Bessie's Tea Parlour in Thanet

If you want to take a trip down memory lane to 1940s this is the place. Lovely period artefacts and ambience. The young waitress was very helpful. But prices are certainly NOT from a bygone age...! About £4.00 for a small coffee - ok in a china cup! And About £8.00 for a small thin brown sliced sandwich. Hmmmm! Only ones there for most for most of our lunch. ( July 12). Might appeal to richer tourists but for everyday locals like us - slightly disappointing.

Excellent, deserves good trade.

My partner and I came for an impromptu afternoon tea today and we were not disappointed. The food was delightful, the tea was amazing and the service provided by jess was even better. Well done to you all. Will definitely recommend and use again. Andy and Ruth.

50s atmosphere, with that hint of melancholy! And this welcome, these little cakes for the four hours. Simply divine.

A little jem, old style tea room, huge pot of tea for two, lovely cream and jam scones, in comfortable surroundings, and dog friendly

Perfect afternoon tea. The staff are very friendly and accommodating. The cakes and sandwiches are delicious. There is a varied selection of teas. The table and decor are all very vintage and homely like tea at your nans.

Such a lovely tea room with excellent service and the most beautiful crockery. Great selection of teas and food options.

We pre-booked a vegan afternoon tea and had a lovely time here. The interiors and feel were really classic British - homey and cosy. With our tea set we had a selection of scones, biscuits, cakes, and delicious sarnies! Unlimited tea (with oat/ soy as dairy free options). Dog friendly.

Good service, and very nice afternoon tea.

Beautiful nice little tea shop for enjoying an afternoon cream tea or some coffee with a tasty piece of cake.

My wife and myself are currently holidaying in Broadstairs staying at the impressive Yarrow Hotel (Review to follow) and earlier this afternoon we walked into Town via the easily accessible Coast Path. Whilst in town we fancied an Afternoon Tea and were fortunate to find a free table in Bessie’s Tea Perlour. It proved a most enjoyable experience with quality China, tea, scones (we opted for the homemade Cheese & Fruit scones - together with clotted cream & strawberry jam) and first rate service. No difficulty at all in recommending Bessie’s Tea Parlour to others - assuming, of course, they are also fortunate enough to find a free table!!

Lovely little tea room, really good service from the staff, nice sandwiches and good cakes. Wonderful place.

This charming Tea Parlour was one of the highlights of a trip to Broadstairs. I had the best vegan Afternoon Tea here (they also do non vegan). We had a good selection of finger sandwiches, plus delicious mini Victorian sponge, chocolate brownie, iced biscuit and scone with jam and tea of course.

Love it been many times menu is good and the staff give a great service are helpful and friendly. Though small they have the right amout of seating/tables so it's cosy but not cramped. The decor and memorabilia go so well and I love the pretty crockery and the fact it doesn't all match really doesn't matter. They also do takeaways.Highly recommend. They do great cheese scones!

Birthday cream tea, wonderful thank you so much xx

We are on holiday in Broadstairs & I decided to treat my mum to afternoon tea at Bessie's. It was fantastic, the ladies there could not have done enough for us. Would definitely recommend a visit! Thank you!

Visited twice during a week stay in Broadstairs. Food was delicious (especially the Biscoff cake), very friendly service and a vintage playlist to add to the atmosphere. Wish we lived closer!

We only wanted a simple lunch and looking at the menu, we opted for jacket potatoes. We asked for without butter (fortunately due to diet not allergy) as the nice waitress had to tell us butter had been added. She offered to re-cook them, but it was ok. Good to tell us, in case it was an allergy, but someone did not read what she had written down. Nice pot of tea in old fashioned pot, and using old fashioned cup and saucer. Will go again, next trip. The afternoon teas looked very interesting. Shame about our diets!

Delicious cream tea! Super cute decor. Lovely service. Dog friendly. What's not to love

What an amazing place.Step back in time and enjoy freshly made scones and cakes with old fashion china and noshtalgic music.Thankyou for a wonderful Cream Tea..Highly recomend a visit.

Amazing afternoon tea booked just the day before and followed pescetarian requirements! Absolutely delightful. Scrumptious sandwiches, gorgeous cakes and fluffy scone with the best jam ever! All this made better by the great service by both girls there, especially Eloise! She was so sweet and welcoming and accommodating. Lovely girl.10/10 Left happy and well fed! (And will be dreaming of your scones and jam for a while!)

Very good will come back and dog friendly.

I booked Bessie’s tea parlour for afternoon tea for my grandmother, myself and my two very young children. We needed one afternoon tea and one children’s party tea to be gluten free and this was not only no trouble at all (prebooked) but also delicious - not easy to do with GF food! The lady serving us was so so friendly and welcoming but not overbearing. She made my young children feel very special and welcome. We all really enjoyed our food and took home the leftovers to enjoy later. The selection of teas is the best I’ve ever seen with some choices we had never heard of too. Can’t wait to return - thank you for a fab treat!

I had a quiche salad that was sublime. Crisp, friable wholemeal pastry with a simple, great tasting filling accompanied by lovely selection of salad items. My wife's cream tea was very good. Had to wait a while for the quiche but it was well worthwhile.

This is such an amazing place. The staff is adorable. The food is wonderful. Un endroit magnifique, avec un beau décor traditionnel, et la nourriture qui vous sera servie est exceptionnelle. Allez-y sans hésiter !

Very pleasant and friendly little cafe/ tea rooms. Can't fault the Huffkins and the Baked Potatoes were cooked to perfection.

Afternoon Tea - just had an amazing afternoon tea it was delicious from the sandwiches to the selection of cakes and scone with jam & cream everything was fresh and well presented . Will definitely be returning

We found this charming place whilst wandering around Broadstairs and enjoyed a delightful lunch there. our host was very friendly and helpful and I tried the local traditional huffkins which was very good.

We absolutely loved Bessie’s tea parlour. We both had cream tea. The tea was delicious. Mine was decaff from loose leaves and it was one of the best pots of teas I ever had! The scones… I don’t even know where to start. They were delightful. They were light and fluffy and tasty. They were still warm when they were served to me. It came with ample jam and clotted cream served in mini tea cups! The waitress was really lovely and helpful. The little tea room is very sweet, with that 50s vibe I want to say. Great place all round.. 100% recommend!

Very pleased with the service and food . We will return again at some time in future and recommend to others.

Found this gem of a place on Bank holiday Monday 8th May, my husband and I really enjoyed our cream tea, scones were still warm plenty of jam and clotted cream, proper pot of tea made with tea leaves. My son really enjoyed his latte. Great service from staff, friendly and very helpful.

6 of us went today , had a coronation tea , it was so good plenty of food, lovely waitresses, would recommend it highly, everyone enjoyed it ,

Sehr hübscher Tearoom mit tollen Speisen und Getränken. Angenehmes junges Team. Tolle Atmosphäre. Kann man empfehlen.

The most delightful gem in Broadstairs. I can’t resist this KENT Blue Rarebit - I’ve had quite a few. They do amazing afternoon teas too - also had quite a few too to take home and enjoy. Highly recommended

Had my first tea experience here and it was lovely! There was a wide selection of tea options and yummy sandwiches and desserts. The staff were very kind and welcoming. Would love to return one day if I visit again.

This beautiful cafe matches its retro decor with excellent food and service. The menu is full of delicious treats, you'll plan your next visit before you finish your first. Really lovely staff.

We had a lovely lunch today. Sandwiches were all delicious, fresh and lots of filling. The spiced apple was very tasty too. The member of staff serving was very friendly and efficient. We would definitely recommend and return.

We popped in as the cafe was dog friendly. The staff are very polite and courteous and the food was very nice

We popped in for a cuppa on a very cold windy February day. Proper leaf tea served in charming teapots with delicate cups. Also shared a delicious large toasted tea cake. Staff very friendly and welcoming.

Unable to tell you about the food unfortunately, as unable even though we are locals to book a table on the 18th March for a cream tea at £7.00, this is because it is Mother's Day the following day and they can make nearly £25...

Lovely afternoon tea, very tasty sandwiches and cakes, lovely friendly staff, nothing too much trouble, would definitely recommend

Brilliant service, gorgeous scones

This is a lovely, friendly Tea Room with a good range of tasty food. I look forward to visiting it again!

Food was good, very friendly service.

We came for an early lunch and tried Kentish huffkins for the first time. The staff here are very friendly and told us about the myth behind the huffkin and it’s dimple. Food was really good and they have a great selection of teas to...

Wonderful little vintage tea room in Broadstairs. Everything was reasonably priced. The scone we shared tasted fresh (and like it had been warmed in an oven!) and delicious. Service was great and a lovely atmosphere, even though it was a quiet week day afternoon.

Loved it. Good cup of tea and the correct atmosphere

We had afternoon tea here today for 5 including 2 dairy free. Sandwiches and cakes and scones were delicious all homemade and presented beautifully. This was our first visit here but will definitely not be our last!

Lovely, very clean, food really lovely and the staff are great.

I was charmed by Bessie’s A friendly welcome. Lovely menu - traditional with a nod to the more modern choices. Great range of sandwich choices with daily special filings. Love that there is a choice of afternoon teas. Specially appreciate the savoury option which isn’t...

What a treat. Bessie’s was lovely. Great menu with corned beef and pickled sandwich as a special on the day I went. Brilliant. Afternoon tea is beautifully presented. Loose leaf tea, selection of sandwiches and cakes baked on the premises. The space is charming with a couple of outside tables too. Friendly, helpful and warm staff. Jess was a delight - nothing was too much trouble. Next time the savoury tea. Who doesn’t love crisps with a sandwich?

The cutest little tea house, with the real tea & scone’s touch. Lovely staff, fitting the atmosphere, including the apron. Fantastic spot for people watching.

A fabulous place for tea, cake and conversation, with a consistent nostalgia, from porcelain to music. Superb drink, eat and service. And a welcomed change from the usual alcohol-push in the area.

A real gem of a place. Lovely mish mash of crockery. Very attentive staff and enjoyable tasty food. I would highly recommend

Called in here today for lunch as they were serving Crab Sandwiches. Really nice food and a great selection of tea. I'm a stickler for loose leaf tea and Bessies has a great selection. Friendly and quick service and a nice atmosphere. Highly recommended.

The scones jam and cream are excellent and there is a fine choice of blended teas I can recommend the Bessie’s Blend. The service is very good

Quirky, classy & brilliant. Lovely food & great coffee

Fantastic tea room. Great food and wonderful service.

Yummy Afternoon tea. Everything was so fresh & tasty. Definitely going again.

Great spot for grabbing a bit and avoiding the local crowds. I had a crab sandwich, sconesC and tea. Everything was really nice and the staff were very helpful.

Lovely place, great choices and friendly, shame the toilets are downstairs though

Small but lovely old style tea house, good range of teas and home made cakes and scones.

Where do I start! Cream Tea delivery for Mothers Day, delicious mini rolls and finger sandwiches, mini cakes, cheese scone and of course a scone with jam and clotted cream which was also delicious. Beautifully presented in a box finished of with a couple of...

Popped in for tea/coffee and cake. Friendly service, delicious cakes. Recommended, will be returning

Very nice, the friendly staff had our table all laid out ready (we'd pre booked) and the selection of teas was amazing. We had the cream tea and all the different cakes and sandwiches were delicious, thank you for a lovely treat and service.

Friendly service. Tasty sandwiches & cakes. Highly recommended tea room in the centre of Broadstairs.

A beautiful and tasty afternoon tea. Excellent sandwiches and plenty of them. The cakes including the scones were absolutely gorgeous and all home made. There was plenty of food and a huge selection of teas and coffees. Something for everyone. A wonderful afternoon tea.

Delicious homemade cakes and great variety of teas and coffee, service was very friendly and welcoming , nice place to stop on your walk around the town.

Well I was surprised by this place. Been there 6 years and I have never been in. Wish I had done once I tasted some of there homemade cakes. Do a great choice for a small place. There were 6 of us, we all had something different and we all loved it. Will definitely be returning. Yummy 😎👍

It was a dull, rainy, dreary day and what could be more inviting than a quaint old traditional tea room with a 'dream' choice of cakes and flavoured teas. We thought we'd drop in just for a quick cuppa to dodge the rain, we ended...

We enjoyed a lovely cream tea here this afternoon. The cream tea had been a present to me. The scones were lovely, served with cream and jam together with a pot of English Breakfast tea. Delicious. Staff were friendly and pleasant. Tea rooms were busy...

Loved the genteel atmosphere and vintage vibe. Really attentive and friendly service. Good menu of fresh sandwiches, lovely leaf tea in beautiful china pot. Would definitely revisit for cream tea or cake!

Loved the genteel atmosphere and vintage vibe. Really attentive and friendly service. Good menu of fresh sandwiches, lovely leaf tea in beautiful china pot. Would definitely revisit for cream tea or cake!

Wow! What a lovely afternoon tea! The finger sandwiches were tasty and exactly what I love with an afternoon tea. Scones were super fresh and soft (most definitely the best scones I’ve ever had) and the cake selection was great. Customer service was fantastic with...

We were really disappointed by the service in this cafe. Firstly, the sandwiches were like those you would serve to kids - cheap, supermarket bought bread, no artisan bread here (which would be an easy fix). Also, why ration the sauce. There were 4 of...

I ordered a crab sandwich and a cheese sandwich to take away. We waited aged to collect them. There was very little crab in the sandwich and the bread was thinly sliced, and could have been any sliced bread. Very expensive for what we got.

Really delicious lunch, lovely tea. Service was excellent. Would definitely recommend. Quaint 1940/50s feel about the decor along with music playing. Lovely tea rooms.

A lovely hidden jewel on the High Street, you could walk past and barely notice it, but keep a lookout for this cafe, it is one you should not miss. The atmosphere is charming as is the love China that holds all the delicious food...

Enjoyed an afternoon tea here. Food superb and very friendly service. Highly recommend this place! Food served on beautiful China!

What a find, freshly made crab sandwiches and a good afternoon tea. Will definitely return here. Shame it is so small but it all presented beautifully.

Fab find! The toasted cheese scone is absolutely delish!!

Always delicious food, served beautifully in this charming little tea room. The cheese scones are delicious.

My family and I have been to Bessie's tea parlour before and was so impressed that we came back, it is worth every penny, in line with the government guidelines to covid regulations, Bessie's tea parlour is for some a step back in time, beautifully presented foods from sandwiches to cakes and a pot of different types of tea's, flavoured herbal tea to several everyday day tea's, the choice is endless, I would highly recommend this venue to anyone, they cater for all and more, time spent there is a must.

Had a lovely time at Bessie’s tea parlour catching up with a friend over afternoon tea! Exactly what you’d hope for from a tea parlour, good quality ingredients, cute, well thought out decoration and background music to match! Lovely place to relax with nice food....

Went to Bessie’s tea room for cream ttea and had mediocre scones with cream and jam. Asked if possible to change tea for a water instead and was told by the waiter that it was fine. Asked also if could replace tea for my husband...

Vastly overpriced nd terrible service. Not worth the effort of walking thru the door. Alan.

Saw this tea room and thought I would give it a go. Was met by a young man who seemed to be not coping due to insufficient staff. He served people that arrived after us first, and I had to go up to him to place my order. Although he was pleasant he unfortunately lacked that the experience that front of house needs. I saw some people walk out as he said each person in the group had to scan for Covid checking in. Saw a couple outside who went in and said they wanted to order, waited outside, and gave up waiting. Food was ok, but nothing memorable and place lacked warmth and atmosphere

I have taken delivery today of a festive afternoon tea, we had cranberry & pear scones, apple & cinnamon scones, 2 pots of clotted cream, 2 pots of festive jam plus a box of home made mince pies, wow they all looked great and they...

Fantastic service, lovely food and possibly the best Mocha I have ever had. We will definitely go again.

We just had afternoon tea for 2 and it was lovely and fresh. Proper British traditional tea, cakes and sandwiches. Thomas served us and he was super friendly, attentive and pleasant, would deffo recommend a little visit.

We ordered this as a birthday treat, and Bessies tea parlour delivered a lovely afternoon tea. We would definitely recommend! An excellent experience and Karen helped us order remotely for the perfect surprise. Thank you very much!

Lovely old fashioned tea room. Lovely cream teas. And old crockery too.

Bessie’s tea parlour is a lovely little tea shop. It’s very vintage. We had afternoon tea . Sandwiches, scone with jam and cream and a variety of small cakes The food was lovely and the waitress was so kind and helpful. I would suggest phoning...

We really enjoyed the “Beforenoon Tea “ - the food was delicious ,presented well and filling ! I was able to swap the bacon roll for an egg roll with no problem. The tea parlour tables were very socially distant /spaced out and everywhere was...

We came for the "before noon tea" and it was delicious! The cheese scones were melt-in-the-mouth tasty and the portion size was just right. An indulgent treat served with care in these covid aware times. Thankyou for such a great treat.

Afternoon tea with my daughter. Food was lovely, staff friendly and helpful. Good value for money. Perhaps background music might have helped the ambience. It would certainly have saved us from listening to effing and blinding from a table of 3 "ladies" who, frankly, were EASILY old enough to know better. When they started playing inane video clips we knew it was time to leave. Star down was due to the toilet facilities looking like they hadn't been properly cleaned for a few days.

Great coffee and friendly staff

Very traditional, retro tea parlour. Lovely if the 1940s vibe is your thing. No complaints at all, but disappointingly boring selection of cakes.

This is a good place for afternoon tea and a large slice of cake. The specials looked pretty amazing as well but you need to be hungry. Quite small inside and gets really busy at the weekend.

We came here for a quick bite to eat with the kids on a busy Saturday. The food is simple but delish, all reasonably priced. We were in town over lunch and just wanted something simple. The service was amazing considering it was so busy....