I am a very lucky bird to have a wonderful circle of girlfriends in my life. Earlier in the week, I was told that a table had been reserved for 2 chicklets and I to go to Beauvale Priory as a pre-birthday treat for me. I went to the gym and had a great fitness Pilates session with Maxine, then hopped home to get changed and indulge in some yummy morsels and lots of girl-gossip.
The Gate house tea room is located at the end of a long track, and once inside you are transported back to a much quieter, gentler time. The staff are all very pleasant, nothing is too much trouble for them, and the venue is very popular with every table either taken or reserved for lunchtime. We decided to have the afternoon tea selection which is available singly or for two, allowing you the freedom to have it for as many people as wish to indulge in your party.
The tea selection is served on a beautiful china three-tier stand; the top tier had some crisps to nibble on, the middle layer had a very tantalising variety of cakes and scones and the bottom tier housed the sandwich and salad selection. On closer inspection the sandwiches were cheese and beetroot, ham and cheese, egg mayonnaise and tuna mayonnaise on wholemeal bread, with the salad comprising lettuce, tomato, cucumber and red onion.
We tucked in with our usual enthusiasm and agreed that all the sandwiches were beautifully fresh and tasty, as was the salad. With the savoury selection completely gone (including the crisps) we turned our attentions to the cakes. First to go were the scones; now these beauties were crammed with fruit and then spread with really tasty Strawberry jam and festooned with an inch of fresh whipped cream - absolutely glorious.
The other cakes were a supremely gooey chocolate fudge brownie slice, a lovely moist lemon and poppy seed drizzle cake and a gorgeous coffee and walnut cake. Every single morsel was thoroughly savoured and enjoyed which is testament to its standard, and I also loved the fact that my pot of tea was loose leaf tea. I have to say that it was a belting brew, and I do like a good cuppa.
Before we knew it an hour and a half had flown by and we had to go our separate ways back to reality, but while we were in the tea room it was as if time stood still and every table was filled with conversation and smiles. Times like these are good for the soul and with such a wonderful setting in the heart of rural bliss you can’t help but enjoy.
Thank you to the Gate house tea room team, you do a fantastic job and the food you serve is really tasty. Hot Wings deserved here, I hope you can pay them a visit in the near future as I think you will thoroughly enjoy it.
