Shhh (part 2)

I first heard of the second secret venue when I saw it scrawled accross a black board perched outside a dodgy looking pub. ‘Secret Tea Room’, it said, embellished with a shaky drawing of a teapot. It included the word ‘secret’ and ‘tea’ so naturally my interest was piqued. However, my experience of tea in pubs is woeful, and located as it was, in a shabby looking pub, I thought that it was nothing more than a tourist rip off. So I stole my eyes away from the blackboard and walked on. Then I read That Kate’s review and gasped. Could it be that this is the very same place? I silently chastised myself for my over cautious ways and resolved to pop in after work that very same day (one has to move fast with these secret things. Or so I tell myself... ahem)

Cake cake cake!

I was in the middle of thinking about who would be free to come with me last minute, but caught myself  and decided that i'd go alone, something I want to do more of. So last week I took myself on an after work date, and paid a visit to the Secret tea Room for a nice spot of tea and a little something sweet for the palette. 

My tea and scone included a cake stand, my clotted cream came in a mini teacup, the jam in a shell shaped bowl and it was all served on proper china.

My suspicians about the pub were pretty spot on, but I sidled to the bar and asked for the tea room.  Thrillingly, the bartender nodded, lifted the hinged part of the bar and invited me in.  I was shown through the bar, past the kitchen and up a flight of stairs.  It felt like I had walked through a time warp when I saw the room that awaited me. Staff are dressed in vintage attire, music plays from a record player in the corner and the room is adorned in victorian mirrors and old furniture. I savoured my delicious if ever so slightly dry scone and an Oolong tea for one whilst enjoying the surroundings and scribbling in my note books.  (Oolong, by the way, is on my favourite words list). My tea and single large scone cost me about £5 which I thought was infinitely reasonable.  Me, my purse and my notebooks had a blast.

I especially liked that my pot of tea came with a timer to ensure optimal brewing time. Hats off.

I am a definite convert to post work tea and cake. Or 'early evening tea', if you like. I left the cafe feeling positively serene (scone coma?) and walked to the station slowly with  a smile on my face, rather than my usual steely faced power stomp. I also rather enjoyed taking myself on a date and resolved to do it more often. I’ll definitely be back…



I was without my camera, so you'll have to make do with my grainy Hipstamatic prints, but head over to That Kate to see her beautiful photo's of the tea room (and, in fact, everything else she turns her camera on, go go!)