It was a trip to Lake District in the north of England and yes, it is England where you can find a place for a short pause with tea and cake. We did pull over at 2 destinations: one was a small bakery in the village of Hawkshead and the other one was an afternoon tea at a cosy hotel in Ambleside.
Sun Cottage Cafe and Bakery @ Hawkshead, Cumbria
Sun Cottage Cafe and Bakery @ Hawkshead, Cumbria
Charged Price: GBP5.60 per person for a piece of cake and tea
Visited: 25 June 2015
Food: 6/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Value for money: 7/10
Services: 5/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]
As we walked around Hawkshead village, we were attracted by large pieces of cakes on the window display of a small bakery called "Sun Cottage Cafe and Bakery". We knew in our heart right there that we had to stop by. Without much hesitation, we did pop ourselves into this bakery. The Sun Cottage may be just a small bakery (near Hawkshead Grammar School) but the size of its cakes is enormous.
Walking into the place, you can feel it is a cosy little place that can somewhat make you feel like at home. The lady running the place on the day was really friendly too. If you happen to stop over during lunch, you will find that Sun Cottage also serves hot food.
At the time of our visit, there were only 4 types of cake left: raspberry sponge cake, carrot cake, banana cake, and strawberry chocolate cake. A slice of cake is priced at GBP3.65 which is pretty reasonable in our opinion. We went for raspberry sponge cake and carrot cake. I personally enjoy carrot cake a lot. Cream cheese frosting was lovely. The cake itself was soft and rich. With a pot of earl grey, I was done for the day honestly. Believe me, a slice of cake here is big enough to make you full unless you are a big eater which is not the case for me. As for raspberry sponge cake, it was more or less similar to carrot cake in term of texture. Instead of carrot, it was vanilla based cake with whipped cream and raspberry jam filling.
I do recommend those who are visiting Hawkshead to stop by this place. It is an enjoyable place indeed. You won't find much about information of Sun Cottage on websites. It is not hard to find. If you see Hawkshead Grammar School, Sun Cottage is just a few buildings from the school.
Sun Cottage Cafe and Bakery @ Hawkshead, Cumbria
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]
As we walked around Hawkshead village, we were attracted by large pieces of cakes on the window display of a small bakery called "Sun Cottage Cafe and Bakery". We knew in our heart right there that we had to stop by. Without much hesitation, we did pop ourselves into this bakery. The Sun Cottage may be just a small bakery (near Hawkshead Grammar School) but the size of its cakes is enormous.
Walking into the place, you can feel it is a cosy little place that can somewhat make you feel like at home. The lady running the place on the day was really friendly too. If you happen to stop over during lunch, you will find that Sun Cottage also serves hot food.
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| Sun Cottage Cafe and Bakery @ Hawkshead, Cumbria |
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| cosy and friendly atmosphere |
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| large cakes on window display |
At the time of our visit, there were only 4 types of cake left: raspberry sponge cake, carrot cake, banana cake, and strawberry chocolate cake. A slice of cake is priced at GBP3.65 which is pretty reasonable in our opinion. We went for raspberry sponge cake and carrot cake. I personally enjoy carrot cake a lot. Cream cheese frosting was lovely. The cake itself was soft and rich. With a pot of earl grey, I was done for the day honestly. Believe me, a slice of cake here is big enough to make you full unless you are a big eater which is not the case for me. As for raspberry sponge cake, it was more or less similar to carrot cake in term of texture. Instead of carrot, it was vanilla based cake with whipped cream and raspberry jam filling.
I do recommend those who are visiting Hawkshead to stop by this place. It is an enjoyable place indeed. You won't find much about information of Sun Cottage on websites. It is not hard to find. If you see Hawkshead Grammar School, Sun Cottage is just a few buildings from the school.
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| cake (GBP3.65 per slice), tea (1.95 per pot) |
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| raspberry sponge cake |
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| carrot cake |
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| banana cake |
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| strawberry chocolate cake |
Sun Cottage Cafe and Bakery @ Hawkshead, Cumbria
Main Street
Hawkshead
Ambleside
Cumbria, LA22 0NT
United Kingdom
Hawkshead
Ambleside
Cumbria, LA22 0NT
United Kingdom
Open Hours: daily from morning to 04:00pm
Tel: +44 (0) 1539 436 123
Tel: +44 (0) 1539 436 123
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Rothay Manor Hotel @ Ambleside, Cumbria
Charged Price: GBP15.00 per person for afternoon tea
Visited: 23 June 2015
Food: 5/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Value for money: 6/10
Services: 7/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]
As mentioned above, Sun Cottage is a lovely little place for tea. On the other hand, if you fancy something a little more cosy and comes in buffet style, an afternoon tea at Rothay Manor Hotel may be an answer for you. Rothay Manor Hotel is a nice comfy hotel by River Rothay in Ambleside and can be dated back to early 19th century. Of course, the place is decorated in something between country style and contemporary. There is a nice garden at the front of the hotel too. Afternoon tea here is served in 2 areas: dining room and living room. For us, we chose to be seated in living where it is more relax. During our visit, the weather was splendid in Ambleside and we wished we could have our tea in the garden. Did not ask for that though but it would be tremendous for any visitors if al fresco tea could be done on a fine summer day.
Tea is served between 03:30pm and 05:00pm here. Things here are arranged in self-service buffet style with plenty of choices of both savoury and sweet. The overall impression was enjoyable but not great. The only thing that kind of annoyed me was there was no clotted cream to go with scones but whipped cream instead. For tea and coffee, there will be staffs taking order from you and serve at your table.
Overall, it is not the must-go place for me. But it is a lovely enough place to visit if you have time and enjoy buffet style afternoon tea.
Rothay Manor Hotel @ Ambleside, Cumbria
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]
As mentioned above, Sun Cottage is a lovely little place for tea. On the other hand, if you fancy something a little more cosy and comes in buffet style, an afternoon tea at Rothay Manor Hotel may be an answer for you. Rothay Manor Hotel is a nice comfy hotel by River Rothay in Ambleside and can be dated back to early 19th century. Of course, the place is decorated in something between country style and contemporary. There is a nice garden at the front of the hotel too. Afternoon tea here is served in 2 areas: dining room and living room. For us, we chose to be seated in living where it is more relax. During our visit, the weather was splendid in Ambleside and we wished we could have our tea in the garden. Did not ask for that though but it would be tremendous for any visitors if al fresco tea could be done on a fine summer day.
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| entrance to Rothay Manor |
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| nice and comfortable hotel in lake district |
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| tea is served in living room |
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| a fine afternoon in lake district |
Tea is served between 03:30pm and 05:00pm here. Things here are arranged in self-service buffet style with plenty of choices of both savoury and sweet. The overall impression was enjoyable but not great. The only thing that kind of annoyed me was there was no clotted cream to go with scones but whipped cream instead. For tea and coffee, there will be staffs taking order from you and serve at your table.
Overall, it is not the must-go place for me. But it is a lovely enough place to visit if you have time and enjoy buffet style afternoon tea.
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| buffet style afternoon tea |
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| sweet range |
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| savoury range |
Rothay Manor Hotel @ Ambleside, Cumbria
Rothay Road
Ambleside
Cumbria, LA22 0EH
United Kingdom
Ambleside
Cumbria, LA22 0EH
United Kingdom
Open Hours: daily from 03:30pm - 05:00pm
Tel: +44 (0) 1539 433 605
Web: http://www.rothaymanor.co.uk/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/RothayManorHotel
Web: http://www.rothaymanor.co.uk/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/RothayManorHotel
