Rylands Cafe, John Rylands Library, Manchester

The Rylands Cafe,  July 19th 

This was an unexpected afternoon tea, we visited the building as we had walked past so many times and found it interesting but had no idea what was actually inside. Without detracting from afternoon tea, the library and the building is well worth a visit. 

When we arrived we saw the cafe area and thought coffee and cake was due but once we saw that there was an afternoon tea option, seemed silly not to opt for it. Afternoon tea is served 12-3 and is just £8.50 per person. 

We were offered a choice of tea or coffee (inc latte/cappuccinos etc) and also asked if we needed a vegetarian option.

The service was first class. the drinks were served with a very large pot of tea and small plate for tea bags, should it be too strong. (This is a very nice touch) The crockery was traditional and in keeping with afternoon tea.

We were brought two side plates each, I make a point of this as I have afternoon tea quite often and this is the first time I have been given a plate for savoury and for sweet the way it should be, even from some of the top hotels.

The sandwiches included tuna & cucumber, cheese and pickle, and ham. The sandwiches were served on ver fresh and different types of bread, again a nice change.

There was a fruit scone served with a good amount of jam, butter and cream.

There were two piece of cake each, a slice of Bakewell tart and rocky road.

The amount served ensured that we were full and all of the food was very good. We were approached part way through and asked if we wanted any more tea or coffee, this was appreciated and was served at no extra cost.

This was exceptional value for money, there are many places where just two lattes and a small cake would cost more than this! I would highly recommend this afternoon tea to both visitors to Manchester and locals. This experience was spare of the moment and with no need to book a great option for many. The setting makes it a great low cost afternoon too.

Cafe Rylands, Manchester

Proper Tea Room, Manchester Cathedral

Proper Tea Thursday 17th April 2014

I popped in on my way back to the car from lots of business meeting that had started at 630am. I decided that I deserved a treat and as it was middle of the afternoon and I had no lunch it seemed a very good idea. I don't normally have afternoon tea on my own (I doubt many do), but I asked and it was not a problem for one.

The interior design has rustic charm with a vintage feel and is very welcoming. It's nice to have odd and quirky but with order and planned designed. I understand that NoChintz from Manchester's Northern Quarter came up with it. There was plenty of vintage music in the background and with it being a quiet time when I was in this was welcomed.

Anyway back to the food and drink, firstly there is an excellent choice of teas and they are all loose leaf. If you want to add a glass of Prosecco to it you can, but I stuck with the traditional tea at £16 per person.

The staff were very pleasant and the speed of service was excellent.

The first thing to arrive was the tea and presented with a timer and instructions for the desired strength. Loved the milk in the tiny milk bottle.

Then came the food, I will say at this point that had I known they were feeding the 5000 I may have re-considered having afternoon tea on my own. I did feel a tad piggish when it arrived!

                  

I am not sure that these photos really show just how large the portions were but I did take a box home with me!

The sandwiches were very fresh and were truly filled! Ham and Cheese and Chicken and Avocado were the two fillings and a total of six triangles.

As for the cakes what do I say, no small miniature versions here, full blown slices, not forgetting the home made fudge (which was awesome). The chocolate was flour free and soooooo good, the rainbow cake was moist and very tasty. There was a chocolate and raspberry torte, the traditional scone (not a small one either) with jam and cream (plus butter) oh and two ginger biscuits.

As I said I did take much home in a box and shared with hubby as there was plenty for two in a one person portion. 

I have to say that the food, the venue and the value for money was excellent however, the amount served was excessive and in some ways off putting. I do not like waste and to be honest I'm not the type of person that asks for a box but felt in this case that it was really necessary to do so. I don't believe such large portions need to be served, small versions of the cakes would be preferred by many I think and four triangles all different would be preferred personally.

It is a really nice place to visit and well worth it, but go very very hungry!

Proper Tea, Manchester Cathedral 

Georges, Worsley

Georges, Worsley 12th April 2014

Called in a couple of weeks prior and booked a table for four of us for a Saturday afternoon. No problem booking a table, and when we arrived it was quite busy with some parties including one with Bobby Charlton and a group of Chinese people.

We were seated immediately. We were booked for afternoon tea but opted for additional drinks, the service at this point started to be questionable. It took us a few goes to get drinks and eventually we did but then had to chase for the tea and coffee that went with the afternoon tea.

The food was quite prompt and to be fair it was very good with a good twist and the personal touch. At £15.95 per person not a bad price for the status of the restaurant.

The sandwiches included: Creamed Goats Cheese & Cucumber, Tea Smoked Salmon, Egg Mayonnaise with Cress, Honey Glazed Ham & Grain Mustard and Roast Beef and Horseradish. All beautifully presented and very fresh. Nice to have a selection of rolls too.

As with a traditional tea there were fresh scones and they were very good, served with jam and clotted cream.

There was a very good selection of homemade cakes and treats including millionaires shortbread, sponge cake, fruit cake, eccles cake and chocolate brownie.

                

Overall the food was excellent and good value for money, but the service was poor.  When the food was brought it was placed at one side so that two of the four of us had one of the tiers each and when we checked if that was one each she said yes, clearly it was not but we had to re-ask someone else when we eventually found someone that could help. It was to be shared between the four and should have been served as such. The young waitress really needed further training.

It took an age to get the bill (we had to ask 3 times), we had to work out where they had put our coats (in a hidden type cupboard) and get ourselves. All minor but really did let the experience down. This is a shame as having eaten here for an evening meal this was the opposite of previously.

The food and presentation is great and on this occasion the service did not meet what was expected in such an establishment. It was with friends but thankfully not a special occasion.

Georges, Worsley

The Terrace Tea Room, Oswaldtwistle Mills

The Terrace Tea Room, Sunday 19th January 2014

The first afternoon tea of this year and it was decided at short notice and where we wanted to go we couldn't as they were fully booked up. (One for February perhaps). After some Googling stumbled on this tearoom at Oswaldtwistle Mils Accrington,no need to book so we went along.

The Tea Room is quite new and modern and set in one of the outside sections (for want of a better phrase) rather than inside the main Mill. As it is part of the general area and is more of a cafe it is self service. The staff were noticeably very polite and smiley and when I went to order there was no problem with a coffee as well as a tea. Although no option was offered for a cappuccino or latte. The menu did say it was loose tea but it was actually a tea bag, but never the less it was a decent brew.

The crockery was of vintage style setting the scene for afternoon tea.

The afternoon tea arrived on a traditional three tier stand in white and nicely presented.

There were three sandwich fingers each and the brown bread was especially fresh. The fillings were, Tuna, Salmon and Cream Cheese and the traditional cucumber swerved with a small bowl of crisps.

The scones were quite small, much smaller than most places but there was plenty of jam and cream and they were very nice and again fresh.

We had just two cakes a carrot cake and a fruit cake both of which where fresh and very nice although hubby was not happy with the topping on the carrot cake. This is one of his favourite cakes but realy didn't like that bit of it, personally I liked it. 

The cost of the afternoon tea is £12.50 for two, and I think this was worth the money especially if you compare to going to one of the large high street coffee chains for coffee and cake only. It is not however a special treat or occasion. The surroundings are nice but it is in a shop!

Having done this blog for about a year I think my ratings may need to change a little to allow for the big differences between the top hotels and restaurants to the small cafes and coffee shops. At present until I think of a better way of rating, I give this three cups, but there is absolutely nothing wrong it is just not a special occasion venue and to be honest they are not trying to be.

The Terrace Team Room, Oswaldtwistle Mills

The Chocolate Cafe, Ramsbottom

The Chocolate Cafe, 7th December 2013

The last afternoon tea of the year and this one was free! This was from a competition that I entered with Norther Star IFA and I won. The perfect prize from my perspective.

There was no need to book so we turned up on the Saturday afternoon with gift voucher in hand. 

We looked at the menu and noticed that it is the cafes own take on the afternoon tea and not what one would call truly traditional. You can choose any sandwich or drink from the menu rather than a selection of fingers.

  

We ordered tea (tea bag) and a latte and they were served in white crockery and very nice. Both drinks were served with a chocolate stick (I am sure there is a proper name for them) which was a nice touch.

We both opted for the beef sandwich which was with hindsight a rather silly thing to do; the sandwiches were served on chunky bread (very fresh) and in quarters so if we had chosen a different one each we could have shared. 

The afternoon tea was served on a three tier stand but it was in plastic! For us this was a bit of a let down as it cheapened the whole experience, I felt like I was at a children's party.

The sandwiches were served with salad, coleslaw and some crisps. The beef sandwiches were very good and as I said the bread was very fresh.

The scones were of a good size and there was plenty of jam and cream with them.

Being at the Chocolate Cafe, they specialise in chocolate so when it came to the treats/mini cakes on the top tier there was a great choice of things that you would not normally get. The coffee cake was lovely, and then the selection of chocolate pieces.

If we had paid for this it would have been £25 for the two us. The Chocolate Cafe is an experience to go to but not necessarily for their afternoon tea in the traditional sense. It has their own twist which is great but the plastic tier really did let the experience down for us, it cheapened it.  The food though was very good and I would recommend a trip to the cafe as there are so many great chocolate things to choose from it is something else.

The Chocolate Cafe