Cream Teas in South Hams

Visited Soar Mill Cove nr Salcombe for a Devon Cream Tea. The view from the hotel lounge was amazing and the best cream tea I’ve ever had! Fabulous scones, ample clotted cream, homemade jam and fresh strawberries 🍓 yummy! Would definitely recommend if you’re close by!

Lovely location spoilt by bad service- cream tea was fine when it eventually arrived but the waiter didn’t seem to care when asked after 1/2 hour when was the food going to arrive ( he disappeared) and we never saw him again until we were leaving we did get free drinks from a friendly waitress though because of the wait - seems there lacking in supervision

Delightful collection of cakes in a wonderful presentation. Each small item was beautifully created and presented

Not sure if I would recommend the cream tea here, although the venue is amazing. It was nice but not great.

After a long walk on the beach there is nothing that my family enjoys better than a Thurlestone afternoon tea, a great treat when staying at the hotel or even if you are just in the area, as we have done on many occasions. Delicious!

I travelled 35 miles from my home in Cornwall to meet friends at the Thurlestone Hotel for a traditional Devon cream tea. The three of us were given a nice table in the sun on their terrace and we were really looking forward to our afternoon tea. After waiting around 20 minutes, we were brought some scones, a pot of tea for two and one teaplate. Bearing in mind that there were clearly three of us at the table, one plate, two cups and a pot for two was not correct. Eventually one of my friends had to go into the hotel and ask for the correct serving of tea and crockery. Unfortunately she found it very difficult to make the very young and foreign waiters understand that tea for three needs three cups. Eventually a third cup and two more plates arrived and the cream tea commenced. I have had cream teas from all over Devon and Cornwall and have never had a cream tea as bad as this. The scones were very hard and crumbled as soon as they were cut. In all, it was very disappointing.

Very good, comfortable with the high class service of the thurlestone hotel. Speciale mention for the incredible scone

You cannot beat the cream teas at the Thurlestone Hotel. Very generous and a real treat. You can eat it in the newly refurbished sitting room or on the terrace or have it served to you in their beautiful grounds.

Waited a day to calm down to write this. Decided to have an Afternoon Tea for a change whilst on holiday. Arrived at the 4star? Hotel at 4.20 seated outside with dog. The caught waitress immediately requested Afternoon Tea for two. she said cream tea for 2 ? We said no Afternoon Tea for 2 there is a difference. she said she would get us a menu. 15 minutes later waitress gives us 1 menu ( not 2 as you would expect) this menu clearly stated Afternoon tea or Cream Tea. we promptly ordered Afternoon tea for 2 one with pot of tea one with coffee. My site was never asked what choice of apparently 8 she would like. Waitress just advised the wait time would be 10-15 minutes. We said fine. 20 minutes later tea and coffee served? No Afternoon tea yet? Waited waited another 20 minutes drank coffee cold tea no sign of our order another 10 minutes waiter appears with plated afternoon tea for 1 sandwiches, cakes, scones. We pointed out we ordered for 2. Waiter said no order for 1 and pointed out ticket the waitress had written. No apology. No offer of remedy. Just a shrug. At this point all the hotel residence arrived after us being served with utmost cordiality and we where getting extremely embarrassed as people could see that order was incorrect. Again at this point. OK we will settle for one and share as fed up of waiting. And requested fresh tea and coffee and utensils to eat with serviettes as non had been supplied. 10 minutes later sat there like lemons still no cutlery. At this point patience totally expelled asked for manager. Asked for managers name the staff had no idea what his name was? So then we asked for the person in charge on the day, a young lady turned up. Said that there was no blonde/fair watress?? And that all the staff where fully trained..trained in what you tell me. Now getting on for 6.00 and two quaters of a sandwich and one little macaroon and a semi frozen mini eclair later. The supervisor who in her favour was apologetic offered us the Afternoon Tea for free. But so upset and embarrassed was my partner we walked out and left it. We didn't eat it why would we want to stay any longer. Advise go to an establishment who will appreciates your custom not this establishment. Have had better service at a road side vendor😞

Wow... make sure you leave a space for a Thurlestone Hotel cream tea, they awesome! Especially they serve this within the grounds of this lovely hotel...

Tried several places locally for cream teas but not found a really good one yet. Clotted cream in tubs and jam in jars accompanied by enormous very dry scones which suck all of the moisture from your mouth.

Oh dear! It comes to something when you take two 80+ year olds to a 'quality' hotel for a Devon Cream Tea, and as we pushed the wheelchair into the lounge, they both turned up their nose and commented that the place was 'dead'. The receptionists were excellent, and most helpful when it came to showing us where to park so we could use the wheelchair access approach. The waiters were surly, miserable and only an ounce short of being downright rude! We were pointed at the scones and cakes, and when we pointed out that there was almost no cream and jam left in the large bowls, as well as just a few assorted sized scones, and cakes, we were met with a shrug of the shoulder and told we should have arrived earlier - this was around 3pm.................I realise the average age of the guests meant that we lowered it by several decades when we arrived, but surely 3pm in anyone's language is still a proper time for 'afternoon tea'!!! We sat in armchairs with a table between us and this was covered with a table cloth that had crumbs and jam on it from previous occupants - and were amazed when our tray of drinks was simply deposited on top, without any thought of even brushing off the crumbs let alone, heaven forefend, replacing it with a clean one! Afternoon tea for 4 came to £27.80. Had we left a tip it would have been to the waiter - learn manners, study what good service should be about, or find a more suitable job! Dreadful experience, not helped by watching one of the guests drag an old dog (4-legged variety) up the stairs to her room (presumably as she was talking to it as though it was a relative!) This could be the next Fawlty Towers reality tv show if an enterprising producer visits and starts to take notes! We wont be returning any time soon!