was betrothed to Catherine of Braganza who, after arriving by ship asked for a cuppa, but tea was still so rare in England at this time that there was none available and the princess was offered ale instead. After its first official introduction tea was pretty much an instant hit in the Britain and 15 years later the London Tea Auction opened its doors. The 18^th century that followed saw Thomas Twining set up his (now) legendary tea company. The first store is can still be found in its original place in the Strand in London. In 1840 Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford, is believed to have invented afternoon tea. The first 'commercial' tea room opened 24 years later in 1864. In London, where else?

Tea's 'homecoming'
Years later, in 1908, the tea bag is invented and, just like tea itself, by accident! Thomas Sullivan, a New York tea merchant, sent samples of dry tea to his customers in small silken bags. The customers wanted to order more of these small bags of tea, but did ask if he could perhaps use a bit of a more course material so the tea would steep a bit better. A breakthrough for the home-consumption of tea, but, shockingly retail tea bags weren't introduced in Britain until 1953 after tea came off the World War II ration.

So, many different nations and cultures were involved in the invention of the cuppa we know and love now. So, why is it our national drink? Simple. Because nobody loves it quite like we do.

Afternoon Tea?

Fancy Afternoon Tea?

If you fancy dressing up posh and going for Afternoon Tea then Branston Hall in Lincoln is the place to go.

Driving up the long, winding road the opening shows an old hall, with grand doors and a very elegant feel about it.

The door to the hall was opened for us and the staff was very welcoming. We were shown to the pink lounge where they hold the afternoon tea.

The lounge certainly was pink and the furniture was stylish, old fashioned but somehow it worked.  The view was beautiful, looking out onto the lake and the large grounds surrounding the hall itself.

We were brought our tea to share and each had a cream porcelain cup and saucer and not only did we have milk but we had the option of cream as well! This was only the start of the naughtiness!

After about five minutes they brought out our food on a tiered stand, with finger sandwiches, with the crusts cut off on a side tray.  The options of sandwiches were tuna mayonnaise with cucumber and cheese and tomato with delicious sweet onion chutney.

To start with, although the food looked scrumptious, it didn’t look like there was very much, how we were wrong!

After sandwiches with our tea, the four of us started on the array of cakes that were on the stand.  There was a very gooey chocolaty brownie which you certainly needed no more than a finger slice of.  

Next, I tried the tiny lemon curd which was in a buttery pastry and was extremely rich.

A cake which we all loved was some kind of moist plum bread which had carrot and lots of nuts in it.  One of my companions even spread butter on this cake saying “I’m having afternoon tea, s it’s allowed”.  I’m sure she will have suffered later on!

The final cake that was on our tier of food was the piece de resistance, the scone.

A scone is the perfect accompaniment for tea and the desire for a scone is only increased if clotted cream and strawberry jam are available as well.

We had it all for £8.95 and it was very worth its money.  Branston Hall provided a beautiful setting, lovely tea, delicious homemade food and comfortable furniture.

4 cups from me!

Branston Hall Hotel
Branston, Lincoln
England LN4 1PD, UK

01522 793305

www.branstonhall.com

Lesley's On The Hill

Lesley’s Tea Room would not be high on my list if you wanted a good cup of tea. From the outside, Lesley’s looks like many of the tea rooms at the top of Steep Hill in Lincoln. It has a very traditional look from the outside which is continued throughout inside. It is very old fashioned and in fact rather small inside. The steep stair case was also a challenge. Especially if someone else was trying to come down at the same time!

Once we were sat down the three of us simply wanted a nice cup of tea. The menu was extensive; however it was extensively full of food. Not a problem but it only had one option of tea – this was supposed to be a tea room, or that’s what the sign said outside! So, we ordered the one option of tea which was nice but simple and came with a teapot, cup and saucer.

We all ordered Panini’s to go with our teas which again were nice but I think they were rather expensive at £5.25. The pots of tea were £1.70, not bad but that seems to be the theme for this tea room. Aside from the tea, or lack of tea it seemed as if they got a reasonable amount of regulars that came to the tea room and they seemed to get preferential treatment. A small business definitely needs regulars, who clearly enjoy going there, however it is important to treat new customers just as well other wise your regulars will run out!

Two cups for me, ok, but not that great.

Lesley's On the Hill

39 Steep Hill,

Lincoln,

Lincolnshire,

LN2 1LU

01522 522463

Heal's can make it all better

Today Heal’s is a haven for lovers of contemporary designer furniture, home-wares and accessories, despite started out life as a bed making firm back in 1810. The brand boasts six stores which are located world wide. Its online store http://www.heals.co.uk/, is by far an easier, more comfortable way to shop. Allowing you to get the best and often exclusive designs from brands such as Philippe Starck, Tom Dixon, Orla Kiely and Matthew Hilton delivered straight to your door.

Ambrose Heal joined the firm in 1893, with visions of working with the most skilled designers available to create beautiful, affordable home-wares. The company boasted that Heal’s made “better furniture for better times,” which is a tradition that lives on. Heal’s are continuing to work with the designers of the future to bring you the best it can. So, without further or do please put your hands together for its newest collection of designs to make your tea times a tad more special.

1. Crumpled Cups, £14.00 each

Revol crumpled cups are the newest in quirky kitchen design. These porcelain cups are handmade to give the illusion of a crumpled plastic cup. Reminiscent of the teenage parties of days gone by these tea, or coffee, cups are definitely for a more grown-up kind of party.

2. La Cafetiere starfish tea strainer, £15.50

La Cafetiere Starfish Tea Strainer designed by Nick Munro features a flawless, highly polished stainless steel finish. This under-the-sea themed tea accessory is both fun and functional. Not only is it beautifully crafted, it will definitely be a talking point at any future tea parties.

3. Orla Kiely stem print mugs, £8.25 each

These beautifully bright mugs come form a collection from Orla Kiely. The fine bone china mugs would compliment any kitchen, modern or traditional, giving each one a cool and funky retro twist. The collection features a variety of designs and colours, from abacus flowers to scribble stem plants, each one individually designed for the best quality.

4. Bodum vacuum travel mug, £21.00

The Bodum vacuum travel mug is definitely the greenest way to travel, with your cuppa that is. The entire travel mug range is designed with ‘taste-free’ materials so nothing with stand in the way of your taste buds and a great tasting tea. The design includes am easy-grip silicone band, available tin a variety of colours, as well as excellent insulation for maximum heat retention.

5. Pantone Mugs, £8.25 each

Designed by Whitbread Wilkinson this range of colour mugs will brighten up your day and your drink. The mugs feature a whole host of vibrant colour themes based on the world renowned colour authority Pantone colour charts. Made form fine china the mugs are both dishwasher microwave safe, putting no limit on your hot drink delicacies.

Teapots Galore

The traditional Nothing says classy afternoon-tea like an old-fashioned china teapot. Delicate and sophisticated, with a detailed colourful floral design, a teapot like this oozes quality.

The plain Far from being boring, this simple design emphasises the classic, functional shape of the teapot. With clean lines, this style of teapot will provide a quiet, understated centrepiece to your tea-drinking experience.

The novelty Add an element of fun to your tea-table with a novelty teapot, which is sure to attract plenty of attention. Children will love to see their favourite cartoon characters brought to life on the teapot and it will provide that extra little something to the te-drinking experience.

The quirky If you want a teapot with a twist, go for a simple design that has an touch of fun added, like this walking teapot from Price and Kensington. Reveal your fun side, while maintaining the functional versatility of the classic teapot.

The ultra-modern This is a teapot, but not as we know it. Using stainless steel, pyrex and syllicone, this kind of uber-chic vessel shows off your trend-setting style. You are able to sit back and relax while watching the leaves quietly brewing, enjoying the magic of tea making, but with none of the hassle.

The Greenhouse

When caught in a downpour I would like nothing better than to curl up in my favourite chair with a cup of tea. However, when you are not within sprinting distance of your home this fantasy becomes a tad difficult to achieve. What you need is a modern day oasis, in my case a tea shop. I was, fortunately, within stumbling distance of The Greenhouse. Having recently been awarded the title of ‘Best Tea Shop in the County’ I was definitely caught in the right downpour at the right miserable time. Stepping into the tea shop, looking remarkably like the thing from the swamp, I was greeted by a smiling girl at the counter who helpfully pointed me towards the ladies room and the upstairs seating area. And after settling into one of the comfy armchairs I began to feel quite ready for a toe-warming cuppa. Now, as I have said previously tea would be my usual drink of choice in situations like this, but sometimes you just have to indulge. “Would you like frills on your hot chocolate?” the waitress asked me kindly. I know what you’re thinking; I thought the same, “what does a frilly hot chocolate entail exactly?” I asked. “If you’re having a hot chocolate, you definitely want frills,” she said. So, after taking the plunge and agreeing to sample the frilly drink I waited. What promptly arrived was a glutton of whipped cream, chocolate sauce, marshmallows and sprinkles all strategically placed on top of a huge steaming mug…the ultimate hot chocolate. Whilst debating how to begin tasting or should that be eating my drink, I start taking note of the little things that make this tea shop truly special. The glorious sounds of Cosi fan tutte float up from downstairs, along with a host of delicious smells, which excite my stomach and tease my taste buds. The Greenhouse’s menu is extensive. Whilst still offering a huge range of delicious homemade cakes, pastries and desserts, there is also a staggering selection of delicious savoury options; from breakfast bites to main meals. Whilst I stuck to a cherry flapjack, my tearoom sidekick opted for something more substantial. His ham and mushroom omelette arrived promptly, with a crisp side salad, not bad for £4.50. The delicious food, kind service and saucy drinks all make The Greenhouse a must for locals and visitors alike. This tearoom is all about the experience; it does not rely purely on one aspect to make it great, everything is great. Teacup Rating: Hot Chocolate (with frills) £2.60 Cherry Flapjack £1.00 Mocha £2.60 Mushroom & Ham Omelette £4.50 Total £10.70

The Greenhouse, Tea & Coffee Shop The Greenhouse,

51 Burton Road, Lincoln,

Lincolnshire, LN1 3JY 01522 537013 greenhousecoffeeshop@ymail.com