The Sondes Tea House in Swale

Wonderfully cosy place, garden has cosy corners to sit and the main room has a log fire ( in the winter). All home made food, very good quality, healthy savoury options. The cakes (I’m not a cake eater) looked delicious and home made.

Lovely chilled relaxing atmosphere great food friendly staff , but chaotic counter service. You are told , after queuing at a crowded counter , that you can’t order right away. They take your name , tell you to find a seat, and that you will be told to come to the counter when called. Bizarre. This is in spite of the venue not appearing to be particularly busy and despite there appearing to be plenty of staff. It took around 10 mins to be called The food behind the counter is displayed , and looks delicious, but is unlabelled and undescribed , presumably a pick and mix system, but it is unclear exactly what goes with what so to speak, or what comprises a portion or what it costs. No information posted at all. A menu at each table with a good description of the dishes , and table service would solve matters and improve things no end, reduce congestion at the cramped counter and make it easier for staff and customers alike and would probably increase turnover no end.

A friend took me to this lovely little gem of a place. The decor is so interesting and very comfortable. I took a peek at the garden too before we left and it looked beautiful and has plenty of different seating areas. We wanted to have lunch and were very lucky that they said if we were happy to wait and accept what was left on the menu they could fit us in. Not surprised really as they are so popular. We each had a pot of tea while we waited (I had Turkish apple and my friend had rhubarb spritzer) and then had the most delicious aubergine bake with salad. I hope I get the chance to go again as I loved it.

Bloody lovely as always, a super lunch and brilliant Tea menu! The cake selection was magnificent it would be rude not to indulge!

I came with my family as my daughter and her partner live close by in fact she recommended it and we are so glad we came. The food is absolutely amazing really tasty and healthy. I am so impressed that this is a business that doesn't sell or serve animal flesh. We will definitely be back. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. Love the décor very chic. Lovely ambience.

What an absolute mess this place was. They start serving lunch at 12 and we were there at 12.40 to be told by some rude waitress “we’re done taking orders for today, we’ve sold out, you’re welcome to leave.” The cafe was half empty. My pregnant partner was not amused as we just spent 5 minutes clearing all the used coffee cups from our table. Today was just a wet Tuesday afternoon, nothing special! The place is a disaster, I will not be back!

A revisit to this venue for us. Our food was so tasty and well cooked. We had a Lentil Dahl & Vegetable Stew. There were Vegan options available also. It was busy on arrival and needed to wait a while to be able to go up and order our food and then return to our seats and wait again for your food to arrive. It was busy but not full. Despite asking someone for a hot drink who was working behind the counter I was told I needed to get up again and order separately at a different counter. It seems illogical to not have someone taking your order thus stopping everyone attempting to manoeuvre around close together tables. Whilst the food is amazing and is definitely the best thing about Sondes we found much of the paraphernalia decorating the establishment taking up unnecessary room in an already small area.

A wonderful transformation of a local pub. Fabulous food presented elegantly. Quirky interior draws you in and makes you want to stay. The well stocked shop is a joy as are the friendly staff. Don’t miss it!

Have visited a few times now. Originally recommended by friends. Lovely, quirky ambience, wood-burner in winter, garden in spring/ summer. Huge selection of teas - green, black, pine needle, chai etc etc. lots of vegan options (and vegetarian too I think. Usually on offer - soup and bread, a bake, a curry or stew, bagels, baguette pizzas, vegan saus rolls, pasty’s etc & great salads. Friendly service & great little shop with some Whole Foods, snacks, general products, veg stall.

This is a really great cafe in Selling near Faversham and only about 15 mins drive from Canterbury. It is located in an old pub and is very quirky. The food is absolutely superb. They start serving lunch at 12 noon and the menu seems to change daily depending on what the chef decides to cook. All fresh ingredients, cooked to perfection and presented very well (huge portions). The coffee is lovely and there is a wide selection of teas as well as cakes and soft drinks. It’s not cheap but not too expensive either and in my view good value. The staff are friendly, very efficient and nothing is too much trouble. There is also a good shop with lots of interesting food etc and they also do take away. It’s shut on a Monday. If you are in the vicinity don’t miss it. You can park in the street outside and there is a train station next door (Selling Station).

Sitting by a lovely open fire with tea and cake. Things don't get much better. January blues are left outside.

Visited one morning whilst in the area…. Lovely, quirky place. Offers coffee/tea, cake and lunch. Worth a visit. Became very busy, when it got to lunchtime.

We dropped in for lunch while visiting a friend and can't wait for an opportunity to go back. The atmosphere and ambience was just lovely. Both fires were going and it was extremely comfortable and cosy. It's a strange amalgamation of an eatery and a village shop and there was a slightly chaotic feel to proceedings but this only served to add to its charm. When I phoned to book (they don't take bookings) they warned me that they were understaffed and the menu choices were limited but we saw no evidence of either. There were lots of choices and there were no problems with the service at all. The food was absolutely delicious.

A friend and I visit here quite often for coffee and cake. The coffee is reliably good and served in gorgeous cups and saucers which are not the size of soup bowls! The choice of cake is fantastic and always a gluten free option for me. Beautiful gardens to sit in but also the inside space is warm and inviting. Finally, the staff are outstanding - polite, kind and helpful. I recently visited and my friend dropped her coffee. The staff were so kind with the minimum of fuss, they just quietly and calmly helped us, realizing that my friend was upset and embarrassed. A little gem 💜

Found this cafe today by accident, I was so impressed by the selection of vegan, gluten and diary free dishes available. The member of staff was very knowledgeable about the ingredients - it was all homemade. The dishes my sister and I had were very tasty. The number of herbal and fruit teas was also impressive. The staff were very friendly and welcoming.

Having been here several times in the past, we enjoy the atmosphere and the food/drink. However, they still need to be more aware of what their food contains from an allergy point of view. Saying the cakes are bought in so they don’t know if...

a very pleasant first visit, lovely spot, friendly staff. a variety of local produce and healthy foods. super garden full of visiting wildlife. rather lucky it wasn't too busy so the birds and butterflies lingered a little while. good stock of "farmhouse" bread, fruit and...

I just love the Sondes! Pre-covid, yes I can remember that far back (!) we loved to visit for lunch and enjoy the vast healthy range of offerings and the fabulous spread of sides and salads that you could choose from! The selection of teas,...

Have always loved this place as it's so quirky and a relaxed atmosphere. Since COVID they have been running the local shop, and offering a take-a-way service and have been working tirelessly to help support the locals. It's a great place for your pint of...

Visited The Sondes Tea House before Christmas 2020. My summary of that visit was friendly staff, average food, expensive. Visited again March 2020, my summary is now unfriendly staff, lovely food, good portion size, expensive. Two of us visited recently and had a couple of...

Quirky We had been told of this by friends and their recommendation exceeded our expectation. Huge ranges of teas, unusual other hot drinks, such as beetroot latte with coconut milk, home made cakes and a lunch menu to fast for

I was taken here by friends and didn’t expect that much from a vegetarian cafe. How surprised I was. A gloomy old Victorian pub had been converted into a pleasant tea room with tables sandwiched between potted plants which gave an intimate air. There is...

Popped in for a cuppa and a cake with my mum and ended up having brunch as all the food looked and smelled too good to pass up on. Very tasty soup and quiche with salad! Charmingly decorated and friendly service. Heading back very soon!

I have visited the Sondes on a number of occasions and recommended it to lots of friends and family as the food is wonderful. Lovely selection of lunches, cakes and teas. The only downside is that even in times that it's not busy the staff feel rushed and in turn it makes the customer feel rushed to decide what to order (there is no menu so you have to look at what's on offer by the till). This has never felt problematic and just a quirk of the cafe, however on visiting today with friends who had driven for 50 minutes on my recommendation to get there, one staff members direct communication style has really put me off the place. As a table of 3 we were placed on a small table for 2 with additional chair right by the fire. It was far to hot to sit there and we moved along joining the second smaller table next to us. The staff member quickly noted that we were now taking up '5' seats in a very direct manner. We advised we were very happy to move to another table for 3 but we unable to use the seats as it was too hot. Having been told there were no other tables for 3 (at this point it was 11.30 and the cafe only 25% full), we remained seated as we were and ate our early lunch. 45mins later we went up for a second drink and slice of cake. As we were finishing, I assume the owner asked if we could move onto one table as they needed the space. She was perfectly polite and we explained that were just leaving. The original staff member appeared behind her adding that there was a queue waiting and that they needed the table as they had 2's and 3's waiting. We felt extremely rushed from start to finish. What a shame. As the the food is lovely and the venue beautiful with plants and quirky furniture. As we went to leave I explained to the owner that the staff member was extremely direct and she apologised advising and told me she was a mum of 4. Sorry not a good enough excuse. Not sure i'l be back and certainly won't be suggesting that friends drive across the county to be spoken to in a rude manner to have a rushed lunch.

Visited here first time, knowing they had just re-opened after winter break, with a smaller menu for a few days. We had the Veg stew with dumplings, with was lovely, and though we were full, we couldn't resist a piece of vegan chocolate cake, which...

Staff are always welcoming and helpful. Food varies but is always plentiful and tasty. Food is displayed so you can see what you are choosing and ask questions. We have eaten here quite a few times and never been disappointed.

fantastic place and not just for Vegans, excellent selection of teas, cakes and general vegan/ veggie food, a little bit quirky but very friendly and welcoming definitely worth a visit

Myself and a friend, a vegan and a vegetarian. Had a leisurely lunch. It was very tasty and enjoyable. Large portions of imagiative food.

What can I say, amazing all vegetarian food, lots of it. Lovely welcoming staff, super little shop selling quirky bits and bob as well as all veggie food You must go just to see and feel the environment

This is different to most places you might have been to. A bit quirky and interesting. Oh, great food too!

Always very nice to visit the Sondes for lunch. The food is good and the staff are very friendly. In nice weather it's delightful to sit outside in the lovely garden.

This place is amazing! It’s quirky and unusually styled but amazing. You walk in and are greeted by a large selection of bowls full of differing salads, pastries, curry, smokey beans, breads and a bar with lots of cakes. You order at the bar and there is plenty of options for those who are gluten free or vegan. I choose to have a jacket potato with smokey beans and my boyfriend had Dahl, finished off with a piece of strawberry sponge cake which was huge so we shared it. If a place has gluten free options then it’s good by me but if it’s dog friendly then it’s even better. My boy was able to sit under the table inside with us. There is also a little shop with lots of fruit/ veg and cooking items.

Great food, place and customer service. Very well presented resturant, designed entirly for Vegans etc. The food is all home made and fresh at a resonable price with a huge alternative tea drink menu. Only down side all dogs are allowed in, i like dogs but not in a restaurant to much barking,sniffing attached to leads that can trip you over.

Great environment, great food. Service a little distant but good enough. A small complaint handled with grace and favour. I liked it very much and I tend to return soon.

A hidden gem in a small town in Kent. Quirky, excellent food, wonderful atmosphere and great Staff. Will certainly return.

We tried to go for lunch this afternoon and were told we could not stay as we had a baby with us. We were happy to sit in the corner but the lady suggested that it would be best for the comfort of others that we don’t stay as she would have to move the other customers slightly... although they had more than enough space. We had tried to book earlier in the day but were told they don’t take bookings. Very disappointed with the rudeness and the discrimination of being with a baby. We were not even taking a buggy with us. Would give no stars if given the option.

A wonderful discovery :D a delightful restaurant/cafe with shop attached. A warm welcome awaits you in an interesting room brimming with unusual decor and furniture & lots of lovely healthy plants (always a good sign) Tea options are endless and incredible - we chose 2 different loose leaf teas and some delicious homemade cakes, a giant Viennese Whirl & a Brownie BBrowniesBrownnieBrownie :bbrchocolabbbbbbrownie&a;&&CChoChoclateGocchochocolate; ChcoChocloate brownie

The day we went the long fires were burning, giving a cosy feel to this interesting tea house. The furniture and furnishings are quirky, the staff are friendly and the food is excellent.

One of my favourite places for lunch. It’s so my kind of place. Amazing veggie/ vegan lunch that you actually see spread out before you to choose from. The venue is jam packed full of quirky charm. Arrive early as can get busy. Lovely village produce store attached.

The whole experience was a wonderful surprise. We had to do a detour to avoid traffic, and found this delight. First of all, the setting was welcoming and friendly. So many options for vegans, I was spoilt for choice.

Sublime vegetarian and vegan food. Stopped during a bike ride for lunch. A fantastic place with great atmosphere and lovely staff. Would thoroughly recommend to anyone. My partner said it was the best meal he had ever had...praise indeed!

We stumbled across this little gem of a tea house today after visiting Perry Wood. It's close to Selling station but you could easily miss it. If you're looking for chips, baguettes or sandwiches it's not the place for you, but if you love salads and vegetarian food then it's a delight. I had a huge bowl of mixed salad and houmous. There was a nice variety of salads and the houmous tasted home-made and was delicious. You could also opt for a quiche, cheese twist and other veggie mains with the salad, or a soup of the day and a dhal were also on offer.

Hi, I'm Poppy the Poodle and I visited with my human family.

My first time at the wonderful Sondes Tea House where 3 of us, one man and 2 women, all enjoyed a wonderful Sunday lunch. This was not your traditional roast though as the menu and buffet are 100% vegetarian. I have been eating less red meat recently due to health issues and I have learnt to cook vegetables in a way that makes them tasty and enjoyable. When I eat in restaurants, however, it’s normally a nightmare. Not at Sondes as everything was attractively presented and wonderfully scrumptious.

My friends and I were walking nearby with our walking group and somebody recommended this place for lunch. Wow, what a feast for the eyes as you enter the door, the spread is there for you to see and decide what you would like. I am a meat eater but had no problem choosing! I had the small lunch platter and chose the spiced cinnamon and butternut squash pasty with salad, it was gorgeous. The only slightly negative thing I would say was that the platter meant you had some of each of the salads on display but a couple were wasted on me as I am not a lover of olives or nuts, but I do understand that it would cause problems to pick these out yourself. A lovely lunch thank you.

Lovely salad veggie food and coffee. Garden to sit in is very calming and tables not too cramped. Staff helpful n friendly without being OTT. Will return and try the cakes next time

I'm not vegetarian, but if you are looking for a tea room that is a bit different this is the place, good selection of teas and vegetarian food, in a nice atmosphere.

This was my first visit, lovely food, extremely friendly staff and nothing was to much trouble. Loved the beetroot latte. Defiantly recommend

My husband and I visited en route to Tonge Barn and it was well worth the detour. Having driven from Cheshire we arrived after lunch session had finished but still managed to enjoy welcoming dahl with salad and huge piece of delicious raw chocolate tart. The tea room is a repurposed pub which has been converted and has a cosy charm with an eclectic and bohemian decor. Plants, ornaments and craft works dotted around are for sale. This continues into a pretty garden seating area and there's a quaint village shop attached where we purchased bottles of salad dressings that had accompanied our meal. Staff very friendly and engaging. A thoroughly enjoyable experience after a long drive.

A bit off the beaten track (by road) but just a few minutes from the railway station for Faversham and Canterbury trains so well worth a visit. Relaxed environment with excellent coffee and tea along with cakes, scones and vegetarian main dishes.

staff are lovely, teas, and cakes all look so appetizing and they do not disappoint. The setting is very cozy and well presented. Worth a visit.

I visited the sondes tea house with my elderly next door neighbour after having seen it mentioned on Facebook. There was plenty of room in the cafe and we had a choice of tables. we both had a pot of tea and a slice of home made cake. I have to say the portion of cake was huge and both were delicious. we had the victoria sponge and the toffee sponge. I can recommend both!!! the tea came with a 5 minute time so you knew when it was ready to pour. The surroundings are interesting - loads to look at and talk about. There is a small garden at the rear and we are intending to come back again and have tea in the garden when it is a little warmer.

We stopped here because we were charmed by its old-world charm: A village general store with a cafe attached to it in an old pub. It looks wonderful from the road as we drove through the tiny village of Selling.

Food gorgeous. Surroundings gorgeous. Manners awful. I have never been made to feel so unwelcome in a cafe as I have here. I will never go back because of one particular lady who totally spoiled it for us. She was rude, barked at us for “taking up too much space and she couldn’t afford to lose another table.” Maybe it was a bad day for her?

I visited this gorgeous pub on the morning of Mothering Sunday with my fiancé and my parents. We had called up to make sure there would be availability as we had once again left things to the last minute. We were told on the phone they weren’t taking bookings but at present the pub was quiet so if we came now there would be a table.

This lovely place was recommended by friends and we were not disappointed. Very pleasant helpful hard working staff and a glorious selection of food. Home cooked products and delicious selection of salad. Can’t wait to go back.

I am in the top 10% of Trip Advisor reviewers with 15,049 readers. We visited here today to an abundance of vegetarian salads, lentil and coconut dahl, goats cheese and pesto chiabata, lavender and early grey scones. All colleagues were friendly. Currently you order at the counter and pay when leaving my advice is that you maybe place menus on the table with table numbers or have a blackboard with the days offerings so people can select and then order at the till point. They have an extensive tea menu and when I say extensive it’s huge. I found the whole process pleasant but when it gets busier the current ordering system could be a bit chaotic. However, to be fair the proprietors are just finding their feet and what a colour offering it is plant based and delicious food, prepared with a smile. Lots of gluten free delights and also dog friendly. We loved our visit and will most certainly be back! Good luck with your endeavour.

I love this place. The food and the ambiance but man are the staff hard work! They basically just don’t want you there and it shows. I went with two friends so three of us but they squeezed us onto a tiny table so we decided not to eat, just not enough room and frustratingly the slightly bigger table we wanted remained empty while we were there.

Had heard great things about Sondes so we thought we'd find it and have lunch there.

I’ve been to the Sondes multiple times and have always enjoyed it; amazing food selection and the best vegan cakes locally. However the past two times I have been, particularly today, I’ve never felt so unwanted or been treated so disdainfully. My 6month old daughter and I went in with buggy and car seat attachment and before we had even crossed the threshold were barked at that there wasn’t room for ‘another one.’ I was finally able to get through a nd was told again there was limited space but I could sit round the corner, ‘with the others’ but would need to put buggy down. I asked for a high chair and was told that no, this isn’t really a baby place we are an old pub. Unfortunately I was meeting a friend or I would have been straight out of there, I did ask if she wanted me to take my custom elsewhere but this was waved away.

Visited here with a friend who had been raving about it and said how much I would like it. Well she was right, really quirky and unusual, lovely choices on the menu which I think changes according to seasons. Staff were lovely, managed to get a table easily although they were very busy and the food was delicious, would definitely recommend and will return. Dogs are welcome here too which is nice.

I’ve been meaning to visit the Sondes Tea Rooms for months and finally made it today for a birthday lunch with my daughter. Wow my only regret is that I left it so long. Food was lovely such a good selection of vegan food and cake all clearly marked. Spoilt for choice everything looked and tasted so good. Had a lovely table by the window at the front - log fire made the place cosy. Staff were so lovely didn’t feel rushed despite them being so busy. Went to the shop after lunch - great selection of fresh bread vegetables and general goods. Lots of vegan options including vegan Worcester sauce. Cannot wait for my next visit. Their card machine went down while I was in the shop and I had no cash - rather than suggest I would have to leave my shopping I was told that I could take my shopping (over £20 worth) and pop back and pay another day or call them and pay over the phone! This really summed up the atmosphere/ethos of the Sondes Tea Rooms. If you’ve been thinking of visiting get down there soon.

Cannot rate highly enough. The outside of the tearoom gives no idea of the utter delight of the inside. The array of fabulous food on display makes for some indecisiveness. Whether you want coffee/tea and cake or some fabulous vegetarian fayre, this place will more than deliver. Wonderful staff. Went on a Saturday lunchtime with my friend and her dog (who was most most welcome). She had warned me that I would be spending ages looking at all the bits and pieces for sale and the beautiful surroundings. She was right. Touches of colonial India with the leafy palms scattered around, Morrocan influences and general fantastic taste on display everywhere. Go. You won't regret it.

It's a quirky but relaxing environment, and considering I'm not a vegetarian I thought the food was fantastic. There was a stunning display of fresh lunch fayre and awesome looking cakes. They did't disappoint. The dahl was filling and flavoursome, and the slither of passionfruit curd cake my wife allowed me was moist and delicious. We will be back!

We visited saturday lunchtime after a recommendation. It was busy bit managed to get a table, the log fires were smoulding away and the warmest of the place hits you straight away. Its really querky and has some amazing things to buy.

What a delightfully quirky place, great food and lovely staff. Spent a happy hour and a half, never rushed. When you have finished eating browse the items for sale.

We bought a few lovely Christmas gifts and tasty local honey and jam in the shop then had tea and cake in the tea rooms 🍵 loved the cosy fire, fun decor and easy atmosphere and the gorgeous sausage dog we met too!

Part grocery store, part decor shop, part cafe, part restaurant... this place is very inspirational. Good quality, fresh food in eclectic surroundings with very helpful staff. Log fires in winter. Homely.

Visited here with my daughter to show her the amazing assortment of teas. A 150 in total to choose from and we tried the “Russian caravan” which was amazing and served in a heavy metal red pot with 2 small mugs and a little ceramic bottle holding the milk. I had a slice of amazing carrot cake to go with it. We sat beside a roaring log fire in a room full of quirky paraphernalia. We loved the different chairs and tables and the ambience with music playing quietly in the background. From arrival to departure the whole experience was thoroughly enjoyed. The hot food on offer looked delicious and will definitely be back for lunch another day.

I have visited the Sondes Tea House a few times and really enjoy it there. They have over 150 different teas to choose from!

Gorgeous tea shop/grocery shop. Just walking around and looking at all the interesting things is a wonder like walking into the shop and back in time. The whole experience is unique and the food is divine! Veggie and lots of gluten free. Def visit this place!

A wonderfully eclectic cafe/tearoom with a wide selection of hot vegetarian lunches. Dog friendly and a generally comfortable feel to the whole place.

Just a tad "off the wall" in the nicest possible way. Huge attention to detail both in the decor and in the food offering. Vegetarian - I am definitely a meat eater but was recommended to this place, have to say it was an education for me. The food was absolutely fab - I had the cauliflower cheese with a huge side salad. Choice apparently of over 150 different teas with the offer of a top up pot on the house. They do not take bookings so arrive early and take tea or coffee. When chef is ready they sound the dinner gong and then you chose from a huge table of food which is then bought to you table. Love it. If you are fussy about exactly what time you eat....don't bother. BUT if you adopt the beautiful relaxed vibe in here then you will be rewarded in spades. Definitely worth the trip.

First visit having looked online and recognised location from when it was a pub. Really enjoyed the visit. Wide selection of food, light lunches, afternoon teas etc plus the chance to buy the produce.Love the decoration and staff friendly and helpful. Definitely on the visit again list.

We chose soup & crusty bread for lunch today - tempted to stay on for afternoon tea & more cake too! A lovely quirky place that’s brimming over with feel good factor. Must revisit again soon.

We came for Saturday lunch a few weeks ago and we all thoroughly loved it. The place is interesting and the food was delicious. The food is presented as a buffet style and you go up and order what you would like, it is then served up and brought to your table.

I have been here a number of times and have had a really good experience on each occasion. The lunches are just delicious-a platter of very interesting salads with a choice of ‘main’. The cakes are gorgeous and the coffee of very good quality.

Amazing food in a unique and beautiful environment. Arrive early to avoid disappointment on a weekend day. The gong goes at midday then all tables go up to order food from the selection prepared. The Sunday we visited, all tables were filled by 11.45am, and most of the lunch food had gone by 2pm. Also a great place for coffee and breakfasts. Delightful garden too, a real sun trap.

Have visited Sondes various times and always scrummy food available.

What a pleasure to visit a place where every detail has been so thoughtfully put together. Lovely people create a warmth and comfort. The food looks sensational and tastes divine. This is a place to go back to again and again. I was totally inspired by the work that has gone into creating something very special. Great teas, so much choice of everything. The croissants were perfect, the soya milk latte exceptional and the garden was a place we had to make ourselves leave!! The salads were exceptional and I want to go back for afternoon tea and the most pefect cakes now!

The Sondes Tea House is 'local' to us - a 15-min drive, or a 20-min train journey - and I hope we'll go there often.

A fantastic place for lunch. Beautiful, thoughtfully-prepared food - fresh and seasonal. A great outdoor space to complement a comfortable and individual interior.

I came here at my sister's recommensation because I am a big fan of tea and have many different varieties I enjoy at home, so having a tea bible to browse and choose from was fantastic. O really enjoyed my apple crumble tea. The food also tasted fabulous. My concern however was for how the food was displayed. The main lunch components were sat next to the till without covers and at room temperature. I would advise hot food should stay in a hot food display and foods, such as rice salads, should stay in a refrigerated display (this is done at the Veg box cafe in Canterbury). And everything should be covered up to protect from flies and wasps (there were wasps flying around). I consider both the temperature and the lack of covers for the food both food hygiene issues and as such would prevent me re-visiting (I didn't see the food as my sister ordered for me otherwise I would have hesitated the first time). Once the above issues are remedied I would be very happy to visit again.

lovely spot to visit on a summer's day with a sheltered garden to enjoy the home made lunch. Good choice of salads and fairly fast service in a relaxed atmosphere. Certainly different and worth a visit.

Quirky A one off Delicious food Unusual but great concept Vegetarian although meat eaters won’t miss it - try the Egg Hog!

A friend introduced me to the Sondes Arms (once a pub, and now a wonderful cafe/tea house). The place is completely, and quite unexpectedly, delightful as soon as you walk through the door - 'quirky' is the adjective used by most other reviewers and I would have to use it too. The garden is similarly decked out as the interior, and really belies description - you have to see it!

Wonderful veggie lunch and afternoon tea spot. A friend gave us the recommendation and we loved it open from 12.00 if chef is ready - a few minutes later if he isn’t - lunch lasts until it’s gone (so an early arrival is indicated.) Tea and cakes available until 4.30. The shop sells a variety of local produce including Taywell’s ice cream. A wide selection of succulents and herbs and interesting gifts are also on offer. It’s a must visit.

So pleased that Sondes Tea Room was recommended to us. We visited today travelling 30 mins in the gorgeous sunshine through the Kent countryside. Inside we were met by friendly staff, and a never ending array of wonderful edibles! The interior is gorgeously done and the garden was a wonderland of beauty. We drank gorgeous turmeric lattes and ate some very tasty vegan cakes. Wish we had saved room for lunch as everything looked utterly gorgeous. What a find, we will return!

Sondea tea house and general store is hard to find, hidden deep in rural Kent, but it's well worth a visit. The selection of teas is amazing, the genuinely home-cooked dishes (quiches, pies, salads, cos-cous and more) are a vegetarian's dream, and the quirky interior and plant-festooned exterior are unique. Get your map out, find it and go for yourself!

If you want somewhere that is a bit different with excellent food and drink, then this is the place for you. We ate outside in a very cottage-like garden that had wonderful little nooks and crannies with a backdrop or artisanal items and plants.

I can only add to the other great reviews here. It's so hard to describe the interior but the whole place took me by (pleasant) surprise. Wonderfully dog friendly and my French Bulldog Dennis was made to feel so welcome (and even got to meet the owners gorgeous Frenchie and pug which made his day!) Stunning interior, incredible tea menu (circa 150 teas I think), delicious food - all immaculately presented. I had a turmeric tea as well as a massive slice of rhubarb and strawberry cake (which i guess might have undone the health benefits of the turmeric tea but it was definitely worth it!)

The rating and pictures say it all. This is a quirky, attractive hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Food is delicious, nutritious and fresh. One hundred types of tea to choose from too. Intimate interior space and pleasant garden. Delightful visit. Highly recommended. Images: Huawei P20 Pro phone.

The tea options were so vast, I didn’t know where to start. Luckily the staff were so helpful and they had little samples to try.

Amazing place, great choice of home prepared foods, imaginative surroundings, eat inside or out, dog friendly. Staff welcoming and friendly, service excellent.

Brilliant salads and veggie food, incredible choice of wonderful teas, all served with a smile in a pretty garden.

Lovely place with lots of Nik Naks for sale including aprons, plants, plates, teapots and of course tea!

Good food be nice to have beer with it otherwise great Would be good to have some bread with the humus

Love this place. I visit regularly. Very welcoming staff and lovely food, breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. I highly recommend you visit. It is close to Selling station. There is a small amount of parking outside but you can easily find parking on the street. They are not open on Monday. If you are walking, cycling or just visiting come and have a cup of tea - they do loads of varieties.

My friend's description was "it does quiche" what she didnt say was it does really good quiche served with lots of lovely salads. Interesting teas and great cake as well. Great for coffee or lunch.

Stopped here after a 6 mile walk. Fantastic array of cakes and mouthwatering salads and we enjoyed delicious tea and coffee. Pleasant and prompt service. I highly recommend this place. We shall certainly be back.