10 of the best Surrey tea shops
Above: 1 Tea on the patio is enjoyed by visitors to Cherkley Court
Above: 2 Watts Gallery at Compton in springtime. The tearoom is well worth a visit
Above: 3 Wartime posters give Hasketts tea room in South Street, Dorking, a nostalgic feel
Above: 4 An afternoon snack at Woody’s, Reigate
Above: 5 The high teas at Pennyhill Park, Bagshot, live up to their name
Above: 6 Even on a dull day, families enjoy flocking to Brockham Parish Church for the Sunday afternoon teas
Above: 7 The higgledy-piggledy tearoom at Fanny’s Farm, Merstham
Above: 8 The green at Abinger Hammer
Above: 9 Whitehall, the 16th century house at Cheam, near Sutton
Above: 10 Even on a rainy day, the Pembroke Lodge tearooms at Richmond Park, are a delight
Above: Runner-up The Red Barn, near Lingfield
Above: Time for Tea's Mark Davison
This article was originally featured in the August 08 edition of Surrey Life magazine
There’s little more delightful than venturing out into the green Surrey countryside for a cream tea – and who better to tell us where to do just that than MARK DAVISON of Surrey Mirror ‘Time for Tea’ fame? Here, he picks out his favourites
Cherkley Court, Reigate Road, Leatherhead
Tel: 01372 380980
Opened to the public in the spring of 2007, the bright and breezy Orangery tea room commands fine views from its patio of the rolling Surrey countryside. Surrounded by the newly restored gardens, which include a wonderful grotto, it is one of my favourite spots to enjoy a cup of tea while reading a Sunday newspaper outside in the sunshine.
As well as a selection of gooey sponge cakes, the butternut squash soup, when available, is particularly mouth-watering.
The Victorian mansion, close to Tyrell’s Wood golf course, is owned by the Beaverbrook Trust and was home to the Beaverbrook family for many years. I was secretly hoping not too many people would get to hear of my favourite oasis, but now the word’s out.
Watts Gallery Tea Room, Compton, near Guildford
Tel: 01483 811030
If, like me, you go crazy over Welsh rarebits, pop into the tea room here in Compton, near Guildford, housed in premises that used to be an old barn.
In the tea shop, a dozen tables are covered by floral plastic tablecloths. Sitting at them when I called were people of all ages. It was abuzz. How did they know such an isolated place existed? Obviously, they were regulars.
The tea shop is famous for its Welsh rarebits and I quickly spotted them on the menu when I visited. There were buck rarebits on the menu, too, and a “buck and bacon” variety. Despite my rarebit treat, I couldn’t leave without sampling a fat chunk of chocolate cake, washed down with another cuppa from the old teapot.
Do combine your visit with a tour of the Watts Gallery next door. Soon to close for a multi-million pound refurbishment, the gallery contains an amazing collection of works by the painter George Frederick Watts.
Hasketts, South Street, Dorking
Tel: 01306 885833
A fine little establishment to visit when strolling around the town associated with the ancient breed of cocks with five toes!
Whether you’re a “five toed-’un” – you hail from Dorking – or not, this is the place to indulge in a traditional cream tea washed down with some rather unusual varieties of tea, including one called Gunpowder!
The tea shop is open all day and while sipping your beverage and resting your weary legs after traipsing around the antiques shops – or Waitrose – you can enjoy a blast from the past by studying the wartime posters on the wall.
This tea shop has come top in many a tea trade competition.
Woody’s, Church Street, Reigate
Tel: 01737 216121
This is a refreshing place to visit, not least because, in a town dominated by large coffee and restaurant chains, it is a rare independent. Run by Karen and Andy Wood, helped by their sons Sam and Baz and a full-time chef, this modern café is a perfect place to enjoy a fruit smoothie and a scrumptious butterscotch and walnut tart.
Few places offer butterscotch tarts to the recipe and standard that lured children to school halls for dinner in the past. I once tried to make my own butterscotch tart. It failed miserably and not even the starlings in the garden would touch it...
A baker’s in Leatherhead used to sell them and a woman purporting to be an ex-pat in Australia once rang up the baker for the recipe so she could be reminded of her days in England. The baker reluctantly turned down her plea, dialled 1471 and was alarmed to find she was ringing from just down the road in Guildford and was, no doubt, trying to steal the recipe!
Pennyhill Park, London Road, Bagshot
Tel: 01276 471774
Created in 1849, this five-star Manor House with spa, at Bagshot, near Camberley, boasts 123 luxury bedrooms and suites, all individually designed. But it is also the place to go for tea with friends you want to impress.
The rich and famous wander through the lounges while you indulge in a “high-tea” served on a three-tier plate. It is essential to raise one’s little finger when sipping Earl Grey here.
In spring, the beds of daffodils and tulips are a picture. But don’t forget your wallet. Fortunately, on my visit, it was my friend who paid...
Brockham Parish Church, Brockham Green
Every Sunday afternoon, tables and chairs are laid out on the church lawn at Brockham Parish Church, Brockham Green, and dozens of visitors can be seen sitting around, chatting quietly while admiring the views of the old cottages and houses on the picturesque green, set against the backdrop of the chalk hills of the North Downs.
This is another summer treat, with the teas being organised by bands of volunteers. On one occasion when I called, the local branch of the National Childbirth Trust were industriously putting out platefuls of home-made flapjacks, gateaux, scones and cornflake crunches. The cost of the teas is much less than at a tea shop and the charities benefit from the proceeds.
On my last visit, the Brockham Toddler Group and Baby Group had laid on the refreshments. On that occasion, there was a little muddle over the scones. No one had thought to bring any cream but it certainly didn’t spoil the afternoon and I went up for seconds. So did my elderly mum!
Teas are served from 2.30pm to 5pm outside of winter.
Fanny’s Farm Shop, Markedge Lane, Merstham
Tel: 01737 554444
When I began writing my weekly tea column eight years ago, this was my first port of call. I was in for a shock for while sampling a cream tea in the sunshine, something wet came into contact with my elbow. It was the snout of a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig.
Since that time, I have been back for tea on numerous occasions with friends. They love the “higgledy-piggledy” surroundings and the fact that there is no on-line electricity and a generator has to be used.
Yes, there are a few cobwebs here and there, but when you are sitting in a darkened corner by candlelight listening to a customer tinkling away on the piano near the cakes counter, while outside the rain is pattering down, you know this is heaven.
Fanny Maiklem, a larger-than-life character, has run the farmshop for nigh on 30 years. Now, it is the must-see place for visitors on any day of the week. In recent times, Fanny has branched out and a treehouse tea room has been added. Mind you, booking for a place in there is essential.
Abinger Hammer Tea Room, A25, between Guildford and Dorking
Tel: 01306 730701
This is a little tea room in the living room of a cottage adjoining the post office stores in pretty Abinger Hammer. The shopkeeper and owner pops in to take orders and you may have to wait a little while if the shop is busy.
But this is just like being on holiday. There’s no rush, and usually no queue either. Just sit at the table overlooking the tranquil village green where the annual Teddy Bears Picnic is held and where, every fine summer’s day, youngsters fish in the Tillingbourne stream while their mums lay out a tartan rug for a picnic.
Cyclists cherish this refreshment stop. I called there with friends and the helpful staff knocked up a full English breakfast even though we didn’t see it on the menu. It was even brought to us in the garden adjoining.
Whitehall, Cheam
Tel: 0208 643 1236
This historic mansion, with its centuries-old rooms, paintings and exhibits, is well worth stopping off at – for on a day of clement weather, you can have tea or morning coffee in the garden at the rear. There, it is hard to believe that you are in a suburb of metropolitan Surrey with red double-decker buses passing by outside every few minutes en route to Sutton or Kingston.
When I visited, I enjoyed an afternoon having a leisurely pot of tea and Victoria sponge cake before strolling around the house, learning about places like the nearby 16th century Nonsuch Palace, nothing of which now remains.
Whitehall is an attractive weather-boarded house in the heart of the Cheam Village conservation area. The building has stood on this site since about 1500, and opened to the public in 1978. It was originally a timber-framed wattle and daub building. The 18th century weather-boarding conceals several centuries of additions, including a 16th century staircase tower.
The orange and apricot loaf cake was out of this world when I called in for tea.
Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park, Richmond
Tel: 0208 948 3209
In this spectacular park, full of deer, bracken and park wardens, there stands atop the hill just outside Richmond the great mansion, Pembroke Lodge. The house was built as a hunting lodge for George II by the architect Roger Morris shortly after his accession to the throne in 1727. Queen Caroline, consort of George II, stayed there frequently. On her death in 1737, the lodge passed to Robert Walpole, first Baron Walpole, the son of the Prime Minister. After his death, it came to Queen Caroline’s daughter, Princess Amelia, in 1751.
These days, it is a wonderful venue for wedding receptions, functions – and a cream tea. The views from the tea lounge and the patio are superb. Even the staff were in awe of a terrific sunset the other day.
Be prepared for some noisy interruptions at this heavenly oasis. The park is home to hundreds of noisy, squawking green parakeets, which are now resident in other parts of Surrey, too. It may be helpful to know a little Polish or Slovak at the counter.
Runner up:
Red Barn at Blindley Heath, near Lingfield
Tel: 01342 830820
My Top 10 should also include the newly-restored Red Barn public house at Blindley Heath, near Lingfield, which has a superb tea shop just opened, complete with an Aga stove for the cooking of brunches. You can sit in the peaceful garden outside with a plate of delicious cakes and a pot of tea.
There’s now a farm shop, too, which sells vegetables as well as cakes and local produce. I particularly enjoyed my visit there recently.
If you have tried out any of these locations or have a favourite Surrey tea shop, then leave us your views on the Surrey Life forum.
About the writer
MARK DAVISON has been a journalist on the Surrey Mirror and Dorking and Leatherhead Advertisers for the past 25 years and is famous across the county for his popular Time For Tea column.
Every week, he has the enviable task of “motoring” around the county and sniffing out the best places for a cuppa and a cake, and his weekly instalment is always much anticipated.
Here in Surrey, we are blessed with a wonderful selection of tea rooms in our historic towns and villages – and where better to take friends when they are staying with you? Especially if your guests are from abroad and you want to give them a taste of our rural charms!
Two years ago, the Observer newspaper praised the column and carried a full-page article describing Mark’s trail and the whimsical observations he weaves into his weekly offerings.
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