The Hideaway Tearoom in Chelmsford

After writing, out of puzzlement and concern, a rather less than positive review in February, I was rather anxious to return, in the spirit of fairness, to check how everything was now going. This I have now been able to do. I and my partner am very pleased, and somewhat relieved, to report right now that normal service at the Hideaway Tearoom has indeed returned. It would appear that the previous visit was, as I did suspect, made on a bad day. The compliments and positive comments made by other reviewers and myself are still applicable. Special mention should be made of the homemade cakes, which are of a much higher standard than many offered by at least some National Trust properties. Not all of the cakes were still available on the afternoon we visited, but that is quite understood with quality food items, baked in short runs...so perhaps a morning visit to Hideaway is to be recommended, to view the full selection of each day. I am already feeling eager to return soon!

Fabulous little tearoom hidden atop of the Antiques centre. Great views from every table. Extensive menu for both breakfast & lunch although we were only here for a coffee & cake. All homemade and delicious. Note there are no lifts so it is a bit of a climb as it’s on the top floor but the view alone is worth the effort the food is an added bonus.

Faultless, excellent all round. Loved the homemade cakes, nice friendly service and stunning views. Cappuccino frothy and lovely tea. Great pricing. Much appreciated thanks. We'll be back, first time visit after having come to look at antiques for several decades this is literally the icing on the cake. Cheered up a rainy day

My partner and myself have visited Battlesbridge Antique Centre fairly regularly over many years, and visited (and very much enjoyed) The Hideway Tearoom on each occasion. All the positive reviews shown here are, in our previous experience, entirely accurate. Except for today...... After all the previously enjoyable visits, today's visit was not so much disappointing as completely mystifying....and in rather an exceptional way. I don't recall ever having such an odd experience anywhere else..because there was no response or personality from the team members present, as there had always been at The Tearoom in the past..and absolutely no service. We are not attention seekers, or wishing to be 'known', just looking for a basic response, two teas and two slices of cake. Hence the 'terrible' rating, because, I'm rather sad to say, I cannot honestly make it anything but that. I don't generally write reviews, and would also prefer to be positive, or say nothing at all. My partner went up ahead of me, and took a seat (the sign at the entrance says to take a seat and we will come to your table). About ten minutes later, I caught him up and asked if he had ordered. He said no, and that no-one had actually approached him, which immediately seemed odd. There were three ladies on duty, but who remained gathered behind the counter for most of the time. Only two other tables beside ours were occupied. One table seemed to have eaten their order, the other had food brought to the table, shortly after I arrived. Following that, we would have thought someone would then have asked us what we would like to order, but nothing.....so I started to check my mobile phone and chatted with my partner for about another ten minutes. It did seem very odd....normally one of the lovely ladies greets visitors quickly, often before they actually take a seat, and engages in a little chat, menu, etc. We started to wonder if they were just having a difficult day, and best be patient - or whether we should just go up to the counter and order...but not receiving an acknowledgement after 15-20 minutes did then start to seem too long, and best to just let it go. A curious thing to note - the tables usually have a little fresh flower placed on them in a miniature vase. They still do...except each one of them was limp, and brown. Our decision to leave was then prompted by a comment made by a young lady on one of the other two tables (next to ours) when her partner got up. "Where are you going?", she asked. He said "to pay". She then replied "what, and for the cakes we ordered with the tea, but didn't get?". So clearly the experience wasn't 'personal' to us. Perhaps it was just a bad day there, or the business has been taken over by new people who have good intentions, but are out of their depth at the moment....but we left and went back to another old favourite place....Squires in Rayleigh...who we would wholeheartedly recommend (also Wilmas) for an enjoyable experience. Serving teas admittedly may not be the most exciting job in the world, and I can understand it might even seem like a real chore at times, but Squires and Wilmas seem to manage it successfully and effortlessly. If, in reality, the ladies there are not sincere when serving their own customers, then I can only say they, at the very least, are certainly exceptionally skilled actresses!

Excellent value, lovely greeting and great teacake. Definitely hit the spot on a very cold morning. Super views from the cafe along the river crouch.