Grand View Tea Gardens in Isle of Wight

Visited today for a cream tea. Drinks served in dirty mugs, scones on polystyrene plates with one pot of jam and cream to share. Scone was like rubber. We only had one mouth and left. Disgraceful!!

Not clean and bread was VERY stale. Expensive too. I returned most of the sandwich. See main review of hotel.

We were on holiday, staying nearby and thought we would try this place for an ice cream. We tried to go on a previous day, but the opening hours seem a bit haphazard, so definitely don’t make a special trip without checking they are open first. Can’t fault the ice creams themselves, or indeed the range of flavours, and certainly not the quantity of helpings received, but the time it took to be served was excessive. When we arrived the lady serving was completing a sandwich order and we were next in the queue. We finally got our order (just 4 ice creams and a coffee) about 15mins later, by which time the queue had grown to three other people. The making of the sandwich was painfully slow and then the tubs of ice cream were so rock hard than she really struggled to scoop any out. The freezer seemed to be set too high and looked like it had not been defrosted for years…there was so much ice round the sides. Whilst circumstances may have conspired and it was not necessarily all the lady’s fault, there was a guy loading the drinks fridge with bottles who could have gone to help serve others etc, but just carried on loading the fridge the whole time!

Yes the name says it all, a Garden, all alfresco seating, with a terrific view over the English Channel, were you can enjoy liquid refreshment and light comestibles. The small wooden shed at which you order your fare offers a variety of Teas and Coffees, Sandwiches including Toasties, Cake and Scones with Jam and Cream This is a very pleasant spot to enjoy a brew and snack, weather permitting. It is a few minutes stroll uphill from the top entrance of the famous Shanklin Chine and worth the small diversion to find. Major Credit Cards are accepted, but Cash preferred.

Very shocked by the state of the place everything seemed really dirty and horribly grubby ,unkempt and terribly run down there were chairs without seats other broken furniture and cushions ripped to shreds all over the place a filthy mouldy baby Walker/eating chair was next to the equally dirty condiment table so bad I asked for some hand sanitizer was informed there wasn’t any as they run out that morning!!!! On the plus side of thing The single member of staff was a very welcoming lovely polite young lady (but was clearly struggling to cope on her own which seemed so unfair to her!!! ) The homemade cake and scones were fresh and delicious Such a shame wonderful location a pity owner could not take pride, deep clean and get rid of the broken furniture and mess have on adequate staffI would really like to come back some day but drastic changes need to be make ASAP!!!!

When we are in the area I always love to visit here, the scones are always great and the lady serving is always so pleasant and helpful. Fantastic scenery, I would happily recommend a visit to anyone.

The lovely guys running the cafe moved furniture under cover for us and wiped it down. Could be spruced up to make it even more attractive.

we visit here every time we are on the Isle of Wight, we love it reasonably priced good variety of food, friendly staff and what a view hope to visit again in November

A lovely location, but when visiting yesterday there were hordes of wasps (at least a dozen around just our table!) and service was slow - Understandable, as one person was having to deal with all orders. However, the cups were dirty and chipped (presumably stored upended on an unclean shelf) - not ideal in a COVID era, and the cake was inedible. Flat white ordered, latte received. Scones and cream were fine, but so many wasps as to render them inedible without being attacked. Other people were having similar issues. Coffee, tea, water and cake/scones - £12.50 - I nearly had a stroke!

ok for a quick sandwich or toasty but the shack was very rundown and a little untidy. a little expensive for the standard of the food and service very hap-hazard

This quirky little place is still open some days during the winter :) when most cafes have shut down ! So nice to still have fresh,proper homemade interesting cakes and the best homemade mince pies . I will also be enjoying some of their jams, chutney and pickle eggs this Christmas. I have read some of the recent reviews and from the summer ! How dare you have a 'holiday' to have a baby !! my lord some people have no idea how difficult it is to run a small independent business and have a family ! You just keep doing what you are doing in your little 'shack' it is just lovely :)

nothing to share boring place to go to shame it could do better it needs an uplift which may help would not take anyone there

A nice quaint stop in the middle on a nice walk. Great views, local produce, friendly service. If you are close and want a decent non-chain, this is for you. Sandwiches and coffee all very fresh with home cooked ambience.

The most amazing home made scones. No where can a cup of tea be enjoyed with the most incredible views.

We had just arrived by car from Fishborne and were hungry and thirsty. We had a lovely and inexpensive cream tea looking at a view that was simply sensational. There was a live band playing extremely well in a park nearby and we caught some of the music after our cream tea.

We dropped in this week as the other tea rooms in Rylstone Gardens is closed on a Monday and Tuesday. The views were nice but they didn't appear to have much on offer in the dirty looking shack they sell from in the garden. We left and went elsewhere.

As we visit Shanklin in the Luccombe area frequently we always visit the Grand View. This August is different due to the boss on leave at the moment.The food and refreshments are still good. Plenty of Cream teas, cakes and freshly made sandwiches which are still nice.This outdoor cafe also importantly sources it's food locally too... The staff are temporary and new to this but the service was friendly and still efficient which is commendable. Our rather large order was spot on, no mistakes. So just relax in the sun with a coffee, sandwich and a cake and enjoy the wonderful view right across the bay, its well worth it.

Reading all the reviews we were expecting a nice experience, not so. Clearly the staff did not seem to be on the ball, there was only cake available so I asked for a cream tea, but they had run out! It may have been a nice day but does not sound good business, my wife had "the" cake and I had a coffee. Quite what the staff were doing in making the latte who knows, it took ages and was foul.From another review it seems the boss goes away and the apparent high standards go down the pan. I seem to agree. May give it another try next August when we return hoping the boss is not on holiday!

dear staffsorry but i visited in 2017 and 18 and found the lady very good great cream teas and welcome , but when i went the first week in august no cream teas because they had no strawberry jam , i know the boss is on leave but sorry so poor for the time of year, i do hope the boss will be back because the present staff are poor df

Highly recommend chilling out over coffee and cake at the Tea Gardens, excellent views and carrot cake to die for!

Beautiful little hidden gem! Best cream tea on the island (& believe me, I tried a few!) at a very good price too. I recommend a stop off here on your walk.

We called in mid walk for a light lunch but only had a credit card so we couldn’t stop, our fault. We walked back to the car to get some cash then it throw down a hailstorm. So unfortunately we decided not to go back. We will as the lady was very apologetic about not having a c/c machine, to be honest it isn’t really surprising as it’s quite remote! But the food and welcome was worth a mention on here. Next time I’ll do a full review. Great location if the weathers kind.

From the moment the proprietor reached for the pan to make egg mayonnaise from scratch, I knew this was a special little place. We had lunch here every day of our holiday. The food was lovely, and the cliff-top view is wonderful. Can't wait to come back next time we visit.

Brilliant home made scones & cakes. With the best views imaginable. It was very handy for our hotel, Shanklin Chine and Rhylstone Gardens.

We love this place, always welcoming and you get into sit down and relax mode! A simple and good value menu, all food nicely presented and freshly prepared. Thanks for great times!

Set in the grounds of the Luccombe hotels, pitched on a cliff top, this little summer house outdoor eatery is a great place to relax, eat and enjoy a great view out to sea.

I've eaten at grand view tea gardens a few times but forgot to review, having seen the below review I felt the need to right some wrongs.

I ordered three egg and cress sandwiches during lunch time for myself and two grandchildren. They were not busy. We waited a while for the sandwiches and when they arrived I was really let down. The bread was stale, there was no butter in the sandwich and no egg yolk just egg white with three leaves of cress. I took the sandwich back and asked why they had used just egg white and so little of it and no butter. The young assistant told me they don't use egg yolk or butter but couldn't tell me why. I gave her the horrible sandwiche back and got a refund. Each sandwich cost £3.20 and the white from one egg was spread over three sandwiches. Not good enough!

Grand View tea rooms was a lovely accidental discovery and I would like to have returned if he had more days of our holiday left!

Love this place. Superb views over the bay. Chocolate and peanut butter cake to die for, and homemade scones with homemade jam. All in all the food was a 10/10. There is so much choice in Shanklin, but I love the food and atmosphere here. And they serve chai latte which is a good thing.

Need I say more? I have to or Tripadviser won't let me post. Great setting and the best selection of cakes and sandwiches. A lady and her son came round with their kestrels. Totally unconnected with the garden but a real treat. I urge you to go.

The cakes are amazing and there are some really great gluten free/vegan options. The view is breathtaking especially on a sunny day. It's peaceful, quirky, it sells lots of homemade food (including jams) and uses locally sourced ingredients. The girl who runs it is lovely and helpful. The prices are very reasonable. I particularly recommend the rosemary/orange cake.

Well worth a stop, and not just for the view but for the shack from which the drinks cakes and more etc are served. It looks just so inviting and interesting. From here you can even, so the adverts say, order a packed lunch to be made! All sorts of tea varieties, and coffee, and more. (The coffee was, I regret to have to say, not that special. Spolit by Costa etc? Probably, but a 'punchier' tasting coffee needs to considered). On a sunny day, the view towards the Culver Cliffs is a very fine one, as is the backdrop of the main hotel and tree-filled grounds.

by having a cream tea and a great rest its well worth a visit good home made food pleasent staff price very good look forward to seeing you in a few weeks time with my dog again

Beautiful position quaint little garden pleasant young lady served us good prices stunning views. Must visit although limited opening for the winter

Had a great visit to the grand view tea gardens which was made up of coffee and the most delicious scones. Will certainly be returning

Mucho de la rutina turista corriente, pero merece la pena buscar. Una calurosa tarde de septiembre nos encontramos con este restaurante modesto que buscan una bebida fresca y un bocado ligero. Servido por el dueño extremadamente agradable y servicial, disfrutamos de comidas caseras y refrescantes bebidas en un entorno tranquilo por excelencia del jardín. Los bollos eran la mejor mi esposa ha tenido y recomendamos una visita.

Paramos en nuestro camino a la playa, y estuvimos muy felices de haberlo hecho. Las vistas son impresionantes, las tartas maravillosas opciones con gluten gratis, y un café realmente bueno. El jardín es precioso, con una variedad de mesas de picnic y mantas en el césped a descansar. La gente también era realmente agradable y muy servicial. Estamos desde el otro lado de la isla, pero estamos planeando regresar muy pronto!

Stayed at Luccombe manor hotel and had afternoon tea and cake here.Good cake excellent filter coffee and very pleasant surroundings.All home produce nothing to fault really.

Comenzaré esta crítica con una confesión - que realmente no quieren estos jardines de té a ser demasiado popular, pero los propietarios se merecen el crédito - este lugar es fabuloso, muy fácil de pasar una o dos horas cada tarde aquí en nuestra semana. El té helado es fabulosa y las raciones son generosas. Este es un lugar muy tranquilo con unas vistas idílicas, estar sentado en las mesas de picnic, sobre el suelo en las alfombras de picnic o descansando en la 'cómoda' sillas. Este es uno de los raros lugares donde se puede tomar un té helado y disfrutar tanto que no inmediatamente! Sigan con el buen trabajo.

Stunning views of Sandown Bay accompanied by lovely cakes, local ice cream and cream teas. Very friendly staff and beautiful surroundings.

Highly recommend Luccombe Manor's Grand View tea garden cafe for fantastic fresh/home made/locally sourced delicious produce and lovely almost exotic shack with chilled seating (benched tables/bean bags, cushions and picnic blankets all on offer) and still those great views. We had lunch here each day and wanted to try everything!! ALL those cakes looked fab, and great to see gluten/dairy free options. Super choice of home made preserves from the lovely owner's small holding on offer too. What a find!

Fantastic sea views :) and the best cakes and scones ever. Actually home made on these tiny premises ! So different to the 'homemade' cakes usually seen in the Island cafés. The facilities are a little rustic but that adds to the charm of this little place.If you are fussy about eating/ drinking quality real food this is one of the few places to go. My son really enjoyed the ice cream sundae. This is a place you can treat yourself and not come away feeling you've eaten junk.Thank you

On a short break in Luccombe Hall Hotel, I remembered from my last visit to Shankin that there was a tea garden next door in the grounds of the Luccombe Manor. Run independently from the hotel (maybe it always has been?), the girl running it now certainly has a bit of flair and imagination. The weather was gorgeous and as well as the usual picnic tables there were throws and cushions to lie on and laze under the shade of the trees. Lots of little homemade goodies for sale such as plants, herb infused local honey, jams and chutneys, all incredibly well priced. A nice touch was herb and elderflower infused water (with ice) at 30p a glass. We had some whilst we waited for our sandwich to take to the beach (avocado, hummus and sweet pepper). It was absolutely delicious and just my sort of sandwich. We did intend to go back to order a packed lunch for our other day or at least go back for tea (and I wanted to buy some honey), but found it was closed on Monday and then we ran out of time. Never mind, will visit again on our next trip in a few weeks time.

We love Grand View Tea gardens.. for years its been somewhere we have escaped to as part of a summer afternoon in Shanklin. We hadnt been to Shanklin for two years so perhaps its not surprising to find that Grand View is now run by different people - a nice young couple, very friendly . Tea coffee and scones all as good as ever. They had lovely home made cakes too ... there was also home made "Rocky road" and "Millionaires shortbread" which I would normally have gone for BUT it was out in the open, not under any kind of cover or mesh and flies were walking all over it.(!) .. so I decided not to bother. It hasnt had any new furniture in all these years and is starting to look a little tired ... please dont let this lovely oasis go !! put sone cash into it and for goodness sake put your food under cover away from flies !!!

Cliff top tea garden, stunning location, beautiful views. Very expensive for what it is, most disappointed! Kept promising myself I would go, now I have I won't go back!

We walked through the gardens of the Luccombe Hall hotel to find this delightful café in gardens on the cliff top. Well worth a visit. Enjoyed a good tea/coffee and some home made cake. A real peaceful oasis. Worth a visit.

Lovely freshly made sandwiches. Cakes looked fresh and tempting but were too full to sample!Garden furniture tired and broken in some places.

Amazing homemade cakes, sandwiches and awesome selection of teas friendly service & amazing views, would definately recommend!

What a delightful tea garden! A beautiful setting plus excellent food what more could anyone want. Service was good, the proprietress welcoming and nothing was too much trouble. The Carrot Cake in particular was outstanding, the best ever tasted. All in all a marvellous place in which to relax. We shall definitely go there again!

Cakes, sandwiches, service & food to die for!! Cannot recommend highly enough!Will be back, that much is for certain!

We came here as a family group and it was lovely. Great, friendly service, superb home made cakes and a stunning view. I would highly recommend it for any age group.

This place was awful, lovely views but that's it, would not recommend this place at all, food terrible, service aweful

Excellent home made cakes and good tea served in a charming cliff top location. Definitely worth a visit if staying nearby or walking the coastal path in Shanklin.

We stayed just up the road and the tea gardens were directly on the way to Appley Steps so we just had to pop in for a cream tea. That was a wise decision - it was easily in the top 5 cream teas I have ever had. The scones (both fruited and plain) were perfectly oven-fresh with a good crust and soft, fluffy interior. Served with plenty of home-made jams and clotted cream and copious hot delicious tea for two with indeed a Grand View overlooking Shanklin and the bay.Be aware that they were closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and were only serving between 11 and 4 on other days. But it would be well worth making the trip up the cliff for tea in this lovely setting.

A cosy and intimate setting with breathtaking sea views. We stopped here for lunch and so glad we did !! I am gluten free so always struggle to eat on the move but Indy took the trouble to make me savoury scones with cheese and herbs ...hot out the oven they were to die for !!! Even bought some to take home !! Everything is homemade they have the chickens laying fresh eggs and the herbs growing there too !! Love INDYpendent places like this MAKE SURE YOU GO PEOPLE :-)

There are so many places to eat in and around Shanklin you are spoilt for choice, we decided to stop here as it looked a bit less touristy and had a lovely view, I had a disappointing cheese sandwich and my husband had one with chorizo and edam, both were nothing to rave about really for the money!.

Me and my wife visited Grand View Tea Gardens for lunch last week and had an awesome experience. We both had crab, I had the salad and the wife had a sandwich. Both arrived quickly and more importantly both were really tasty. We didn't try any of the cakes on offer but believe me when I say it was very difficult to abstain from having a slice or two as they looked and smelled fantastic. Also the Views are some of the best you can get on that side of the island and worth going for them alone. There's on street parking just a few steps away and I'd totally recommend seeking out this little hidden Jen.

Indys carrot cake is quite possibly the best I've ever had. Top work! Infact all her cakes looked amazing will be back to sample more...location is lovely, you can take the dogs and sit in the garden. A lovely secret little spot. We look forward to being back again soon.

These tea gardens in Luccombe offer a number of alternative options, as well as what you would expect everything is grown locally and cooked and baked onsite, the views are incredible and the service is very friendly. I love the cakes but the platters are are my favourite aspect. Get down there and check it out, its high end food and a very cheap price.

We stumbled upon this place near Shanklin Chine after doing the coastal walk from Ventnor. It's beautiful and tranquil and has amazing views. The homemade cakes are out of this world and it's a wonderful place to relax and take in the amazing views

A really lovely hideaway..great for a lovely coffee and homemade cake although I didn't get to try one I saw the scones being made and they looked fantastic!!!Lovely flat white coffee!Cute Hen and chick!I wish you the very best of luck in your new venture!If you still need a yoga teacher next year then do please get in touch..Racheall Monton x

A really good place for food good service lovely home cooked food made with many home produced ingredients. In a spot with fantastic views.

There's stiff competition in Shanklin for cream teas and cakes but this lovely little tea garden with rugs and cushions and a splendid view out to sea is a hands down winner. The owner produces an amazing and delicious range of home baked goodies and quiches on the premises. Our scones were fresh out of the oven. The kids loved the little seating "den" undercover near the counter. Just perfect for holiday treats and well worth strolling a little way out of the village centre for, or up the coastal path steps from the end of the beach.

We stumbled on this place by accident, wandering around Rylstone Gardens. So glad we did. A great setting with a view over the sea and out to Culver Down. Love the blankets on the lawn if you want more of a picnic feel - great with kids I suspect.Tea in decorated china cups, delicious scones with home made jam and the best ever cream. The lemon drizzle cake is excellent (the sprinkled elferflowers are a nice touch). The couple running it were friendly and attentive and deserve to do well

We found this place when hiking the Coastal Path. Nice view at the top of the cliff. Plenty of picnic-tables and also some colorful blankets spread on the lawn where you could eat or just relax on. We had two sandwiches wish were freshly made and delicious. Quite good value for money.

WE had afternoon tea in the gardens here, the owner was fantastic, she was so friendly and helpful. Everything is freshly baked onsite. The smell of fresh baking so tempting!! We returned everyday we stayed here even if it was just for a cup of tea - the views are stunning too.

The view is fantastic & in an idyllic location. Ordered sandwiches for lunch. Bread dry & stale & no butter on the bread at all. Spoilt it for me.

it is difficult to find a good cream tea on the Isle of Wight. Look no further, everything fresh and home made and exceptional mixed berry jam. What a find. But do not confuse with Ryalstone gardens

We used this tea garden many times on our holiday last week. well worth finding, its at the top of Appley Steps on the cliff edge by Rylstone Gardens next to the Luccombe manor hotel. There are a dpzen or so tables in the garden and all have wonderful views out to sea towards Culver Cliff. Cakes are home made and delicious , Cream teas are big and very good (there are 1 and 2 scone options, just as well maybe!) and there is a good sandwich menu too. Everything is made fresh to order and we found the people behind the counter friendly and helpful. All in all a lovely spot to while away an hour on a sunny afternoon :)

Very clean, helpful staff and really good value. Would have no hesitation in recommending or returning

The staff, tea, coffee and cake make this a little jewel in old shanklin. Well worth the walk the stairs from the beach and offers the most amazing views. Just go there! :-)

A lovely view and place to stop but it was £16.75 for two rounds of sandwiches a tea and a coffee! Yes we ate the lot but it was expensive!

Lovely traditional cream tea with a view across the bay. Nice quiet location with good, friendly service. Well priced and varied menu including homemade cakes

Glorious view out over Sandown Bay. All sandwiches etc freshly made for each customer. The cream teas are good.

This is a great location for a cream tea on a sunny day - in Old Shanlkin overlooking the sea and Sandown Bay. Although you sit on picnic tables, some have white tablecloths on them. My daughter and I had the cream tea for two and it was lovely. We were told they try to source ingredients locally. The tea was made with tea leaves with a strainer each, the strawberry jam was served with a small portion of fresh sliced strawberries to accompany it which was a nice touch. The scones were absolutely delicious - we complimented them on the scones when we came last year and we were told someone locally makes them. We returned again this year and they were just as nice. The reason I've dropped a star is my son and wife had a brownie and slice of coffee cake and they both said they were slightly dry, either having been in the sun or not as fresh as they could have been. Still, I was delighted with my cream tea, so if that is your intention then I'm sure you'll be pleased!Tip - they shut at 5pm if the weather is good - the cake stands at the counter were empty so we thought they'd run out and almost left. Because of the good weather they'd put the cakes in the fridge.

Nice sunny spot just at the top of the steps down to the beach. Good views and pleasant service. We just had the cream tea which was very nice but if our stay on the island had been longer I would have been tempted to try one of the home made cakes that I overheard another party ordering - they sounded delicious!

New owners of the Grand view are making a great impact. The cream tea really was surprisingly refreshing in that it was not mass produced scones or Pyrex cups. The scones were home made of a very high standard. Clotted cream tasty jam fresh strawberries and we were offered tea bag or tea leaves. All served in fine matching china. They deserve to do very well. The situation looks over towards Culvert Down. So you have outstanding views.

We've tried the Grand View twice - the second time to check whether the first was a flook. It wasn't! It's now under new management and the standard is fantastic. The presentation of everything they do is wonderful. Our family shared some of their platters - the picnic and cheese varieties - as well as cream teas. Absolutely first class and excellent value as well. And the view across Sandown Bay to Culver is breathtaking. This is not your average tea garden.

Please go - you will not be disappointed. Perfect late lunch, afternoon tea. Friendly couple running it. Just wonderful

Not only cream teas (I had a spectacular slice of Victoria sponge) but good variety and the view is wonderful. Not expensive either!

The taste of cream tea was superb. I had it on my last day of the trip and I stayed to have it as it doesnt start until 11 am and it was worth the wait. I would highly recommend this to everyone.

Lovely cream tea with very generous helpings - very good value. The staff were very friendly & welcoming. Lovely to sit there after that walk up the steps from the beach!The view is superb, you really couldn't ask for a better one.

Tables not cleared..messy ,no cake , told it was still frozen.scones microwaved.......helper smoking ..........tea lukewarm. Disappointing have been there before(year ago) defiant Ely gone. Downhill.

Met a nice young girl who runs the place ... she was very polite and service was good but the quality of food and menu could do with some upgrade

We visited these tea gardens both in April and in August this year. They are adjacent to the two Luccombe Country House hotels and overlook the bay. Service is very friendly. On several occasions in August, we ordered cream teas close to closing time. Not only were they happy to have us take the tea to the hotel pool, but we were welcome to bring everything back after they had closed. In April, we found that lunch at the tea gardens was perfect after a walk on a very windy and cold beach. For some reason, it was much warmer up here, and we seemed to be sheltered from much of the wind.They serve an excellent crab sandwich. The scones are good, but not very special. The cakes are tasty, but there isn't much choice - I'd be happy for one more cake option. All in all, a lovely place to enjoy tea when you don't want to venture far from the hotels or when walking along the coastal path.