Rocke Cottage Tea Rooms in Shropshire

This is no longer a Tea Room. It is a private residence. Trip Advisor don't seem to want to change the details!

We used to go here years ago when it was run by Doug and Annabel. Amazing, stunning, brilliant. There aren’t enough superlatives. A few years after they left, we had occasion to go back. What a difference in both service and quality. Dry lack-lustre cakes served with a goodly helping of apathy. Anyway, yesterday, after a long drive home, we decided to give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they’d just had an off day. We arrived about a quarter to four and asked if they were still serving. We were told they were and shown into the main room, where there was a fire only just alight in a very cold room. We were tired and hungry after a four hour drive and looked forward to a warm drink and hearty food to recharge the batteries. I ordered the tuna mayonnaise sandwiches and my wife ordered the soup of the day, which, we were assured, had been made fresh that morning. Two cheeky hot chocolates. Great; all sounded just what we needed. Anticipation, it seems, is the greatest pleasure. What arrived, for nearly £7, were four triangles of the cheapest sliced white bread with a novel variation on the more traditional tuna-mayo filling – tuna sans mayo. Cheap canned tuna that is less flake and more paste, which had barely been drained of its brine put between the slices. If there was any mayonnaise in there, I couldn’t see or taste it. I usually prefer a more poetic idea of ‘a taste of the oceans’ with my fish than a literal one. It was served with a nominal salad of lettuce that had just about passed its best, tomato, cucumber and a bit of onion with no dressing whatsoever. Had I not been so hungry, I would have taken one bite and sent it back, but as we were pushed for time and had to be somewhere, so couldn’t wait for any potential replacement, given how long we waited for this to arrive, I ate it. Big mistake. I then endured waves of briney pleasure for the next few hours. In hindsight sending it back was exactly what we should have done. The soup of the day was of the same calibre. Tasteless, thin with leaks and over-soft potatoes floating in it. In fairness, the lady who heated it up in the microwave (searing hot bowl giveaway), did tell us to let her know if it needed more salt and pepper as, she said, she is usually too heavy-handed with these things. The chocolate, ironically billed as Bourneville’s finest was also of a similar quality – the cheap powdered variety. In the end, as we had to leave and could not get the owners’ attention to pay, so we just put money on the table and left (annoyingly a slight overpayment as we didn’t have change). Just as well really, as I was so annoyed by the whole experience, I may have come out with some home truths. We both left with a feeling of having just been duped. We will never be going back there again – unless of course Doug and Annabel ever return. It feels like a once brilliant, unique gem of a business has been pile-driven into the ground. Unless we have gone on a bad day on both occasions, then I have no idea how, in it’s current incarnation, it has such high reviews. It really was probably the worst meal/snack I have ever had. And not cheap. A £7 sandwich should really have the finest ingredients served on handmade bread. I had a better one from a petrol station the other day going down for half the price. A thoroughly miserable experience. We’d have been better putting the £20 on the fire at least we’d have got some warmth from it. Such a shame, when previously it had been a pleasure. We used to have friends come and stay and positively ask, ‘Can we go to that tearoom again?’ The answer from now on will be an emphatic, ‘No’.

We were staying close by and visited this cafe twice but found it closed on both occasions so can't comment on it.

Everything is amazing about this place. Set in beautiful countryside with winding roads, the building looks like something off of a chocolate box. The owners are really friendly & quirky. The collection of treasure inside is something to behold! Big selection of teas & delicious cakes. You need to visit this place!

we have had both morning coffee and afternoon tea at Rock Cottage. Lovely old building with lots of character. A good menu with high quality food. The staff are all very nice too. Situated in lovely countryside not too far off the beaten track. Well worth the journey to treat yourself.

We stopped here mid-hike. Very welcoming and lovely cakes and tea. Perfect, we would definitely visit again

We ventured in for lunch with two young boys and a baby in a pram. Such a quaint little place. Great menu with beautiful food. The owners are such lovely people, so pleasant and welcoming. We would love to return again.

This beautiful little café in heart of Shropshire countryside is very inviting. Staff can't do enough for you. Lots of antiquities and used books to browse through or spend a few pence on. Delicious lunches followed by home made cakes & tarts. Well worth a visit even if you aren't on a hike. Plenty of parking space for car, bike or motorbike. For evening meals you have to pre-book in advance by phone. Oh yes, they also welcome dogs at outside tables with a bowl of water.......nice touch!

This place has been through a few iterations of owners over the years, from the friendly to the rude, to the 'couldn't be bothered', to now, new owners (2015) and we seem to be back to a place which is welcoming and fun. A super selection of home-made cakes and leaf teas, good food, plus there are film nights too. When the weather is warm the al fresco side of things kicks in, with lovely gardens to sit in. Highly recommended. PS Before reading other 'negative' reports, check on the date of writing - this place has been through the mill somewhat with owners in the past. (It was formerly known as The Bird on the Rock)

great step back in time and a lovely experience for the whole family - nine in all and no problem. great food and drinks and worth the trip

My partner and myself stoped in here for afternoon tea ☕ we both have a passion for afternoon teas and thought we would give this place a try and I can tell you it was well worth it, probably one of the best we've ever had!!! 😀 The actual tea rooms are amazing filled to the brim with interesting and peculiar bits and bobs. The service was excellent and we were made to feel welcome. The afternoon tea was to die for! Firstly came the sandwiches which were obviously freshly made and a good selection then we had crumpets served to us and finally the most amazing selection of home made cakes and scones. Please please please give this place a try u won't regret it.

Visited the tea rooms in October as a couple, had a cream tea, tea cake with tea for two. Wonderfully presented, very tasty nod plenty of water to top up the tea all at reasonable prices. Discussed gluten free options with the owner and everything on the menu was available, even gave us some carrot cake free to take back for my daughter who is gluten free. Found the whole experience wonderful, lovely ambience, room was very clean, full of knick knacks on tables and window sills, all clean, no dust anywhere, also dog friendly, will be visiting again in the future.

We ordered the afternoon tea, came with plenty of sandwiches, ham, cheese + pickle, coronation chicken, smoked salmon + cucumber, and egg with a little salad garnish on the top. Sandwiches served on a 3 tier plate No choice of tea given - but plentiful Next was cake quite a selection and a scone (plain, cherry or sultana) with plenty of jam and cream. and a few fresh strawberries Service was good although the owners seems a little scatty, very similar set up to Faulty Towers. Overall we enjoyed the visit, and yes would return. £15 per head is quite pricey, but lasted a couple of hours.

Visited yesterday with my family (12 August) and had a lovely seat outside on a gorgeous day. Lots if little nicknacks around and the old cars/motorbikes. Sandwiches were lovely and nice big pots of tea to go with them. Very friendly proprietors and nothing too much trouble.

Previously visited prior to the new owners and loved it but upon returning we won't be going back. The man that served us had dirty fingernails which put us off straight away and the whole place was grubby. We had pre booked the afternoon tea which when we'd had it their previously was delicious and plentiful. Now it consists of cheap quality shoddily made sandwiches, one dry scone and one slice of cake. Certainly not worth £16 per person. The staff were extremely over friendly, not at all professional and the whole place just did not seem clean. We unfortunately will not be returning.

I took my friend for afternoon tea asa birthday treat. I'd heard so much about it and had always wanted to go. The service was quite bizarre. Very friendly and kind but almost as if we were visiting a friend who had no experience of running a tea room. It just wasn't up to standard. The sandwiches were very tasty, the scones quite pleasant. No cakes was served even though they had cake available and there was a salad garnish on top of the cake stand. Quite strange. It was £15 per head which was way too costly for the food and experience we had. Some beautiful hotels and restaurants charge this amount for better surroundings and food. Sadly I think the new owners are trading on past reputation which will be gone in a flash unless they do some research into what makes an afternoon tea special.

I have been to the Rocke Cottage Tea Rooms twice since it came under new ownership and management.It has changed and the menu has been shaved down a great deal so that it is less a Restaurant more what it says on the label a Tearoom. The sofas have gone and the cottage has lost much of its soft homely feel but it preserves the era of a 1930/1940 country Tearoom. The background music is all period with no war music . The eras aimed at is just pre WW2.There is a Superb selection of Teas and infusions and Coffee. The menu is mainly Sandwiches , jackets, Soup of the Day with Chunky bread, and afternoon tea type menu.The first time I went was on the way to a previously plannEd meal later in the day so we both had Scones with Jam and Cream . The scones were large and fresh, the jam tasted home made and was served in a ceramic dish as was the cream. We drank Earl Grey Tea which was also excellent. Service was first class from the Manager himself .On our greatly anticipated second visit a few days ago we ate more heartily. My husband ordered a brown Egg Mayonnaise sandwich whilst I ordered the Soup of the Day with Chunky bread. We shared a Scone, Jam and Cream later.The bread was fresh and delicious possibly homemade either on the premises or locally. The sandwich was very chunkily sliced it suited my husband but to many this sandwich may constitute too much of a Doorstep! My beautiful soup came in a large bowl and was a nice acceptable size for single course luncheon; the bread was a 4cm thick slab of granary served with a ceramic dish of butter. Though the bread was gorgeous and I was ready to eat it took an extra burst of effort to finish.Overall we really enjoyed our lunch but I feel it is only fair to point out the thickness of the bread implied by 'chunky' on the menu. The food is very good . Presentation not quiet so good. This is a pleasant place to take a break experience a wide selection of Teas and Coffees. Beverages have a menu of their own.

We live locally to the tea shop and we are very pleased that it is now back on track with great atmosphere, delicious cake, beautiful Assam tea and lovely lunches! The proprietors are charming, interesting & attentive. The garden is large and you can now sit out at the back as well as along the side of the cottage; and you can now walk via the garden to and from the car park.

What an exceptionally lovely place. Found by accident and will have to call again. We had afternoon tea which was really lovely. Staff, service and food were all really great. Will definitely have to go again.

This place is also called Bird on the Rock Tearooms. We haven't been here for about a year (when it had declined but was still better than today) but in the past we've loved coming here, and have travelled a long way from our home, for its very interesting menu, which included a wide range of scones, a good variety of excellent home-made cakes, and items it was hard to find elsewhere like cinnamon toasted muffins. It also served Shropshire Tea, which was wonderful. It was also a pleasure to sit outside in the pretty garden in good weather and watch the birds. It was very disappointing today to see that the menu has been scaled down and standardised, the variety has all gone and it's much like any other tearoom. Shropshire Tea has gone but the Assam was good, made with leaves. (£2.50 per person). From a very limited selection of cakes (£2.95 a slice) the Victoria sponge was quite heavy and on the small side. The lovely garden now seems to have become the smoking area. It really isn't pleasant to have people walking past smoking while you're eating. And shouldn't a place like this run to more than one toilet?

Wonderful change from our previous visits. Lovely experience of going back in time but with great freshly prepared food. Good choice of teas and coffees too. Very friendly atmosphere. Hope to make a return visit before too long. Thank you for making our Wedding Anniversary so enjoyable.

took Mum and her friend out for a drink yesterday, The new people who have been there for only four weeks ,are very nice friendly people,we had a lovely afternoon,the home made chocolate cake was very good,would recommend it,we even had the old gramophone played for us,sounded great,the old vintage cars outside just adds to the 1920's theme,great place,great food and lovely people.

We were very pleased to hear that the tearoom had re-opened and decided to go for lunch. The new hosts are very friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is laid back and relaxed. We had jacket potatoes and salad followed by fruit cake and Eton mess, lovely. The sweet orange tea is delicious, and we spent a really lovely afternoon. We will be calling again very soon.

My husband and I recently moved into the area and had heard mixed reviews about this place, but we figured we ought to give it a try today. What a delight it was, therefore, to find ourselves in a 1930s-style tea room full of interesting historical memorabilia and run by pleasant, efficient, beautifully dressed staff. There were four of us on this visit and we decided to have lunch (their ample menu has something for everyone) and I had the soup of the day (which was vegetable) and half a traditional sandwich, the others had jacket potatoes with coronation chicken and prawn sandwiches. There is a vast array of cold and hot beverages - especially tea, which was served in lovely blue and white teacups. The portions were generous and filling, but we were still able to enjoy a slice of delicious cake at the end. All members of staff were friendly and welcoming, but we were particularly impressed by the young lady named Sarah. We look forward to returning to Rocke Cottage Tea Rooms - certainly a gem in the area!

I've been to the Bird on The Rocke three times since it reopened in April- thoroughly impressed. The new owners have turned this place around- beautifully decorated, with a great selection of teas and cakes to boot. I recommend the toasted tea cakes. I've also tried the jacket potatoes which are lovely and fresh. A fantastic experience, thoroughly recommended.

Very tired food and decor. Not sure when the table covers were last washed. Background music was tacky and the room felt cold and damp. Very poor cake and treacle coffee. Bit of a re-think necessary

Such an enjoyable experience !! Having heard from friends about its acclaimed prestige and how wonderful their own experience was, my husband and I decided to visit on our way to Swansea and were certainly not disappointed.Homemade, traditional ploughman's served with proper tea followed a variety of cakes (i definitely recommend the coffee and walnut - it was simply sublime !) proves the perfect combination for a sunny afternoon treat. Being served by a lovely young lady with wonderful manners and chatting with the owners ; a quirky, but nonetheless endearing couple was the icing on the cake !I recommend going whilst its sunny and securing a spot outside ; the gorgeous gardens and frequency of birds dropping by make for the perfect afternoon.

New management has been insitu since end of April 2016. They are very friendly and appeasing. The food was lovely and the selection of loose leaf tea fantastic. Definately worth a visit.

I have been to the tearoom before a few years ago. It was a cute place & i enjoyed my visit. I heard the last year or so it had gone down hill but recently had been picked up by new owners. I went to the grand opening on 23rd April 2016. I had high hopes & wow! Just wow! This place is amazing! I will be visiting again as soon as possible. The staff/owners are a little eccentric which I thought added to the ambience. They have worked wonders with the building. Best thing to do is see for yourself, you won't be disappointed!

lovely old fashioned tea room not to be missed lovely cakes scones great atmosphere occasional cockerel entered England as it was well done

From winning the best tea room in Britain award a few years ago sadly Doug and Annabel sold up,but fear not the reins were handed to the more than capable hands of the new owner and things continued a pace.Great tea, the most fabulous cakes etc, just perfeck.So good I got them to cater for my fathers wake in the village hall as he had requested! Alas the latest owner I am struggling to undersatnd why you wood invest the best part of half a million in a venture you either do not care about or are so inept you may as well have put it all on the lottery.This place is now an embarrssment to our village.People planning a visit must wonder what all the fuss was aboutIt is dirty,shabby and clearly now sells poor shop bought cakes. I hope it closes soon and is sold to someone who cares.

we had spent a few hours out and about doing what tourists do, then it was time for some light refreshments, not knowing the area I consulted my Sat Nav, and up came Rocke Cottage Tea Room along with many others, but the words tea room sounded good to us and boy were we pleased to find it, it was so cosy and all the staff were so friendly the wood burner was lit and we settled down for some scrumptious cakes and tea & coffee, we must have stayed for 1 1/2 hrs and even then we were reluctant to leave, i'am sorry I cannot remember the staffs names but from the 4 of us thank you so much.

Since the new owners have taken over, I have visited the tea rooms a couple of times now, when visitng friends in the area. The second time to make sure my first impressions were confirmed and on the second visit, I was so disappointed, I would never go back. The cakes were very disappointing and the choice was limited. The table cloths were stained and dirty and the place looked very neglected. The owners dogs came in and out several times and were allowed to jump up and lick from the left over food on the plates. The people on the next table were shocked to see this as were my husband and I. This is frankly not acceptable. This establishment used to be a treat to visit but not any more, I am sad to say. I will not go back!

Stopped here as the last part of a girls day out. Easy parking. A quaint tearoom with a friendly welcome, good selection of teas and coffees. Maybe we had arrived after a busy period, but some of the tables needed clean tablecloths, or at least the crumbs brushed off before more customers arrived.The toasted tea cake and cream scones were good, as was the coffee. However, the brew chamber of the teapot sat above the level of the water, so the tea did not fully brew. The pot also dribbled, making for another stained tablecloth!We did enjoy the wooden puzzles and games available on the tables, but put the pick-up-sticks away when the food arrived!A good spring clean is what is needed.

Having spent many years living in Russia, I felt like I had gone right back there. It felt like going into someone's home, but although we were given a nice welcome, this home wasn't very clean and the cakes were stale.This wasn't the gentile tea shop experience we were hoping for!

We were returning home and felt the need for coffee. Ordered coffee for two and chocolate cake. Coffee was good - could have been a tad stronger for my taste - and the cake was lovely. Next time we'll try the carrott cake which also looked fab. Nice friendly service. All in all, a very nice coffee stop :)

I had been told wonderful things about these tearooms so when it came up on groupon I thought I would give it ago I took my 2 grow up daughters and my 87 year old mum. we were shown into a room that was filthy, cobwebs on the windows with dead wasps table cloth was disgusting. I had bought a savoury tea with preserves. I asked for 4 coffees 2 arrived as my daughters had asked for a milkshake without ice cream I was still charged full price(£5) all the milkshakes were was milk and syrup not even frothed up. preserves never arrived. The scones appeared to be home made what else came was butter and marmite. I emailed the owner but apparently they(emails) are going to the old owner who is passing on emails but no response. the new owner is a nice person but not up to scratch as a proprietor. I had purchased another one to take a friend but have lost my money I couldn't bear to go back . outside needed a tidy up as well

We live in mid-Wales and were off to spend a day in Ironbridge. On the way, out we decided to stop at this pretty little spot that we had often seen on the way to Bridgnorth for our Lunch. Lunch was superb - We decided there and then that we wished to come back. Upon concluding our enjoyable visit to Ironbridge we returned to the beautiful Bird on the Rock Tea Rooms for the most lovely afternoon tea we have ever experienced. We have returned twice since and each time was delightful!

Visited with a group of friends expecting a lovely afternoon tea experience. The company was great, however the food and service were not unfortunately. The sandwiches were ok, the selection was good however we were not given menus so we could not ask for certain things such as mustard to be missed off the sandwiches. The crumpets were a nice addition. The scones were disappointing, we had 2 small scones each (no saltanas), and a small pot of jam and cream between 5. I hardly had any jam on my second scone as they was none left; the pot size we got was the same size I have had at other afternoon teas for 2 people. The cakes were a disappointing, not convinced that all the cakes were homemade, some I think were. From what I understand there is new management and unfortunately I think there were some teething problems still when we visited. The service was not great as we were missing cutlery and had to ask for them, we also had to wait for our table even though we had booked. This little cottage could be a great little tea room, hopefully the owners can iron out the teething problems.

2nd September 2015 - literally Just visited these Tea Rooms (after recommendation I might add!!). Has to be the worst place I've ever visited - and I've visited quite a few bad ones in my time. Stopped off for a toasted tea cake and a drink. With my wife I had the 'Ultimate" Hot Chocolate with cream,flake and marshmallow, my wife had the Strawberry milk shake. We both had a toasted (without cinnamon) tea cake each. Total cost £11.90.When it came it seemed to have cinnamon on the tea cake! However the worse was to come. The Hot Chocolate was what can only be described as HORRIBLE and the worst I have ever tasted and as it is the only hot drink I ever have, I have had quite a few and varied selection over the years and believe me when I say it was horrible then it really was horrible. As we had our dog with us we sat outside. They cater for outdoor seating as there were chairs and tables and even a dog's water dish. Whilst sat there we were bombarded with wasps / bees. and I mean bombarded!!!! Then we were constantly pestered by the owners dog keep trying to get to our dog. When we mentioned it to the staff they made a feeble and unsuccessful attempt in trying to get the dog indoors. All in all the visit and experience was terrible and one that we certainly won't be repeating. No recommendations will be forthcoming from me for these premises

I'm sure the new owners of the Rocke are lovely people but they have almost ruined a real treasure - some changes needed urgently! Compared to just 12 months ago, the place looks run down. The garden has lost the pretty annuals and the hanging baskets are full of dead flowers. Inside was cold and damp; even in August - there used to be a fire lit on dull days just to cheer things up. The menus are now nasty plastic affairs. The choice of tea is incredibly limited - why? It's a 'tea room' for goodness sake! I looked forward to a wonderful cup of Darjeeling. No longer available.Service was pleasant but a little slow. The scones were solid (used to be wonderfully crumbly), the jam out of a shop-bought jar and the cream...it was like I've never seen before. I could pour it on my scone (maybe double cream). How bizarre. Why not clotted cream or even whipped? The ploughmans we ordered was passable. Such a shame. It was a lovely place to go before. I certainly wouldn't go again unless things change radically. It was a miserable experience. Please save the Rocke before it becomes extinct.

I went here with my daughter and friends for afternoon tea booked three weeks ago having read excellent reviews. Having arrived ten minutes before our 3 pm booking we were told that there had been a mix up with the bookings and we had to wait while they squeezed us in and there was a considerable delay. The tables were missing several items, we were not given menus and were charged eight pounds for an additional pot of ta which we ordered due to the delay in our food. The food was of very poor quality and badly presented, very poor value for money. I have now since read that there has been a recent change of ownership. This probably accounts for such a change from the previous reviews. I definitely would not return.

I first visited this tearoom ten years ago when it was called 'Bird on the Rock' and the brown signs on the local roads still use this name. It was a fabulous place then under very competent owners who clearly knew their period onions so to speak. There was then a change of ownership (the curse of the tea room addict!) but thankfully the new lady owner preserved most of what was good and maintained the very high standards set by the previous owners. I had many enjoyable visits under the new owners. However there seems to have been another very recent change of ownership where the new owners have utterly failed to continue the appeal of what it was. I noticed straightaway that the exterior of the building had been allowed to run down. The hanging baskets were goneover and parched,the gardens seemed to be completely neglected but as it was a typical wet day of summer 2015 I was destined to go inside anyway. There were 3 young girls behind the till area...all very casually dressed...gone were the old black and white uniforms. I was asked to go into the room on the left where i was completely forgotten as the 3 girls chatted about their college activities,their facebook pages and their social activities...all of which rather spoilt the 1930s ambience which,ostensibly,they were still trying to achieve. I had to go back to the till area to remind them I was there after which I was served. But oh dear they had run out of earl grey tea and the scones were not a patch on what I remember nor were the cakes. It seemed like cheap supermarket jam and cream in tiny plastic saucers.The cake tasted dry and stale. The whole place felt sad and neglected and was almost empty and the menus were nasty cheap plastic covered sheets. More mature staff are urgently needed as young girls rarely provide a good service and are usually quite unable to engage with more elderly customers with notable exceptions. I notice this even though i am relatively youthful. Lets hope another change of ownership soon happens as I can't see the present ship staying aflot for very long.

Welcome break on our walk in Salop! Proprietor very friendly and welcoming even though she was busy! Great selection of teas and home made cakes. Quaint and quirky. Will definitely go back

Arrived at the cottage which looked lovely. It was a lovely day so wanted to sit outside, but the two tables were already taken. Went inside and sat at a table which was laid, the only one which was. When the waitress came to take our order she said we had to move to another table as this was booked for someone else. Gave our order, cream tea for me and a ploughman's for my friend. The waitress was doing everything, waiting tables making and serving the food. I think she did her best! The scones were lovely but the jam and cream was miniscule, there was no way it was enough for two scones!Other than that it was a bit of a disappointment.

What a difference a year makes ! ..... This is my second review of Rocke Cottage but alas, it could not be more different from my first. We first visited the tea rooms around 2003 when it was called The Bird on the Rock, under the ownership of Douglas and Annabel Hawkes who, having previously worked as costume designers on period TV shows such as Poirot and Miss Marple, used their skills and knowledge of that era to create a wonderful setting of nostalgia for bygone days. Following a feature about them in a national magazine, we made our first visit to be delighted by the whole experience. When the business changed ownership we were apprehensive that it would go downhill but we need not have worried - whilst some of the theatrical setting was lost as understandably, the Hawkes's personal memorabilia had gone with them, the new owner, Karin Clarke, more than compensated for it with an expanded menu supplied by her excellent culinary skills and attention to detail. The place still retained its old world gentle ambience of the inter-war years and the service was even more friendly and welcoming. If you read our review of June 2014 (posted under my husband's name of Mel H) you will appreciate how good it was. In September 2014 we were again apprehensive that another change of ownership may mean a change for the worse. Very sadly, my husband died very unexpectedly in November so this was my first trip back with friends to see how it was now. What a massive disappointment! First off, parking was very difficult as the previous overflow car park no longer existed. When I had made the booking I had particularly asked if we could have the table with the curved settle seating and was told yes, no problem, but when we arrived, admittedly a little earlier than expected, we found another group had just arrived and were sitting there. There had been no Reserved sign put out. However, we didn't make a fuss and sat at another table in anticipation of a lovely tea. As we looked around, we saw little evidence of the old atmosphere there used to be .... gone were the small vases of flowers on each table, none of small puzzles or little books to amuse you while you were being served. Instead of the printed menus describing the "Polly Put the Kettle On" tea or the "Humpty Dumpty" there were stark laminated menu sheets worthy of many a greasy spoon. The light floral tablecloths had been replaced by plain dark red ones more suited to a Chinese restaurant. The old hat stand bearing period hats and handbags had gone, to be replaced with an untidy trolley bearing a jumble of vintage newspapers, all very tatty. No more pleasure of reading well kept period magazines! Never mind, perhaps the food would compensate......wrong! Two of us had booked the full afternoon tea but one had preferred to choose from the menu. She was served a toasted tea cake which was burnt underneath - not dark brown but black! In fairness, the sandwiches which came were fresh and moist but the selection no longer included the ham and chutney which had been replaced by beef with horseradish, which I can't stand, and no egg & cress - only plain thick cut cucumber with the skin left on. They were presented on a couple of large limp lettuce leaves with none of the attractive little salad garnish and carefully folded napkins we had come to expect. Next came a crumpet disaster ..... There were completely untoasted but warm and soggy as if heated in a microwave. Who can't even toast a crumpet successly?? When the scones and jam and cream arrived we noted that they were brought on one large plate to share instead of the individual servings we were used to. The scones weren't bad apart from being of vastly different proportions as if they'd been cobbled together from off cuts of pastry, but the jam was no longer the delicious home made strawberry but a flavourless generic variety. The cakes too did not fail to disappoint, being dry, heavy and solid. After one piece each we were happy to leave the rest and weren't offered a doggy bag, nor did we want one. All in all, the place was unloved and unkempt, dirty, untidy, no attention to detail. As a final blow, on leaving I went to look at what had previously been a delightful cottage garden - uh oh! No access now , peering over the piece of wood blocking the entrance I caught sight of an overgrown wilderness which would have done Onslow proud, strewn with rubbish which included empty catering buckets of Hartley's jam. Did I mention the flooded trench with the exposed drains? How sad such a lovely place has gone to the dogs .... I'll not be back until I hear of the next change of ownership.

This place is so quaint, with a olde worlde charm inside and shaded tables out. The perfect place to relax. They offer one of the largest selections of teas I have seen, including Shropshire Tea, which like Yorkshire, is a proper brew. Some of the best scones we've tasted.

This is one of my favourite places to visit and I will take a 80 mile detour without hesitation. This was my first visit since the new management took over. I don't like change and I really liked the previous owner.The waitress did not appear to be quite with it and asked for my order even though I had not seen a menu. But the food remains good and the cakes are sensational. Will need a few more visits to get used to the new regime.Worth going out of your way to visit this place.

Living so close I'm amazed I have never visited before now! It is such a quaint little place and definitely a little countryside gem I would highly recommend. Julie is a fantastic host and goes above and beyond for her customers! The range of drinks available is fantastic! The homemade cakes are amazing...so tasty I took some home! The menu is perfect for the place and we will definitely be returning to try it out as everyone there was complementing everything! I can see it would be advisable to book in busy periods as it was busy mid-week when I would expect it to be quiet! Well done and keep up the good work. Nice to see tasty homemade food being made and tradition being upheld these days!

We were so looking forward to a lovely afternoon following the excellent reviews we had read. The first thing we were told was the 'chef' was off & the waitress was on her own. We ordered teas and lattes. Everything was lukewarm and the latte had no coffee in it! I went to the till and she gave me a cafetiere of coffee to add to the cup of latte. I said can I just have an Americano. it arrived - lukewarm. We ordered Panini's followed by fruit and plain scones, clotted cream and jam to be told 15 mins later she couldn't find the Panini's, did we want something else so we had toasties. They arrived but were made from the cheapest sliced bread. Two people had salad and bread and butter. The cheapest crumbly bread rolls were served. The scones arrived and were cherry, not plain. The clotted cream was awful and had 'separated' as if it had been frozen. Terrible food, lukewarm awful drinks and terrible service. The woman didn't have a clue. Toilets needed a good clean. Sat outside, everything was rotten and old. Gave a small tip as felt sorry for the woman. All good things come to an end. Definitely not going back

We came here many years ago when it was '30's themed & great Tearooms. It is different now but absolutely just as good. The lady owner who served us (without wishing to be too personal) looked so beautifully fresh & pristine & wonderfully welcoming that it has to be commented upon! Loads of different teas 'Joy'! We had Darjeeling & it smelt as good as it tasted. We come from the West Country so it was risky having a cream tea but it was every bit as good as we're used to & yummy cake also. It might be a little out of your way but it IS worth the effort.

We were the first customers of the day after deciding to call in on the way home after a week in Craven Arms. The owner is friendly and has a very nice way about her. Lovely food and thoroughly enjoyed the Shropshire blend. Inside the Rocke Cottage you feel like you have stepped back in time and it feels very relaxing. Everything is very reasonably priced. We went to the same place when it was the Bird on the Rock 10 years ago and this time it was just as good. The only constructive criticism wood be that the table cloth had a few crumbs on it, presumably from the previous day.

Most enjoyable experience, wonderful scones only complaint too much to eat!!will be back For a visit again soon.

took My Mother and two friends out for coffee,this was second choice as the first choice was closed,But so glad we went to Rocke Cottage,never been here before,it's lovely,staff were really friendly,making sure Mum was comfortable as she has just had a knee operation,lovely chatting to the staff,drinks and food were great too,bought some plants for the garden,very reasonable too.Mum was glad as they sold birthday cards as she needed one,and lovely cards too.

Everything about this place is fabulous! The wood burning fire, the sitting room, the owners are absolutely lovely and not to mention how out of the world the cream tea we had was! melt in the mouth cherry and almond scones with a delicious pot of tea! Its definitely receiving another visit from me!

時間を忘れてお茶することができる良いカフェである。車でないと行けないところにあるが周囲には特に建物はないので見逃すこともないと思う。サンドウィッチやスコーンがあり、どれも美味しい。Teaはいくつか種類があり、どれを選ぶか迷ってしまうかもしれない。日本茶もあった。田舎の雰囲気を楽しむドライブをしながら、小休憩で立ち寄るのも良い。

This was our second visit, the first being late February. Both were wet, cold, miserable days, but after our afternoon tea that certainly changed. The staff were very friendly, charming and helpful. On our first visit we arrived at nearly five, when they should have been closing. Nothing was too much trouble for them. The food was of highest quality, fresh, tastety and very reviving. The home made soup was excellent, milk shakes and hot chocolate drinks deserved seconds, too which we did, as for the cakes, well, be prepared to kiss that diet goodbye! We shall return again at the end of the month to celebrate our daughters birthday there, a treat for young and old alike.

Our visit following a recent change of ownership was very pleasant and we particularly enjoyed an imaginative home made soup. There is plenty of variety on the menu including a range of specialist teas (which we did not sample) and lots of home made cakes. Local chutneys and jams can be purchased. This tea room will definitely stay on our list of places to visit!

This year's visit to Rocke Cottage Tea Rooms (previously Bird on a Rock Tea Room) proved disappointing. There are more tables in the main room now, the door on the fireplace was shut (so no open fire), the table games the children love to play had pieces missing, and the whole place just felt more impersonal and less welcoming. (Even though the staff are if anything more friendly than they used to be!) The cakes were a little dry, and piece sizes varied widely. Are we too picky? Maybe so, but I don't think we'll be in a rush to go back again. There are so many lovely places for tea in this area...

We stopped here for a light luncheon. There has been a change of ownership since the last time we visited, but everything was as delightful as ever and the welcome if anything warmer. The menu is quite wide and the food excellent. The selection of teas is superb. As mentioned Bovril would be lovely to drink, but I am a little strange as I also like marmite. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and many thanks for the attention you gave my Father, you made his day

We were a party of 14 on a vintage bus tour with Boulton's of Shropshire and we stopped here for tea and cakes as part of a birthday treat. We had been to the tearoom years ago when it was under different management and this visit was so different. We felt most welcome, were warmly greeted on arrival and shown into a lovely, old-fashioned, snug room, just right for our sized party. It had a roaring fire, a variety of seating and good china and table linen. We were served as individuals with freshly made tea and coffee etc and delicious cakes. The cost was most reasonable. There was no hurrying us out when we had finished and nothing at all we could possibly have found fault with. Altogether a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Thank you.

Four of us like to go out once a month sampling afternoon teas and this one we have to say is the best so far. You need to book for full afternoon tea, plus don't have any lunch. We arrived to a lovely freindly welcome. Open fires table laid with lovely China and lovely little sandwich knifes like granny used to have. Wonderful selection of teas and we did not have to ask for a hot water jug as you do almost anywhere else. Sandwiches came on a lovely stand,cheese and mango chutney,Turkey and bacon,ham and mustard,and cream cheese and cuecumber the only thing we would say is the mustard would have been better in a little pot as not everyone likes it and it was on too thick, plus there were two cheese types perhaps salmon,or egg and cress would have been better ,but still wonderfully fresh. Then came hot buttered crumpets,followed by the best scones jam and cream and to round it off a tiered plate of cakes all homemade,ginger,Madeira,millionaire shortbread, plus brandy snap baskets with cream and raspberry so, almost too much infact we had doggie bags for some of the cakes they were too good to leave. As much tea as you wonted and you could try different varities if you liked.

Nice food in great surroundings. Our kids had a real treat and we were treated like royalty. Well worth a second visit.

We finally made our way to The Rocke Tea Rooms, and were not disappointment, the scones were perfect, with fresh cream & jam, and a lovely cup of tea, didn't realize that could have had lunch, so that means we will have to visit again

Rocke Cottage is like the place time forgot and that's what makes it so special. I am a frequent visitor and have taken many friends/family members here who all agree it is the best tea room they have ever been to. The food is second to none, especially the cream teas and the service is always friendly and efficient. I cannot recommend this place enough. Thank you!

Nice quaint tea room which serves excellent cakes, scones and sandwiches. Good place to call after a walk in the local area.

We have visited Rocke Cottage Tea Rooms several times over the past few months, try and keep us away..we love it. Not just for tasty food, delicious cakes and the great variety of teas but also because of the welcome and great atmosphere and oh it's so relaxing. So many favourites, quiche and salad served with bread and butter, tasty soups, fish pie, and other savoury dishes which change frequently. The cakes are wonderful and always too many to choose from, our favourites are coffee and walnut, chocolate, St Clements cake, beetroot chocolate cake, Bakewell tart and many more. My review doesn't do it justice. You need to discover it for yourself.

Yet another great visit. We took my elderly parents to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary. Not only is there a food menu but there is a tea menu too plus guest teas. The food is excellent too. We had Polly Put the Kettle On afternoon tea which you do after order in advance. We have had this before and have never managed to eat all the food. We come home with a bag of delicious cake every time. The atmosphere is fabulous too and the setting is beautiful. The cottage dates back to the 1600s and the style of the tea room is 1920/30s. For a special anniversary this was perfect, for tea and cake in a sunny afternoon it is perfect, on a wet day when the best thing to do is stay indoors and eat cake this is the perfect place to do it.

Lovely old fashioned cottage in the countryside. So impressed with the interior, lots of vintage artefacts where ever you look. I could live here!! Sat outside by the bird feeders so saw lots of birds. Nice ladies, nice cakes and real tea made with tea leaves, I counted 23 different teas on the menu. Travelled quite a way to get here as have been meaning to come here for years, well worth the visit if you like old fashioned tea rooms and a proper cup of tea! Partner had a cafetiere of coffee which he was impressed with.

Lovely old fashioned tearoom, rare find, nice homemade cakes, ours were lovely. Good cafetiere of coffee and tea made with tea leaves, even the decaffeinated was which made a nice change also sugar cubes with tongs. Sat outside by bird feeder got good photos of birds! Nice friendly ladies, we could have spent longer looking at all the old fashioned artefacts dotted around, this is an old cottage so of course everything isn't going to be modern or pristine! Made a special 1 hour journey to visit and would go again.

Only dropped in for a snack here once but it's a really homely place with old favourites on the menu. Worth going out of your way for if you want a good old-fashioned English experience.

We come from the north-east but love this area so much that we come at least three or four times a year. Rocke Cottage is the icing on the cake! Having known the tea-rooms under this and the previous owners, I must agree with another reviewer that it just gets better and better. The food is beautiful, the service is excellent and the atmosphere is great. Being northerners, we are very familiar with the Bettys tea-rooms of York & Harrogate, but while the latter can deliver on food, they come second to Rocke Cottage for friendly, obliging service. My husband requires copious quantities of the delightful Shropshire Blend, and is now automatically supplied with his own large teapot, while I get my own to ensure that he doesn't consume the lot! We always book the full afternoon tea, and to do it justice, avoid eating all day prior to sitting down to the full works of a variety of delicious sandwiches followed by hot toasted crumpets, then the lightest ever scones with clotted cream & jam. By the time the cake stand appears we can usually only manage one piece each, but are given the remaining pieces to take away and consume later. The ambience is of a gentler era, proper butter knives, real tea leaves and to top it all, excellent reading material in the form of 1930s newspapers and magazines. We have told several of our friends how wonderful the whole experience is and they have come home agreeing what a lovely place it is. If you visit in summer you can enjoy the beautiful cottage garden, or in winter months be warmed by the cosy wood burning stove. A real treat for those who appreciate the nostalgia of a time gone by.

Sunday 15 June 2014 was heading in the direction of being just another Sunday afternoon out in the car, until we stopped at Rocke Cottage for lunch…What an experience! What a perfect lunch! Oh and what lovely people.A rare find indeed, and to be made to feel so welcome was a real bonus these days. To see our eleven year old son enjoying his food so much was a great surprise.Thank you once again.

Four of us booked the "Polly Put the Kettle On" afternoon tea for a birthday treat - and boy, we weren't let down at all! Karin, the owner, is a wonderful woman who really does go the extra mile to make sure her customers get what they want.From entering the cottage to sounds from the roaring twenties on the old fashioned music system, you are swept back to an era of grace and old fashioned courtesy. The tables are set beautifully and the food - which Karin and her team make fresh themselves every single day - is to die for.Our afternoon tea included a wonderful array of sandwiches, followed by hot, buttered crumpets, then scones with clotted cream and homemade jam, and then a selection of cakes that had us all drooling, despite our full tums!A true gem.

A horrible experience not one I would wish to have again!Well where do I start I have to say how disappointing this cafe truly is , firstly I was told that this cafe was taken over by new owners so all the positive things I heard must be based on the previous owners, after a positive start with a friendly welcome we were placed at a dirty table with a very old blue table cloth with food marks all over it, we ordered some cakes and hot chocolates me a friend and our children waited and the items were brought to us , the kids started to complain regarding the cakes and after tasting them found that it had obviously been left out too long and had gone stale, it was a terrible experience and one we would not want to experience again, they must of known there was something wrong and the cakes had been left out too long, as the lady serving asked afterwards , "did you find the cakes ok? " with a bewildering look on her face waiting for me to come back with a unhappy response , I told them they were not very nice , and the hot chocolates weren't very nice either, she said nothing in response and proceeded to ignore us as we left, I can safely say that fresh is not the cakes we received AT ALL!!! I really don't know what other places are out in that area but this place is definitely NOT!!! worth recommending , my friend was quite ill after eating there, I have to also agree with others it isn't very child friendly and it definatly has a horrible dirty musty smell about the place, I won't be back again !! they need to perhaps hire a cleaner too as it was very very dirty and definitely need to brush up on customer service skills.

I took my family to the Rocke Cottage Tea Rooms. We were greeted with a warm welcome and an excellent menu. The quiet, savour the moment feeling is something not experienced in your run of the mill tea rooms. This is something special!Nothing is too much trouble. Food is presented and cooked to a very high standard and the cakes are to die for. A range of teas and coffees will be enjoyed as you look back in time at all the artefacts. This is a little treasure in rural Shropshire and a must for locals and tourists alike.

A warm and friendly welcome on every visit.This is nothing like those generic tea/coffee shops where parents think that everyone wants their child running around shouting! Full of character and charm with a lovely warmth of yesteryear! Myself and my partner are keen bakers and struggle to find good quality cakes in many of the tea/coffee houses we have visited over the years, but the Rocke Cottage Tea Rooms hits the spot on every visit, the owner is imaginative with her selection of cakes and accommodates people with wheat/food intolerances and vegetarians. Myself and other friends visit this tea room weekly and we travel 15miles or so for the pleasure, this is our weekly treat! The cakes are fresh and home made.We have had tea in many prestigious establishments "The Ritz" and many other London and Paris hotels and tea rooms and for charm, friendliness, freshness, and hygiene we feel The Rocke cottage Tea Rooms rate extremely highly especially for individuality! Well done to the owner for finally satisfying our search for a fabulous and individual place to have coffee and fine cakes.

A few years ago under the previous owners this tearoom was voted the "Best Tearoom in the World". Can you better that? Well I have to say "yes" because I have been going there since it opened so have experienced three different owners. It just gets better. The quality and variety of freshly baked cakes is next to none! This is not a tearoom where you should be happy with a cream tea although the cream teas are excellent, complete with fresh strawberries. The cakes always include everybody's favorites, coffee cake, carrot cake, ginger cake etc. but some unusual ones too such as blueberry, lemon curd and coconut cake, when served warm this is to die for, rhubarb and custard cake served warm, and raspberry lime drizzle cake... mmmmm.. Do I need to go on? You will not be disappointed!

I have known this tea room under three sets of owners and have been a regular visitor over the years. In my opinion the atmosphere is unbeatable and the ambience is the essence of Shropshire. We have have been lucky enough to have had many foreign visitors to our nearby home - Chinese, Brazilian, French, Spanish - and we always have Rocke Cottage as top of the list for a genuine 'English' experience and even promise them a trip to the 'best tea room in Britain'. The welcome is always friendly and the quality of the food and beverages is exceptional. The only problem is that the range of good things on offer can make choosing a stressful experience.

I would like to encourage everyone to visit this wonderful tearoom and ignore the very nasty, negative comments that have been put below. Some people obviously feel the need to vent their bad day on other people. We have visited Rocke Cottage on several occasion and always stop when in the area. We have just visited with our very excitable dogs this morning and had wonderful food sitting in the garden in lovely surroundings. The staff are always friendly and helpful even when my husband asks for changes to the selection on the menu for his own blend of tea or toast instead of muffins. We have also visited with young children and unlike the previous owners who would not let any children in have found the staff very helpful. Although it is maybe not the place for young children being old stone floors - a high chair could easily topple over. Please visit and enjoy the lovely food and ambience for yourself.

I have to say I've had lots of days out in lots of places but we as a family always come back to Rocke Cottage because of there amazing teas and cakes my 8year old absolute loves the beetroot cake , the grounds are loverly very romantic nucks and cranies to play around although on a corner road you'd never know , the staff are extremely welcoming and help with any eating habits that we have , it's defiantly a place to go . We will be back Thank you !

It is an old fashioned traditional tea room. The staff are always friendly and welcoming. It is an old building and has rustic charm which may not appeal to everyone, but it is the charm of the building and gardens (along with the wide choice of loose leaf tea and homemade cakes) that continues to draw me back time after time. When walking in Shropshire I always call off here for tea and cake and I have never been disappointed.

I arrived at rocke cottage one Saturday afternoon after driving past for a long time and promising ourselves that we would go as we had heard such great things!!! On arrival I was first through the door and was greeted charmingly by a lady who asked table for one !! All was going swimmingly until I said no 2 adults and a baby 16 months old ) which is where my disappointment starts the whole attitude of the charming lady changed immediately when mention of a baby another lady then came over and said we don't have high chairs which I took for we don't like children in here so therefore do not supply as to encourage it!!!! Alienating families is a very big market !! And I will not be recommending them to anybody and in future I will drive the extra 15 mins and go to ginger and green church stretton or arragons of Ludlow both places very welcoming !!!!

Too be honest we haven't had the best couple of days everything we set out to do went a little wrong and by a strange twist of fate we ended up out near clun the original destination turned out to be a waste of time but a family member who was with me said she heard that this place was meant to be a lovely find.... But.... All I could find was a dirty little tea room , it is meant to be quirky and a little bit different unfortunately for us it truly was unique I can honestly say it has a unique smell of its own, the food was very poor and I know you have to try and support these quickly little places but it really needs a revamp the cakes were stale and the price was not worth the money, I will definitely not return and will not be recommending this tea room to anyone there are plenty of better places to eat and drink and can't see how this place is still going sorry but this is a honest review the two ladies there were nice enough but dirty table cloth , and musty smell really not worth the petrol ! and wished we never had gone there now , we paid for the bits and pieces we had out of pity nothing more !! try another country tea room is my recommendation this one will leave a bitter taste and a burning in the back of your throat!!

We are lucky enough to live near this tea room, thus if we fancy a real old fashioned, traditional afternoon tea, we don't have far to travel. Definitely a step back in time to a relaxing "proper" tea.

If you only visit one Tea Room in your life then this is the one I would recommend. Four of us had the Polly put the kettle on afternoon tea to celebrate some good news and everything was just perfect, the atmosphere is relaxed and the staff are helpful and friendly. The food was superb, who thought finger sandwiches could taste so good and the scones are the best I have ever tasted. The cakes and crumpets again were delicious. The tea and coffee were lovely and the building is full of charm and character. The only advice I would give is make sure you take your appetite with you as there was plenty to eat. So go on give it a try I am sure you won't be disappointed.

Went to the Rocks Cottage Tea Rooms today. This place has an amazing selection of loose teas. I had a quality Lady Grey and the most delicious cheese scone I have ever tasted, so full of flavour I ordered a second one!I am extremely fussy and I am happy to say going there today was the ultimate treat.Yes it's on the market, but that hasn't affected the business at all.Open Wednesday to Sunday.I can't recommend this lovely old place highly enough!

We spent hours here tasting delicious sandwiches, cakes, scones washed down with great tasting tea. The ladies were lovely and if you want to give a gift to someone they would love this experience.

Dropped into this little tearoom on a Sunday afternoon.Really quaint little place. You can have light lunches too but we settled for tea,scones and cake. All home baked. Tea is the proper kind, no tea bags!Service and food were excellent and good value for money.Highly recommended.

Lovely Old fashioned tea room and wonderful food. So sorry to see it is on the market. Hope the new owners will continue with the traditional theme.

Great food, great service, great find. Definitely worth a slight detour to sample the delights here.

Although we only visit once a year, en route home from holiday, this tearoom never disappoints and a pot of tea and a cafetière of coffee provide more than one cup's worth of beverage. The varieties of coffee and particularly tea are impressive. The setting seems genuinely vintage and, sitting outside with hens scuttling under your feet, is very restful mid-journey. We must really make a special journey soon for the Polly Put the Kettle On high tea, which sounds awesome.

We booked in for the Polly Put the Kettle of afternoon tea on Sunday afternoon and were not disappointed. What an amazing place and feast, just like stepping back in time albeit slightly ecclectic . We started with a selection of beautiful crust less sandwiches of which there were plenty in lots or varieties with really tasty fillings served on a 3 tier cake stand, then hot crumpets followed by delicious homemade scones (just like my nan used to make) with jam and clotted cream - by this stage we were stuffed, but then another 3 tier stand arrived laden with homemade cakes, we had to ask for a doggy bag. The tea and coffee flowed during our feast, and was lovely.If you are an afternoon teas fan you have to book in for a veritable feast. We loved it!

We found this tea room on the way back from our camping trip. A little gem serving some great meals but we opted for cream teas and cake. Really worth a visit!

While traveling in the area, we stumbled across the Rocke Cottage Tea Room. We were delighted with the sandwich plate and the dessert. The dining room is timeless -- it could have been 1923 rather than 2013.

stayed for tea and home made scone. good choice of teas and scones to choose from. Also enjoyed looking at the very large dolls house on display which is a work in progress!

Well I felt like I'd gone back in time! Warm welcome. Afternoon tea for two (pre-book)....don't eat before you go! We had a three tier plate of sandwiches (good variety) followed by crumpets, then a further 3 tiers of cake!! Plenty of tea and coffee. Little games on the tables and old books to read. I would definitely go again.

A perfect way to spend a couple of hours relaxing outside drinking coffee and homemade scones. With the chickens wondering around and the cat it is a wonderful experience and will be returning as soon as the weather improves.

This tea room has all the good qualities of earlier times: cosy, friendly, excellent cakes, good coffee, range of teas, warm fire, chirpy chicken wandering about. Highly recommended.

I have visted this tea room very year for the last ten years when in Shropshire (average 2-3 times per year) I find the owner and staff welcoming and friendly every time The building which is an old pub, is full of memorabilia and has its own unique charm and possibly isnt to everyones taste as a consequence. That said the tea (range) and food and cakes are always excellent and round off a good walk in the countryside. I have noticed several very negative comments which would put me off visiting it werent for the fact that I know this tearoom has won many awards. I have continued to visit and have every intention to do so in the future as I still rate this to be one of the best tea rooms if you are looking for real tea and lovely cakes that you will find anywere in the country