Mad Hatter at Julia's Tearoom in Isle of Wight

Lovely food but more importantly friendly welcoming and helpful staff. A pretty traditional tea room

We enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea in a traditional atmosphere in a lovely setting. Everything was home made and the staff were very friendly and helpful. We did not feel rushed and were offered a container to take home any uneaten cakes! We will be back and next time will plan to visit the photographic museum.

The best description that comes to mind are the lyrics from a 60's song, "a cup of cold coffee and piece of cake" After a 15 minute wait (on a not very busy mid morning) I'm afraid the two coffees ordered were barely lukewarm and had obviously been standing and the cake was tasteless. Instead of lingering over what was hoped to be a nice treat in beautiful surroundings we left the coffees (but ate the cake).

So many good things to say about Dimbola tea rooms. We’ve been a few times and the service and food continue to be great. It was busy today yet the staff are cheery, polite and friendly and the orders are not delayed coming out of the kitchen. Great selection of eats, drinks and treats at reasonable prices - our family lunch cost £36. If there had been less than 1000 wasps, we’d have eaten outside with the lovely view and live music but inside nice too!

Delicious quiche and crab sandwiches. Remarkable range of cakes. I know from previous experience that there are always vegetarian and vegan options and these are also delciious. Service is really attentive and accommodating (we requested a different table from that reserved for us). Currently open to 4pm. In previous years, they would open until 5, which was great for those of us who like afternoon tea at 4. Let's hope this generates lots of extra custom so they can consider longer opening.

Delightful tea rooms friendly welcome by the staff able to take our lovely border collie in with us and she was treated to biscuits. So the afternoon tea was lovely scone really nice so fresh and tasty also some lovely food and cakes on offer. As not quite hungry enough for anything else at that time we decided to ask for takeaway and they made us up fresh sandwiches to take away. I’d recommend a visit here and will be returning on our next visit to the Isle of Wight.

We always visit this place when on the Isle of Wight as it is so lovey and full of character, its how things used to be, warm, friendly and old fashioned in a very good way, the food is very good with plenty to choose from and the staff are so welcoming and friendly, they cater for children and are dog friendly, give it a visit if you are near as its worth it !!!!...and the prices you wont find better, thank you all ...see you again soon....

Top spot for lunch, crab sandwich awesome! Full of character this lovely tea room/cafe is a gem, attached to an amazing museum too, check out Jimmy Hendrix in the garden !

Stopped here for lunch. Really nice food, good service and a lovely place to sit out on a sunny day. The outside area has a good number of tables, most with parasols. It’s a really nice relaxing place to stop.

We used the Dimbola Tea room after completing our coastal walk from the Isle of Wight Pearl to Freshwater Bay. The tea room is located a short walk (0.2 mile), from the bay area. The tea room has a good selection of menu choices which will no doubt appeal to most tastes and appetites. The tea room offers both indoor and outdoor seating and it being a fine midweek afternoon in May we opted for the latter. We both ordered the cream tea with scones and sat down to enjoy the ambience. The Tea room is associated with the Dimbola museum & galleries former home of the Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. Being away from the main area of the bay, it is fairly peaceful here and birds can be clearly heard singing in the trees. The cream tea did not disappoint and after our walk was a welcome chance to relax after the day and discuss our journey in the afternoon sunshine. We left the café as it was closing and had time to explore the bay area and a quick ice cream before catching our bus back to Shanklin. Would most certainly visit again.

Stopped for a really decent cup coffee - and got one it was hot and the coffee hadn’t been burnt! I accompanied it with a cheese scone which was warm soft and delish … my wife wished we had got there sooner so she could explore the museum and exhibition - maybe next time

A lovely and relaxing spot for a stop. Very impressed to have a choice of leaf teas and enjoyed a delightful pot of fresh Redbush tea and a good choice of cakes.

A real treat - very relaxed and pleasant interior. Excellent coffee and sandwiches. Away from the crowd, a different experience to coffee chains.

Friends from Switzerland were visiting us and were keen to try a traditional cream tea. Victoria Foulk recommended the Dimbola Tea Room. When I looked on the website it wasn't mentioned, but after talking to the staff they said that they did cream teas. One windy, wet afternoon found us in the tea room. The cream tea was lovely - real clotted cream! The cosy tea room just added to the experience. I would thoroughly recommend it!

Cannot rate Dimbola tea rooms highly enough. We visited twice whilst staying in Freshwater Bay, once for lunch and one for afternoon tea and cake. Such a beautiful setting, staff were wonderful and food was exquisite. We visited as a family (myself, my husband, two children, 10&7, and grandparents), all loved it!

Really enjoyed my afternoon tea with my daughter who was visiting the island. Just perfect! Delicious home made sandwiches and cakes, warm scones and a pot of tea. Just the right amount and we demolished the lot! Very friendly and attentive staff. Will definitely visit...

Came for coffee/ cake stayed for lunch. Great place, amazing good value food, all home made, could not fault my quiche salad. Staff were friendly and very pleased to hear we’d enjoyed our visit. Viewed the gallery afterwards which was interesting so a good afternoon...

We stopped off here after walking on Tennyson Down. What a wonderful find. Super cheese and ham panini and cheese and ham omelette, thank you. Lovely staff and food, see you soon!

As part of our island driving tour, for my mums 92nd birthday, we ended up at the Dimbola tea rooms merely by accident. We loved everything about it. Lovely tea, coffee, paninis and scones. Just what we needed. Lovely staff made for a great experience....

Stopped here for lunch after walking the Tennyson trail. Ordered soup, cake, coffee. Lovely food and excellent service.

A lovely tea room, with some great cakes, afternoon tea and lunches looked great but we just had tea and cakes. Lovely tea in proper tea pots and China cups. Short walk up from the beach.

Having experienced disappointent at other local venues, we went here and it was a different universe! Everything was done with care and attention, from the charming welcome to the food itself which oozed nourishment and nurturing in equal measure. The venue itself is a delight...

Had lovely flat white coffees made by Ash. Very good choice of cakes to choose from including gluten free. Quintisensall tea room using loose leaf tea in china cups. Seating area also outside making the most of the views. Lovely staff.

Excellent service. Amazing cakes, very moist and packed with flavour. Latte and earl grey was very nice Great value for money in nice older style setting Highly recommended

We had the very best cooked breakfast on the island last week after an early walk up to Tennyson Down and back from freshwater while waiting for the tearoom to open. Great prices and great service with very tasty full english breakfasts and a proper...

After visiting another coffee shop in freshwater that we wasn’t to happy with especially the poor service we came across this lovely tea room on our afternoon bike ride. The cream tea was delightful and the staff were very welcoming. Such a lovely location we...

What a little gem. The tearoom has a lovely atmosphere offering a wide range of excellent cakes. As a family we opted for cream teas with home made fruit scones which were delicious with tasty smoothies and milkshakes. Well worth a visit if you are...

We went here for a light lunch today. We had one of the dimbola special (a cheese scone, with a range of accompaniments) and two jacket potatoes and shared two cakes. The staff were delightful - they interacted and engaged with my little daughter! We...

The Dimbola tea room, is a fab set up close to the stunning views from freshwater bay beach, we went there for a raspberry smoothie and a piece of salted caramel & chocolate cake, which was the best cake I have ever had! We cycled...

During the winter we enjoyed lovely Sunday lunches and now summer is here, we enjoyed a tasty lunch on the patio, just steps away from Freshwater Bay.

Following a Christmas gift voucher we visited the tearoom for our gift from Cheryl and Peter May who live in Freshwater end of July - what a superb tea it was! Thank you so much to the lovely staff - so friendly and engaging even...

I needed to find a convenient cafe in Freshwater Bay, for myself and a group of friends, travelling to the town. I Googled around and made contact with Claire at Dimbola Tearooms. Claire replied to my email, advising that a table would be reserved. Upon...

We discovered Dimbola while walking the beautiful circular walk along the coast path from the needles . We had a week’s holiday on the island and returned to Dimbola’s lovely cafe three times! good food and friendly service in a beautiful setting.

We were geo caching in the area & decided on lunch here. We sat outside and had their special savoury scone etc which was very good. Popular cafe. Cakes looked delicious but sadly no room. Did not visit this time but the museum is very...

What a fabulous find and wow to the cakes. The cakes were all hand baked and you were spoilt for choice. The carrot cake was the best I had ever tasted. Service was awesome and so friendly (also dog friendly). Highly recommend.

I was performing in the museum during the evening and decided to have a cream tea while waiting to get set up. This isn't my first visit to the museum (and hopefully not my last) but my first review. Had I reviewed previous visits they...

We enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea here . The scones , cakes and sandwiches were simply delicious and so freshly made. Loose leaf tea was a big bonus ! Not to be missed .. this was a birthday treat much enjoyed

Very good tea room with a good choice of food on the menu. My soup and scone plus a pot of tea cost just over £8.

After a fabulous walk to Freshwater Bay, coffee and cake was required. The setting is lovely, staff welcoming and cakes and scones delicious.

I haven't been to the Tea Room since before the Pandemic and found everything to be distance friendly for those who are still concerned. The staff were lovely and friendly, gave us lots of time to make our selection. The Tea Room is light and...

Sunday lunch was substantial but not crazily big. Good selection of vegetables. Lovely coffee. Slick service and staff checked back. Extra gravy offered. Crumble really good too. Disabled access and toilet available. Lovely cakes in view (we resisted this time!) Busy but we were not...

A delicious Roast Beef dinner & a yummy cherry & chocolate crumble. The staff were friendly & funny too.

Called in with a couple of friends for a breakfast. The food was really nice and the staff were lovely. Had a very pleasant time.

If it’s a glowering, unfriendly “welcome” that you’re after then this is the place for you. Revel in the atmosphere of sullen staff doing admirable impressions of headless chickens, all topped-off by a doubly-chilly atmosphere as said hens leave the front door wide open as...

Lovely Roast Beef Sunday lunch with friends - masses of veg and excellent quality meat all cooked beautifully. Lovely roasties and homemade Yorkshire Puds. Followed it up with Chocolate and Cherry Crumble - really delicious. Absolutely lovely staff - especially Jill and Claire - nothing...

We came here based on the advertising board just down the road, promising us a “friendly welcome and great food” We got neither … It appeared busy when we arrived but we soon realised that this was actually just the impression being created by several...

Our order was misplaced and we were kept waiting for over half an hour,then after we complained the expensive order arrived incomplete and hardly an apology! Although situated within a historic building and museum you do not get a warm welcome in here. Would not...

We booked for the boxing g day breakfast which came with tea/coffee and Buck’s Fizz or orange juice. We found it to be a place with a lovely atmosphere. Jill with a J and all the staff were lovely and the full English breakfast has...

Visited after walking out of the Piano Cafe due to their lack of interest in their customers. Coffee and cake were lovely .. I would say the coffee was 9.5/10, very relaxing atmosphere and friendly staff.

We asked Claire at Dimbola Lodge Tea Room to produce an Afternoon-Tea, private function for 30+ friends to mark a significant birthday. She was wonderful. Fully committed from our first enquiry, with lots of ideas for the format of the party and especially helpful in...

Such a friendly cafe with lovely staff. It was really busy however staff were welcoming and service was great. Lovely homemade soup with tasty granary bread. Treats and water were given to the dog too. We bought a couple of nice scones to takeaway. We...

I was very interested to visit Dimbola as a keen photographer myself. We thought we would have lunch first before looking around the museum. We were greeted by 3 young people who immediately asked us what we wanted . No greeting at all ,no facial...

Lovely tea rooms. Visited following a trip to the needles. Was popular but plenty of space in and out. Large range of teas, coffees, cakes and scones etc. Really good service and a grand pot of tea. Would definitely fine again. The coffee cake was...

Went here for a cream tea. Although not listed as such, you can get a scone with clotted cream and jam? Order arrived promptly and included proper tea with a strainer, not tea bags and nice scones.

We were looking for somewhere for lunch and a passer by recommended this tea room. What a delightful place. Lovely home cooked food, courteous staff and unhurried atmosphere. Service with a polite smile. We will be going back.

Visited here for lunch whilst on holiday. Great menu, and gorgeous food - all served with a smile! Highly recommend and will definitely be back

Walked past many times but today was the day we stopped by ( piano cafe closed) and glad we did. Good service and great coffee. We will come back with the kids as they love a fishfinger baquette. No more piano cafe for us, service...

We had a lovely lunch at this lovely Tea Room! We felt very welcome and the staff were friendly and attentive. The smoothies were delicious and very refreshing after being on the beach. Sandwiches and cakes were all fresh, we would definitely recommend!

We stumbled across this lovely little place when we stopped off at Freshwater Bay enroute from Shanklin to Yarmouth. The tea and cakes were lovely. We had the Raspberry and coconut cake , carrot cake and avocado & courgette cake. It was a lovely delicious...

So good we visited it twice - in one day! Charming terrace cafe overlooking Freshwater Bay. Warm & welcoming staff & delicious cakes, scones & sandwiches. Highly recommended & I'm sure the museum will provide additional interest when it reopens in May.

We visited on a blustery wet day and were greeted with a warm welcome. The cakes were delicious. We all chose something different scone, hummingbird cake, Victoria sponge and choc cookie and every last bit was eaten! All very happy. A really lovely tea room, we sat and discussed how pleased we were that we stopped. Thank you for the excellent service.

Superb service and delicious food. Very accommodating under COVID and felt safe. Great after a long walk. Thank you.

Thank you proper tea and excellent cheese scone with bonus onion marmalade ....very filling lovely atmosphere.

We booked two benches outside via messenger and were sent a copy of the menu and specials to pre order. We arrived and seated ourselves and the food was near ready and was bought out by friendly staff. The food was good, coffee was good and everyone enjoyed it. Certainly our experience of the staff was positive, they were helpful and the tearoom manager who I organised the table with over messenger did a great job. Their cakes etc all appear to be homemade and delicious. Best of luck to them and we will visit again, friendly dogs welcome to sit outside was a pull for us also.

Called in for a late lunch after walking but decided only on coffee in the end. Very limited choice of snacks and no-one seemed to know what they were doing. Social distancing was not good as everyone, including staff, were going in and out the front door.

Stopped for a late lunch after walking from The Needles. They kindly served despite it being past lunch service. Fantastic home made soup and a tasty Brie and cranberry panini. Very friendly and efficient service. Really enjoyable. Thank you

In the past we have enjoyed Dimbola café. Perhaps now be under new management? Sadly the staff attitude was very poor – no concern for customers, forgetting to bring things and then not apologising when finally bringing them (Saying “sorry” would cost nothing.) One staff member preferred to talk at length on the phone rather than serve people waiting at the counter. Food was mediocre and poorly presented. The staff clearly didn’t care. Café was disorganised. Our visit was very disappointing.

As a local decided to give the tea room a try as it didn’t have a good reputation with locals. When we arrived a man in a bow tie, who described himself as the boss was giving a talk to a coach party in front of the entrance. I asked politely if this was the entrance to the cafe and could we come through. He said “I suppose so but I’m giving a talk”. I asked if there was another way in. He said no. We left to go elsewhere but on the way out he shouted to someone “Go and punch him Pete”Very nice, what a welcome, will not return and will pass round the locals.

Dimbola is found at the bottom of Tennyson Down - a lovely coastal walk which takes you to a smashing viewpoint of the Needles. It was a lovely day and we sat on Dimbola’s terrace, first with a g & t and then an awesome carrot cake and latte. Great service and helpful staff.

I had a very nice meal down at the tearooms with my daughter . As always our doggie Aura was welcomed ...and was very pleased with her treat !! Lennon was particularly helpful and dealt with the customers in an extremely professional manner .

Lovely tea room and wonderful with dogs, lovely staff and some difficult customers were dealt with very well. Exceptional customer service by Lennon, I will definitely be coming back here and will recommend to others! 🙂

Had lunch here after our visit to the museum. Lovely food, very friendly staff and outside seating if weather permits. It has been redecorated with the most lovely William Morris wallpaper.

Did a circuit from the Piano cafe where we had lunch (separate review) up the side track to Tennyson mount and down the channel side cliff edge to the Dimbola tea rooms. Very enjoyable English Breakfast tea with GF pecan and walnut tart. The other half had coffee cake equally delicious. I see others have mentioned staff shortages but our delay was reasonable.

We’re locals and have been here a few times this summer. The terrace is lovely and dogs are welcome The food is ok, cakes nice enough and coffee pretty good. We’ve never had a problem with the service but it does seem a bit disjointed sometimes. The problem I have is the toilet. I know it’s been difficult with all the Covid prevention etc but the one unisex toilet is not nice! It’s not too bad in the morning but by the time the afternoon comes after a busy lunchtime service, it’s pretty grotty and there doesn’t seem to be any cleaning rota in place. This really needs to be sorted out and a proper cleaning rota put in place. It really lets this lovely place down quite badly and I overheard another customer saying how off putting it is so I know I’m not the only one!

Booked a table for 3 adults for 1pm, arrived on time and was told table was ready, clean tables and nicely decorated inside, young girl came over and took my details for track and trace, was then asked what would we like to order but no menu was given only a board near the front entrance, then was asked to place order at the counter, order placed and was told 30 min wait but they were only doing sandwiches toasties and panini so unsure why they had such a wait but never mind, well 40 mins had past and no coffees and no paninis All the staff were asking every time they came out with food is this your dinner is this your coffee to most tables!? Have they not herd of table numbers ?So our hot chocolate cake along with coffees which were all cold as they had walked round with them trying to find out who they belonged to So asked for another set of drinks, by this time we still hadn’t had any food! I had taken my grandad ot for the first time in 8 months and this service was terrible it was no longer special! So 1 hour later someone came to the table is this your lunch I said not ordered toasties we ordered panini sorry so they sent it back 10 mins later I went to complain that it should not take over an hour to make a few sandwich like meals and if they couldn’t cope with the covers then they should limit the amount of people on each siting So the waitress was cleaning another table listening in to our conversation as I was saying I wander if they had forgotten us as this was now getting beyond the joke she replied very rudely we haven’t forgotten we are busy and short staffed if Boris wants us to do this you have to wait !! They only had a limited menu of sandwiches I would hate to think what it’s like when they have a larger menu So our second lot of drinks came and then the panini but this still wasn’t right as the presentation was rubbish so much mustard on the ham panini nearly burnt my grandads throat out, ours were cold as they hadn’t melted the cheese and Tomato a time the same time just put the tomato on after ! Some other people had also come in and gone out whilst we were there and one family said forget the cake and coffee we aren’t waiting anymore I don’t blame them to be honestSo we are our rubbish lunch and then went, the only good thing was that I expressed this complaint and had a refund as they were not surprised but if this is the way they run this place I don’t expect it to be there over the winter of next year if they have attitudes and continue to this this sham of a business like this then good luck to them, I certainly won’t be returning nor will the people who walked out before we had This should be a lovely place as it’s in the right spot from walking off tenison for a coffee and cake but not if you want to wait 2 hours for a cold coffee and crap sarnie and cake you could make your own Victoria sponge in that time To sum up : very rude staff rubbish menu/food, no organisation and no idea how to run a business or small cafe

We had a delightful hour here enjoying afternoon tea, The tea, scones, and flapjack were all excellent. It was great sitting outside in a peaceful setting looking towards the sea. we would highly recommend this tea room.

Visited the tea shop here hoping for a late lunch / snack - there seemed to be a lot of staff in the kitchen but virtually nobody in the café - no-one seemed especially keen to serve us so we stood waiting for several minutes at the counter before anyone came to speak to us. Although hot food had finished for the day they said they could make us something cold - depending on what it was. Eventually managed to order a couple of sandwiches which filled a hole, but they were nothing special really. Every time we went to the till a different person served us, seemingly oblivious to any previous interaction we had with any other member of staff. Nobody appeared to be a manager or lead member of staff and no-one seemed keen to take ownership of our order or make us feel welcome. Drinks order for three persons was mixed up and another previously unseen staff member came from the kitchen at the rear apologising, standing at the table and asking us to taste our drinks to check they were right. Our time waiting for and consuming our food was also accompanied by raucous shouting and laughing coming from the numerous staff in the kitchen which sounded like an episode of 'Loose Women'! All in all an unsettling, confusing and mixed up experience from beginning to end which did nothing to help us relax or enjoy our time in the tea room. Was going to look at the museum but fierce looking lady seated at reception desk near the stairs felt rather unwelcoming and as it was nearing closing time, we left. Overall disappointing - maybe just Sunday afternoon tiredness on the part of the staff but I wouldn't rush back here.

Interesting interior and friendly staff, but service slow and almost offhand. Given menus but ten minute wait for order to be taken and another 15 mins before it arrived. Great smoothie and tea. Scones a good size, but a little dry. Good quality jam and cream. That was the last we saw of staff & there was no sign of anyone when it came to paying the bill and no way to summon anyone. I know it wasn’t busy, but it did seem rather lacking in customer service.

Visited for lunch. Good selection of sandwiches and snacks. Caters for children with toys to entertain them. Courgette cake was lovely.

We were given a gift voucher as a present from a dear friend and we had a lovely cuppa and a cake in the tea room, followed by a look around the gallery and photographic artefacts. We had a lovely time and it was a very pleasant couple of hours.

A little unusual - service is interesting, and slow-paced. However, homemade cakes are fantastic and quiche special served with hot buttered new potatoes, homemade red cabbage coleslaw and side salad was surprisingly tasty. They use local Island tomatoes (delicious) which are hard to beat. We also had a sandwich which was served with very nice crisps and side salad. The tearoom is comfortable and unusual, there is outside seating for a sunny day and sufficient car parking. The cafe is fully accessible and there is an accessible loo. A small gift shop has a nice selection of cards. There is also a book shop and the museum which we did not visit on this occasion.

We stopped to have a coffee and a cake. The cakes were very nice indeed, and the coffees were very pleasant without any hint of bitterness. We even managed to sit outside and enjoy the atmosphere.

This Tearoom is small, but there is outside seating so therefore is child/dog friendly. The service is slow, but we had been forgotten. A limited menu.

No puedo decir que no fue advertido de nuestra comida de la tarde desde el momento en que llegamos el personal eran auténticos y gente encantadora, pero un cliente no quiere oír sus excusas para mal manejo sin embargo disculpas estás, era agosto semana de la fiesta y el sol salió así un poco obvio tendría más transitadas.. Nos dijeron 20 minutos en realidad 40 minutos y al parecer sólo hay una cocinera que también sirve, así que quizás la asignación de derechos no era correcta. . Pero la comida estaba recién hecha y el lugar era precioso y pintoresco y refrescante dentro de un pequeño museo local. Playa de agua dulce es muy hermoso y virgen y minutos de este lo que podría ser un lugar muy especial.

We had a lovely late lunch here on a recent walking holiday. Service was a bit slow, but the food was worth the wait, and we welcomed the break.

Driving to the Needles we wanted to stop for afternoon tea and spotted Julia's TearoomWe sat outside as we had the dog and was sunny - though they are dog friendly Was busy with people with their dogs They served gluten free cake and different teas nicely presented in china Service friendly and quick Overall good value

Hemos estado en Dimbola varias veces, pero nunca he comido allí. Personal encantador y un ambiente encantador. Veo que alguien ha mencionado la mezcla de China (nada parece partido) pero que añade a la experiencia. No esperes servicio rápido; no nos importaba, estábamos en vacaciones y empaparse del ambiente. Yo tenía un queso brie y cranburry panini. Mi esposa tenía el quiche de verduras. Las dos preciosas. Volvería, que estoy seguro de que lo haremos.

Nice enough venue, pleasant surroundings but they had run out of their core product (clotted cream) well before closing time. Disappointing.

Julia's is a lovely old fashioned tearoom with friendly helpful staff which is great for tea at any time of day. Lunch time menu is limited I.e. soup sandwich or ploughmans but cakes and scones are delicious.

Nice food and interesting surroundings. The tea comes in a variety of different China and this adds to the charm and nostalgic feel of this place. Good for photography lovers!

Fuimos para el almuerzo del domingo, tuvimos una cena de pollo asado. Todo sabía raciones caseras y de buen tamaño. Había juguetes y libros disponibles para mi hijo para jugar. El personal es amable, buen ambiente.

This is a great choice for an informal lunch in a lovely setting. There is a choice of soup, sandwiches and ploughman's....and if you want to go straight to the cakes and scones there's a good selection of them. The soup is home made fresh, leek and broccoli today, and the home cooked gammon sandwiches were excellent. Also, they know how to serve a proper pot of tea here!

Nous cherchions un salon de the et celui fut parfait. Il venait tout juste de rouvrir nous n'avons pu manger que des scones au fromages super bons et des gâteaux. À faire sans hésiter.

The tearoom is situated in the home of the Victorian photographer, Julia Margaret Cameron, and is a short walk away from Freshwater bay though there is parking just outside and in nearby roads. Their light lunches and cakes are delicious. The adjoining museum has a book shop and a small gift shop, and holds regular exhibitions and events.

This is a lovely little tearoom. Just what I expect when visiting the Isle of Wight. Run by volunteers, who are very cheerful despite being busy. An added bonus is the glass cases displaying old cameras - fascinating, even to the younger generation who are used to digital photography. Well worth a visit.

We had a lovely cream tea on Good Friday morning. The scones were magnificent. The clotted cream was a bit sloppy, I thought, but no-one else I was with was bothered by this so it was probably just me. You're allowed to have drinks other than normal tea with your cream tea eg coffee, Earl Grey at no extra price. Cream tea is £4.95.The place itself is fabulous, a lovely room with an extensive camera collection adorning one wall and a characterful long table for larger groups. The SE facing garden catches the sun in the morning and over lunchtime, but there are adequate parasols. The waitresses were nice and welcoming and didn't seem bothered by my bothersome toddlers toddling around. The service in the garden was a little patchy, which meant having to get up and ring the little bell by the kitchen a couple of times, but this was no great hassle.I'd heartily recommend the adjoining museum to anyone with a passing interest in the arts (£5), but you don't have to pay entry to the museum to use the tea room.