From Bradford-on-Avon to Stow-on-the-Wold

Last time, I shared 2 afternoon tea destination that we felt somewhat disappointed. However, there are those wonderful tea rooms too around Bath and Cotswold areas that I would love to share. Here are ones in Bradford-on-Avon and Stow-on-the-Wold. One is rustic and the other is simplistic. Both were lovely and worth a visit (or visits).

The Bridge Tea Rooms @ Bradford-on-Avon

Map: The Bridge Tea Rooms @ Bradford-on-Avon

Charged Price: GBP6.00 per person

Visited: 27 June 2015

Food: 7/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Value for money: 8/10

Services: 6/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

If you happen to be in the small town of Bradford-on-Avon in the west Wiltshire, The Bridge Tea Rooms is one not to be missed. The building of this historic tea room is somewhat over 500 years old. The place is not large and I would say that reservation can be helpful during weekend. It is a small cosy tea room with gorgeous Victorian surrounding. Staffs also dress in old fashion way. For location wise, it is pretty easy to access here too. There are paid parking spaces right opposite the tea room.

Historic building of The Bridge Tea Rooms

cake selection

What we had at The Bridge Tea Rooms were Bridge Cream Tea and Ginger Cake with Lemon Icing. The ginger cake was lovely and dense. Aroma of ginger was noticeable. Lemon icing cut through ginger spice pretty well. The best part here was scones. Scones at this tea room is delicious. I really mean delicious. Smooth and soft but yet fairly dense. Alongside clotted cream was nice, flavourful, and dense. When paring with jam, heaven is within a grasp. It just oozed my day.

For selection of tea, there are some 20+ choices: black tea, blended, white tea, green tea, scented tea, and smoky tea. Good quality too. Needless to say, The Bridge Tea Rooms is a destination of must-visit. Thank God I have found you.

Bridge Cream Tea (GBP7.25) and Ginger Cake with Lemon Icing (GBP3.65)

gorgeous scones with yummy clotted cream and jams

The Bridge Tea Rooms @ Bradford-on-Avon

24a Bridge Street
Bradford-on-Avon
Wiltshire
BA15 1BY
United Kingdom

Open Hours: Mon - Fri: 09:30am - 05:00pm
Sat: 09:30am - 05:30pm
Sun: 10:00am - 05:00pm
Tel: +44 (0) 1225 865 537
Web: http://www.thebridgetearooms.co.uk/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bridge-Tea-Rooms/518828418145237

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Lucy's Tearoom @ Stow-on-the-Wold

Map: Lucy's Tearoom @ Stow-on-the-Wold

Charged Price: GBP5.00 per person

Visited: 29 June 2015

Food: 8/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Value for money: 8/10

Services: 6/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

Here is an excellent one in Stow-on-the-Wold. The place looks so simple, so relax, and so yummy. The place is kept in minimal. There are seats available in the small backyard too. Staffs are lovely. But most of all, it is yummilicious here. Stow-on-the-Wold may be just a small town in Gloucestershire but Lucy's Tearoom is more than just a tea room. It is filled with warmth and delicacy.

fantastic tea room: Lucy's Tearoom

cosy tea room in minimalist style

selection of cakes on the shelf

perfect backyard seats for Summer days

Again, we had a piece of cake and cream tea for our tea break. Apple and Almond Cake (wheat free) was nice enough to sparkle my day. However, Hot Chocolate (GBP2.40 for large) is the one that I might not recommend to anyone. The best of all is definitely scones with clotted cream and jam. Hey....this is just a small tea room in a small town. But the scone is impeccable. It might not look that appealing. When the first bite was tasted, it was another love-at-first-sight for me. So smooth, so soft but a touch of chewiness. Oh well, scones, clotted cream, and jam, you all truly belong to each other.

A must must must visit little tea room. Cheers million times.

Cotswold Cream Tea (GBP7.50)

One of the very best scone so far

Lucy's Tearoom @ Stow-on-the-Wold

The Square
Stow-on-the-Wold
Gloucestershire
GL54 1AB
United Kingdom

Open Hours: daily from 10:00am - 04:30pm

Tel: +44 (0) 1451 830 000
FB: https://www.facebook.com/lucystearoom

2 Different Charming Afternoon Tea in Lake District

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

Map: 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.

Sun Cottage Cafe and Bakery @ Hawkshead, Cumbria

cosy and friendly atmosphere

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.

cake (GBP3.65 per slice), tea (1.95 per pot)

raspberry sponge cake

carrot cake

banana cake

strawberry chocolate cake

Sun Cottage Cafe and Bakery @ Hawkshead, Cumbria

Main Street
Hawkshead
Ambleside
Cumbria, LA22 0NT
United Kingdom

Open Hours: daily from morning to 04:00pm
Tel: +44 (0) 1539 436 123

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Rothay Manor Hotel @ Ambleside, Cumbria

Map: 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.

entrance to Rothay Manor

nice and comfortable hotel in lake district

tea is served in living room

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.

buffet style afternoon tea

sweet range

savoury range

Rothay Manor Hotel @ Ambleside, Cumbria

Rothay Road
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

Mixo Bar @ Hotel Sofitel So Bangkok, North Sathon Road - มิกโซ บาร์ @ โรงแรมโซฟิเทล โซ แบงค์คอก ถนนสาทรเหนือ

Cuisine: Bar

Map: Mixo Bar @ Hotel Sofitel So Bangkok, North Sathon Road - มิกโซ บาร์ @ โรงแรมโซฟิเทล โซ แบงค์คอก ถนนสาทรเหนือ

Charged Price: THB580 per person without alcohol

Visited: 15 April 2015

Food: 3/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Value for money: 5/10

Services: 6/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

Let's make it brief for this review of afternoon tea at Mixo Bar at Hotel Sofitel So Bangkok. First of all, the location is super convenient. Of course, it is right at the junction where Sathon Road and Rama IV Road intersect. There is a MRT station (Lumphini) right at the junction. Mixo Bar is on floor 9 of Sofitel So. It offers a stunning view of Lumphini Park. If you are going to visit Mixo Bar, especially of low tea, make sure you ask for window seats. As for the ambient, it is more like a modern kind of theme. However, it is spacious with high ceiling which makes the place comfortable. I would say that it is a rather decent place to meet up with clients for afternoon business discussion or even chitchatting among friends.

Mixo Bar @ Hotel Sofitel So Bangkok

the view overlooking Lumphini Park

(petite) afternoon tea set at Mixo Bar

As of early 2015, the price of an afternoon tea set (3/10) for 1 person is THB495++. Not so bad for the pricing. Nevertheless, the overall impression was not so great for me. What you would get in the set comprises of tiny pieces of sandwiches, pastries, and free flow choices of tea, coffee, or soft beverage. On the day of my visit, sandwiches were ham sandwich, tuna sandwich, cucumber sandwich, prosciutto and vegetable sandwich, and smoked salmon bagel. These sandwiches were dry. I suspect that they had been prepared in advance and left exposing to air. It would be great if these sandwiches are prepared just when ordered.

As for tea and coffee, tea range seemed to be a better choice. I ordered cafe latte to try and it was a standard machine brewed one: forget the barista. Tea quality was ok but not great, with approx. 20 choices to be chosen from but mostly those aromatic and non-milk based tea. There are only a few milk based black tea.

Ham Sandwich (top) and Tuna Sandwich (bottom)

Cucumber Sandwich (bottom ones)

Prosciutto and Vegetable Sandwich

Smoked Salmon Bagel

just swirling sugar in tea (^w^)

For the pastry range, there were fruit scones which were not quite scones for me, raspberry macaron was a fine one, green tea madeleine was not really my choice of madeleine at all, chocolate eclair had too thick pastry, chocolate tartelette also came with thick part of tart, and opera cake was kind of thick and dry texture. Disappointment really for pastry range. I would think that high end hotel like Sofitel So should be able to an afternoon tea a more worthwhile for their guests. Indeed, there is nothing to argue about the atmosphere and the view. Only if delicacy of food would compliment the experience better. Wish to see improvement of Mixo Bar.

Fruit Scones

jams by Bonne Maman

Raspberry Macaron

Green Tea Madeleine and Chocolate Eclair

Chocolate Tartelette and Opera Cake

Mixo Bar @ Hotel Sofitel So Bangkok, North Sathon Road - มิกโซ บาร์ @ โรงแรมโซฟิเทล โซ แบงค์คอก ถนนสาทรเหนือ

2 North Sathon Road
Bang Rak
Bangkok 10500

Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 08:00am - 01:00am (02:30pm - 05:30pm for afternoon tea)

Tel: +66 (0) 2624 0000
Web: http://www.sofitel-so-bangkok.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/SofitelSoBangkok