Talk of Tea - Brighton

A small trek (the last bit up hill, a feat after traipsing around Brighton all day) from the last café, is the final visit of my trip, here at the beautiful Talk of Tea, another one who’s name intrigued me.

With mismatched…everything, fairy lights and tea lights hanging all over the place, a lovely comfy sofa in the corner and at least ten potted plants dotted about  this is the most chilled café I have ever been too, more like someone’s living room than a café. In this gorgeous little shop everywhere is comfortable and everyone seems to know each other but far from making be feel like an outsider, they make me feel welcome and this adds to the lovely homely feel of the café, everyone’s up for a chat and a laugh, sat here with these lovely people and a cup of tea I could be at a friends house. Listening to the conversations around me (its impossible not to in the cosy space) I have discovered they have regular games night and even a book club. I think I have found my happy place! If I lived in Brighton I would be here more than at home!

The tea is lovely though I am a little suspicious of the sugar, which I am told comes from Germany and is small rock-like shards in various shades of brown (at least I hope it’s sugar, either that or it’s the best practical joke ever and I just put stones in my tea!) The cake, which is dished out in really generous chunks looks delicious but I am way too full and can’t even finish my tea, instead snacking on the sugar-rocks (or really tasty stones) shh, don’t tell them!

I really could sit in this beautiful relaxed tea shop all day if allowed (and honestly, I don’t think they would mind) and I know I would definitely be here for the games nights, dragging a large bag of games with me and it’s the lovely feeling of friendliness and charm that is the reason (one of them anyway,) I really recommend this beautiful place to anyone and everyone and am thinking of moving to Brighton now!

Twitter:@talkoftea

Website: talkoftea.co.uk

Addrress: 26 Spring Street, Brighton, BN1 3EF

The Mock Turtle Tearoom - Brighton

As excited as I was to visit the famous Blackbird Tearoom and the others I have been to on my trip today, this particular tearoom, tucked away on a little street just off the sea front, made me especially excited not because if its delicious tea but because of its name! When I think of the Mock Turtle from Alice in Wonderland, two portrayals spring to mind: Gene Wilder’s adorable rendition of ‘beautiful soup’ (the words to which I can still remember even though I haven’t watched it in years) and the strange bovine/turtle cross from America Mcgee’s ‘Alice: Madness. So I was just a little disappointed to come in the tearoom and find no turtle references at all, let alone nods to Alice in Wonderland (unless the café’s blue-green colour scheme is a really subtle reference… probably not.) However, this tearoom is the oldest in Brighton and looks amazing for its age!

What I did find was a café positively covered in willow pattern! Old style, new style, some with Japanese characters on them, on the walls, the tables, holding the (separated) white and brown sugar and even hanging from the celling in the window. Behind me there is even a shelving unit boasting twenty-nine willow pattern or willow pattern style teapots beautifully displayed. Even the menu imitates the blue and white pattering around its edges.

After having had a cake, a toasted muffin and a meringue already today I didn’t really feel like eating anything from the bake-sale-esque table of cling-film-wrapped cakes, doughnuts and muffins in the window but the tea I had (The Mock Turtle Blend – a lovely breakfast tea) was really nice and even came with an extra jug of hot water, a sure sign of a pot of tea expected to please. Almost as if to make up for it though, I was given a really small, low jug of milk and they charged ten pence to top it up! Needless to say, I’m not overjoyed about that but the tea is reasonably priced, so I suppose its alright. The waitresses are very smiley and relaxed here, after the black and white uniformed ladies of Blackbird Tearoom and The Little Tea Shop in the Lanes, my waitress here, in a ‘Levis’ t-shirt is a stark contrast!

The mis-matched teapots and milk and water jugs look a little strange next to all the willow pattern but they also bring a homely feel along with the cling-film-wrapped cakes and relaxed and friendly staff, the combination of which creates a lovely, relaxed atmosphere (if only the waitress would stop popping her head around the corner right in front of my table, I’m sure she’s just checking this section of the room but it feels like she watching me!)

Not the place to be if you are looking for Alice in Wonderland references but lovely tea and tasty (looking) food makes it a good place to visit for lunch, worth a visit if you are in the area!

Address: 4 Pool Valley, Brighton, BN1 1NJ

That Little Tea Shop In The Lanes - Brighton

This bright, higgledy-piggledy space is a stark contrast to its neighbor round the corner, The Blackbird Tearoom. Light blue and white walls, grinning, chatty young staff and upbeat music give this café a more fun, (slightly) more modern feel to it. The bright room is full of knick-knacks, pictures of Brighton then and now, tin signs advertising all sorts from Brylcreem to coffee and teapots in all shapes and sizes (including houses and a cabbage!) Everyone, customers and staff seems to be smiling and chatting happily, a lovely feeling to be surrounded by, only enhanced by the occasional comedy song (‘Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud’ currently) coming out over the sound system.

My usual order in a café or tearoom is breakfast tea and a slice of cake but here everything on the menu looks so good and when I saw toasted muffins I couldn’t help but order one smothered in butter. Coupled with the ‘That Little Tea Shop’s Brew’ tea, a lovely breakfast tea (though I have my suspicions, as the teabag is pyramid shaped!) made for a perfect light lunch. I followed these with a really delicious meringue with cream and strawberries, finally something right for the glorious weather outside and it looked so tasty it inspired a woman across the café to order one as well! The best thing I have eaten in Brighton!

That Little Tea Shop is a truly happy and bright place to be sitting here in the sunlit window with a nice cup of tea and a gorgeous sweet meringue with strawberries, listening to Noel Coward I am the most content I have been in a while…lovely (even if my tippy table threatens to spill my tea!) 

Packed neatly into the lanes and named so well, I love it here and would recommend it to everyone. This family friendly restaurant (that caters to vegetarian and gluten free!) is divine!

Twitter: @teashopBTN
Address: Meeting House Lane, Brighton, BN1 1HB