M&S Café - Tunbridge Wells

I usually make it a point not to review chain cafés or tearooms but today I was looking for a snack and a good cup of tea before work and I found The M&S Café. Tucked in a top corner of M&S in the Victoria Centre in Tunbridge Wells, this café provides a stopping spot for weary shoppers, an oasis of calm in a sea of bright lights and crazy customers. Its just perfect for a small pot of tea and a savory or sweet snack (or both?) but its range doesn’t stop there. A menu above the open kitchen proffers a range of delicious hot foods and the drinks menu boasts fair trade drinks a-plenty.

When you enter the spacious café, daubed in its warm reds and browns, you are first greeted with an array of fresh baked savories, ranging from Eccles cakes and current scones to croissants (my pastry of choice!) round the corner from this is the hot food counter and a tasty looking display of desserts next to the hot drinks and the till, completing the cafeteria-style payment and collection system. All of the very friendly staff look smart in their uniforms baring the M&S logo and if you glance around you can see the M&S colours (black, white and lime) proudly displayed on these uniforms, boards and signs bringing the whole place neatly together.

Though I was slightly disappointed by the extreme density of the beautiful-looking lemon drizzle cake I ordered, the superb croissant and tea more than made up for it! A nice touch I noticed was the little (and delicious) biscuit that came with my tea, proving that a small touch really does improve your day.

I liked my small table in the corner (I usually sit in the corner so I can see everything and write in peace) but next time I think I sit on one of the extremely comfy looking  sofas. All in all a lovely oasis in a busy shopping centre, highly recommended.

Twitter: @marksandspencer
Facebook: facebook.com/MarksandSpencerTunbridgeWells
Website: Marksandspencer.com
Adress: 33-39 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2TX

Harriets - Cambridge

Today I find myself in ‘Harriets’, a beautiful café-tearoom in the heart of Cambridge that offers, as its front window states, “a truly English experience”.

The interior of the tearoom is spacious and modern but with just a few touches that hark back to its traditional basing, making Harriets the perfect mix of past and present and an oasis in a crowded city. Upon entering, the first thing I noticed was the uniformed waiters and waitresses, who dressed in traditional black and white (like the ‘Nippies’ of the traditional tearooms, the menu explains) and are always happy to help with anything (even my annoying questions, of which there were a few) with a smile.

The large, booklet-like menu (well worth a cover to cover read) is handsomely presented and incredibly detailed including an ‘Introduction to Harriets’ a family owned tearoom based on the traditional tearooms or ‘corner houses’ of old London that Harriet herself used to frequent for a light lunch or afternoon tea. The front section of the menu also informs me that on select days (Saturdays eleven till four and Sundays eleven till three, says a helpful waitress) the tearoom is host to a pianist, who sits and plays the beautiful piano that is front and centre as you enter the front room. Looking further into the menu, the selection of teas is impressive with a great selection ranging from English Breakfast to ‘Blood Orange Tisane’ (‘Tisane’ is herbal tea to you and I) which, according to its description is “a 100% fruit tisane with apple, hibiscus and rosehip”. The menu is quaintly dotted with quotes such as “the mere chink of cups and saucers tunes the maid to a happy repose. Anon” and looking further on still I discover that the tearoom sells vouchers, cleverly disguised as ration books, should you want to give the gift of a light lunch or afternoon tea (the best gift you could possibly give, in my opinion!). The really sweet thing that made me smile was the poem, ‘An Ode to Afternoon Tea’, on the back cover of the menu about the joys of afternoon tea at Harriets.

As usual an important part of any café or tearoom is the desserts and Harriets is no exception with a great selection in the menu and a beautiful dessert display by the counter. Which, upon closer inspection are gorgeously made and decorated, covered in chocolate curls, pieces of fruit and all manner of marvellous looking treats.

I was fortunate enough to sit next to two lovely regulars who sang Harriets’ praises and promised to find and follow this blog (hello if you did manage to find me, ladies!).

This is by far my favourite tearoom in Cambridge and I am sure I will return many times (to become a regular in such a gorgeous place would be some kind of honour!) I highly recommend this wonderful tearoom to anyone who wishes to have a moment of calm with good food and good service. This is also the first tearoom I have ever left this blog address at, (under the teapot, of course) after hearing from the lovely lady next to me that Harriets has few reviews written about it, I thought I’d share this one around.

Website: harrientscafetearooms.co.uk
Address: 16-17 Green St, Cambridge, CB2 3JU

Ta Bouche - Cambridge

Wandering the streets of Cambridge there are many beautiful things to catch your eye, not least of which is the countless café's, bars and tearooms. Currently my adventures have landed me in ‘Ta Bouche’ a self-proclaimed ‘Restaurant-Cocktail Bar-Café’ hidden away in a corner between roads full of mismatched shops.

The modern cocktail bar is all glass and multicoloured lights behind a sturdy looking granite-topped bar stocked with over seventy types of alcohol ( yes, I counted, yes, I received some really odd looks from the staff…). Above the bar there is a strip of ceiling on which there are pasted an assortment of weird and wonderful pictures including a man holding a magnifying glass to his teeth and some truly marvellous moustaches showing the bars quirky personality. I also love the beautiful menu that sits on the spindle table in front of (the lower tables’ seats were too low) that is decorated with pictures too, some personal to Cambridge, some wider known, such Marilyn Monroe in that spotty bikini or Kate and Will’s wedding kiss. Its full of delicious looking food including a reasonably priced children’s menu that offers ‘a free scoop of ice cream (for all children who leave a clean plate)’ (yes, that is a direct quote from the menu) and with a 15% student discount too, this is the perfect place for people of all ages, families during the day and friends in the evenings.

This stunningly modern bar shows its modernity in its glass and chrome interiors, twitter ‘tag’ (which made me smile) ‘@taboucherocks’ and the fact that the sugar for my tea came in a shot glass… I recommend Ta Bouche to anyone looking for a nice play to have an enjoyable and reasonably priced meal/drink out. (Ta Bouche also offers free venue hire for parties!

Twitter: @TaBoucheRocks
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Ta-Bouche
Website: tabouche.co.uk
Address: 10-15 Market passage, Cambridge, CB2 3 PF

Café Carringtons - Cambridge

Today I found myself alone in beautiful Cambridge, whilst wandering the maze that is the city centre trying to find my favorite clothes shop I stumbled across the wonderful ‘Café Carringtons’.

Through a small shop front and down some stairs this café hides away from the bustling Cambridge streets. Once the door at the bottom of the stairs shuts behind you, you could be anywhere, it is just my chosen seat by the door with glass panels in it (affording a glimpse of people rushing by on the street above) that reminds me of where I am.

The café runs like a cafeteria, (tray, food, pay) which means that you can see and pay for your food before you eat it, ensuring  you get exactly what you want. I think this lends to a calmer atmosphere in the dining area, customers have paid for their meals already allowing them to just sit and enjoy it, taking their time and just leaving when they are done. When I ordered it struck me that the friendly staff are helpful but keen to keep the line at the counter moving.

Though the café is long and thin rather than a big spaced out rather than a large room, the space is well lit and assembled perfectly so that there is plenty of room to move about and not feel cramped ordering or sitting. With tables in the back round the corner should you desire a more private meal. The food looks great and well presented next to shelves of baked goods that offer the perfect dessert. The tea, served in a metal pot (careful, hot!) to match the metal jugs (and serving area?) is good, with just enough for two full cups and added to the chocolate cornflake cake that I picked (after careful deliberation) makes the perfect afternoon break.

A sweet touch that caught my eye was the cups with the café's logo on them and saucers with a heart on them, aw. I was really happy to find this lovely little gem and definitely recommend it to others in the area.

Twitter: @CafeCarringtons
Facebook: facebook.com/cafecarringtons
Website: CafeCarringtons.com
Address: 23 Market St, Cambridge, CB2 3NZ and 66 Eden Hall, The Grafton Centre, Cambridge, CB1 1PS

Auntie's Tea Shop - Cambridge

On a rainy, windy Friday afternoon in December a friend and I battled the elements to walk to ‘Auntie’s Tea Shop’ in Cambridge. The inside of the café is sweet, with more seating than you would think, looking at it from the outside and a big front window that brings light and space to the room.

The very smart uniforms that the staff (all female, at present) wear are like modern maids uniforms, practical yet traditional and gorgeous. On top of this they all seem to be smiling and enjoying their work (though this may be because it keeps them in the warm and means they don’t end up looking like drowned rats like my friend and I undoubtedly do!)

The breakfast tea comes in a good sized pot, tea bags as opposed to leaves and is brewed and ready to drink (mmm!) and sugar is in sachets and in good supply. Auntie’s also has a range of gifts on offer, from Tea Pigs tea bags to their very own ‘Back-to-Front’ collection, including teapots, cups and eggcups. Slightly different from the interesting novelty that one would expect from this strange name, these are white pieces with the front end of an animal (such as a pig, demonstrated by the eggcup near the door) on the front and the rear on the back.

All in all Auntie’s is a wonderful and friendly tearoom experience with good staff in a lovely traditional atmosphere, I will definitely be coming back here again!

Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Aunties-tea-shop
Website: Auntiesteashop.co.uk
Address: 1 St Mary's Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PQ

Comic Café - Tunbridge Wells

There is an awesome new addition to Tunbridge Wells that comes in the form of the ‘Comic Café’. Tucked away at the far end of Camden Road, this comic-book-store-come -café offers a wide range of geekery and some chocolate and a nice cup of tea or coffee to go with it. A customer can sit in the middle of the shop and contemplate their next purchase from the shelves and stacks that surround them.

The shops location lends to a hidden treasures feel and creates its own little world of geekdom around the customers, blocking out the outside world with shelves of Doctor Who, Star Wars, DC, Breaking Bad, Adventure Time and many more. You can see the wonder on people’s faces as they walk through the door, as I spotted with one particular man whilst I was there (this particular gent left with a hefty pile of comics). Comic Café is a great place to peruse comics, prints and merchandise of all sorts and though its fairly new, I already really enjoy coming to relax for a browse and a cup of tea with the owner, Stan. 

This unique store offers the perfect place for geeks of all ages and fandoms to share a cuppa with people with similar tastes, make connections and friends.

Twitter: @TWComicCafe
Facebook: facebook.com/TW.Comiccafe
Address: 53 Calverley Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2TU

The Terrace (Fenwick) - Tunbridge Wells

At first I was reluctant to write about The Terrace, having visited it several times when I was younger and not remembering anything particularly special about it. Also, it’s a department store (Fenwick) café and not a stand-alone. However, the other day I passed the entrance and noticed it had had a refurbishment. So I decided to go for lunch and check it out!

Upon entering the café I am stunned by its transformation, a once drab and uncomfortable place now looks soft and modern. One wall is bare brick while the others are painted white and purple, matching the menu boards and bringing the whole place together.  Pictures decorate two walls whilst one, the longest, opposite the serving counter is all glass, allowing a glimpse out onto rows and rows of planters all filled with interesting looking plants and beyond over the town.

As soon as you enter the café you are met with shelves full of merchandise for sale, everything from teapots and chocolates to bottles of wine and placemats made of slate. Turing around, the end of the counter presents a range of freshly baked goods including two types of croissant and several types of cake. Just on from this, the counter offers a canteen style ordering system for all but hot food which is ordered here and delivered to your table.

Looking around me as I sit with my croissant and tea, I can see so many different types of people, there are mothers and their children, elderly friends and a couple tucked into a booth, all look happy and comfortable here in this haven, and why not? Sitting in this sleek, modern café it is easy to forget the rushed, bright department store just outside the entrance. The atmosphere is calm and there is a sophisticated feel to the whole place that adds a touch of class to lunchtime.

 In the past I think this has been labelled a place for elderly people but with its modernization comes a new feel and a new place for people, young and old to come and relax and enjoy some good food and drink. I am extremely happy and greatly impressed by The Terrace’s transformation (I can’t believe it took me two months to come and check it out!) and I can see it becoming more and more popular as the word gets around. So I highly recommend The Terrace café in Fenwick in The Victoria Centre if you are ever in Tunbridge Wells.

Twitter: @Royal_Shopper (for the center)
Website: fenwick.co.uk/tunbridge-wells/restaurants-tunbridge-wells
Address: Victoria Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2SR