The Tea Shop at Watts Gallery in Guildford

When we arrived a member of staff asked is to sit wherever we liked and somebody would serve us. Nobody did. I noticed another couple get up and ask for service as they were fed up with waiting. My husband then did the same and was told they had not seen us come in! The woman operating the till and the waitress taking orders spent most of their time talking to each other. That’s why despite another member of staff welcoming us , they missed us not watching who had come in and despite looking at us, somehow did not think we would want to order. After we had to ask to be served another couple did the same, 3 in all! The young woman who bought our order to us was excellent professional and friendly. The cheese scone very good, warm, clearly freshly made and a generous amount of butter came with it.

Had a lovely lunch of Welsh Rarebit followed by cake. It was very busy in there at just after 12 but the staff were very pleasant and managed it well. I was sharing food with my mother and it came plated up nicely on two separate plates. This was my first visit but I plan to go back for more.

What became a bad experience could have easily been prevented. I ordered an oat milk hot chocolate, it was fine, not hot enough but fine. My sister ordered a decaf oat cappuccino, she left without ever getting one and I refused to pay for my hot chocolate as the service had been so bad. All they had to do was say initially that the oat milk frother wasnt working and my sister would have changed her order to cows milk decaf cappuccino (shes not allergic). Instead they served her a coffee with oat milk, no foam, we sent it back, were told the frother wasnt working so my sister said she would have cows milk, then she received a cappuccino but it was caffeinated. So we sent that back, my sister was offered a new cappuccino on the house. What we got was the original wrong order again; an oat milk coffee not a cappuccino slammed down by the waitress. At this point we left. We were served by around 4/5 different staff which didnt help. So disappointing considering it could have been a quick easy fix.

Over priced food and moody staff that can't can't follow and simple request to no ad an item to our meal 🙄 Coke was not cold and glasses were not clean so I drank out the bottle, Food was ok I guess, nice fill on rhe chicken sandwich and cake slice was generous but service was shocking no happy staff and no tanks from the large lady for sorting our plates ect into a stack so it's easy for staff to collect, Remember this is part of the complex but you can rock up and sit and grab a coffee or food without paying to get in. But silly and unprofessional that a simple smile and see you again soon and or thanks for making that so tidy instead of just walking off and leaving it like most people do Will not be back that's for sure

Went to the cafe half way through a walk. Lunchtime was quite busy but got a table easily. I had the Watts rarebit with sausage and bacon. Perfectly presented. I’ve come here over the years ever since it was run by the crazy lady and the rarebit is still amazing. Together with a lovely pot of tea for one it was the perfect simple lunch. A bonus was meeting my cousin there by chance who came with a friend.

Nice and warm on a cold day and a tasty meal in this quaint little tea room. It was very busy which is either a testament to its popularity or a reflection on the lack of local options. I went for the special of the day, a cottage pie with veg which I enjoyed and my friend opted for a half and half (a small bowl of pea soup and a half a sandwich). This was washed down with Assam tea - their is quite a choice of teas - and café latte. Service was reasonable, though not overly welcoming. My main criticism would be that the Tea Shop is rather pricey given the portions. The hot drinks were particularly expensive; on a par with central London prices. A pleasant experience overall.

Looking forward to a nice family lunch after an extended walk, we were sent to a side room (as we had a dog). Given a menu but when tried ordering from it, informed that we could only have take-out food inside the restaurant excluding a large portion of the menu. Accepting the reduced sized menu we were still stunned to discover our food served in non-recyclable wrappers, wax lined disposable cups (are they still legal?) and cardboard boxes, served on a tray to an indoor table. Some of us tried the homemade soup which arrived in a disposable small cup with a lid, but without a spoon. You cannot just drink the thick soup... A sandwich arrived in a cardboard box with the bread already soaked in juice from the salad and partly disintegrated. The cake also arrived in little cardboard boxes whilst the coffee clearly did not merit a mug. But the final indigence was reserved for the pot of tea which was replaced by another small disposable cup with a teabag but with no milk. To make matter worse, we were charged the full rate for all items- not the take-out rate. Soo paid for a pot of tea and got a little paper cup. What a sorry excuse for a tea room. When we queried it, we were told they would not serve food in the room we were in, hence no cutlery, crockery tea pot. It might make sense, if the table next to us did not get a pot of tea, plates and a knife and fork. It might also make sense, if we were not charged the full rate for eating inside, without any attention, service, utensils or even a plate. Charging the eat in rate for takeaway (and not saying it will arrive in a box or without a tea pot is at best disingenuous - indeed a teabag does not a teapot make). It is also a waste in terms of unnecessary environmental damage. Quite a shame as the food was actually nice - but the way you treat your visitors makes your venue far from hospitable!

This cafe used to provide really nice lunches made with local produce, e.g. Welsh Rarebit, jacket potatoes, Quiches and range of drinks. This menu is still advertised on the website. We went there for lunch early October. There were only two other customers seated and two staff, it was raining. We were told that there was no lunch menu but we could buy sandwiches at the hatch outside/next door served by the same two staff. We asked if we could bring them into the cafe so we could order a hot drink as well but were told by the waitress that we weren't allowed to eat the sandwiches in the cafe for 'health and safety reasons!' We (2 women) therefore had to eat them in the rain sitting at one of the wet outdoor table and bench seats. On speaking about this in the shop later on, another visitor overheard us and he was allowed to eat his sandwich in the cafe at lunch time. There was nothing on my sandwich wrapper which said "do not eat inside!" Presumably, there was one rule for females and another for males (discrimination). Sadly, this situation is very detrimental to the Watts Gallery which used to be a charming and interesting place to visit. I advise potential visitors to phone the cafe first to find out exactly what the situation now is.

As usual the latte is especially good here; the weather was sunny so it was enjoyable sitting outside on the tiny tables for four.

One always gets a good latte here; service is good and so is the atmosphere - especially if sitting outside in the sun.

It was fairly busy (usually a good sign) but we were swiftly shown to a table. We placed our order - a cheese scone, a plain scone, a regular tea and a redbush tea. My partner had wanted a coffee but the only milk alternative was oat milk which a lot of people with intolerances can't have (please consider having soya), hence a redbush tea. After almost ten minutes we were advised that there were no cheese scones left (there were some when we ordered as they were visible on a shelf) so we had to settle for another plain scone. The teas arrived - with a jug of oat milk for some reason - with one scone, the other arriving very quickly afterwards. They looked nice and had been warmed, but they were very small and were incredibly dry. Not sure I've ever had drier. The butter was also quite salty. £4 for a small scone without jam and cream is very expensive but they even charge £4 for a simple toasted teacake (I usually pay around £2.50, occasionally £2.95, for this elsewhere). I noticed that the staff have a "staff happiness jar" for tips on the counter. I wondered if putting a coin in meant the staff would smile as they all seemed to want to be somewhere else. We called in as we'd seen many good reviews on Google. Should have checked TripAdvisor first, clearly.

£8.50 for burnt Welsh Rarebit, which I took back. The servers appeared to not be impressed by my actions and stayed well away from me, not offering a replacement or an apology, albeit they removed it from my final bill. I'm sorry I expected a little bit more from such a prestigious Surrey landmark.

Cold drinks from a small can - £3.50!! You must be joking. Same cost as a Latte and no brewing and steaming. The coffee is always very good, and the cold drinks were excellent - but the price was a rip-off!

What use to e a lovely tea room is now awful , today not enough staff to open although there were 4 staff waiting to serve take always ! Coffee prices have risen but to pay £7:50 for 2 americanos in take away cups is excessive and the coffee wasn’t even good. Having used this tea room for 30 plus years i will not return.

Enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea and cake here as a birthday treat. The range of cakes was fab (and very delicious!) The service was so friendly and really made all the difference. Thank you!

We dropped in on our way past for a light lunch as we've had many pleasant snacks here before and it's a lovely spot with good service and 'proper' Welsh rarebit. I think they must have changed the recipe though as this time it nearly blew our socks off as cayenne pepper was the dominant flavour. It's a great shame as previously we'd enjoyed the cheesey-beery-mustardy deliciousness. Please revisit the recipe! Lovely service though.

Great to sit outside today as the weather warms up and enjoy a nicely brewed Latte. Service here is always good, as is the coffee!

We only wanted takeaway coffees but were told due to staff shortages no takeaways of any kind were available, or outdoor table serice, only indoor table service. We sat outside and ate our own sandwiches and drank our own water. I'd estimate at least twelve other visitors just wanted takeaway drinks, so they really missed a lot of trade that day. If they could make drinks for the inside customers why couldn't they provide them to takeaway? They may have been short staffed but I saw at least three staff members inside. We did join queue, twice, for an inside table but it moved so slowly we gave up. How hard can it be to provide a takeaway coffee?

Fantastic and caring service from Sue towards my wife who is in a wheelchair. Food was good and a very good experience. Thankyou

I often visit Watt's Gallery Café, usually for coffee and a fruit scone. This morning I was there again with my husband. We were told that we couldn't just have a scone because they were short of them, we'd have to order a cream tea as they needed enough for customers who requested a cream tea. If we were to have just a scone, they'd be "losing money". We were allowed to have a cheese scone, which we accepted On the way out we noticed a plateful of plain and fruit scones on the shelf behind the counter. Why not bake more? Or if they do sell out, tell later customers they'll have to choose something else?

I have visited this cafe many times over the years and been very pleased but today I was very disappointed with the service. I had to request service, my order for coffee and cake took ages. The coffee was not what I wanted. There was a further delay in getting me extra milk which I had to go and request. My coffee by this time was cold and undrinkable. Finally there was a delay in paying and I was surprised at how expensive such an unenjoyable cup of coffee had been. I don’t think I will return again and nor will I recommend it. Such a shame.

Delicious food, excellent service and value for money. Good selection of lunchtime food ranging from soup and sandwiches to hearty meals all very generous so take an appetite with you.

Set within the artists village complex, this can be visited even if not going to anything else, but why not visit the village as well. Plenty of indoor seating and some outside as well. A selection of soup and sandwiches, or tart and cake and...

Went in for something to eat and drink before visiting gallery. Seated quickly, order taken promptly and drinks served. However, after 30 mins we were still waiting for our sandwiches. Husband enquired and was told there was a hold up in the kitchen. However, we...

Enjoyed an lovely pot of tea after a few hours wandering the artists village. Staff asked if tea was good, as well as if we had enjoyed the village. A lovely end to the day.

Pre-Covid, we used to visit frequently and always had great service. Today, we popped in for a cuppa and cake. On arrival, we were told to sit down anywhere we liked and they'd be with us shortly to take our order. Although the same lady...

I cannot rate this cafe highly enough, from every perspective. We were a walking group of 10, we did not need to sit together, but the staff went out of their way to re-arrange tables and seat us cosily together. This was our third visit...

Lovely building but very overpriced for drinks and snacks although main courses reasonable £3.50 for a very weak flat white !!

After a brisk 90 minute walk, we were asked to wait in a queue for a table. Not a problem, given that we are exiting “omicron” season, however, there did seem to be more people leaving than being seated. After what felt like 15minutes or...

Really nice coffee served here - and well-served too. The staff are courteous and kind. It's a joy to come here. The only problem: the price is a wee bit on the high side, £7 for two lattes'

Stoped here for lunch with a friend. Staff were very friendly & helpful. Sandwiches were lovely & fresh , scones were delicious 😋 lovely little stop off place. Very busy , parking full.

We popped in during a visit to the gallery for the first time since lockdown. The service was hapazard but polite. We ordered sandwiches and scone and coffee. The scone and coffee came after about 10mins but the sandwich which we wanted to eat first...

I was so disappointed with our visit to the restaurant, limited menu ( which I know sometimes cannot be helped) but the staff were miserable and very unhelpful, the Rarebit was soggy and the egg sandwich had hardly any egg. We were also overcharged and...

Located behind the shop/visitors' centre, the tea room offers lunches and teas (including cream teas) and has either takeaway or table service. You can sit in or outside. The sandwiches are good: try the cheddar with apple chutney!

The staff today were clueless. Ordered two main meals and heated scones with chilled clotted cream and jam. The scones were served before the main meals. Waiting staff didn’t check if we wanted more drinks or if everything was ok. The food was nice. My...

This is a favourite of ours and we were very pleased that it has reopened and understand the need for hand sanitizer and open doors. The food was still good although we did notice that the got drinks were very pricey and crisps not served...

Spotlessly clean, friendly service and a wicked Welsh Rarebit. Perfect pit stop on a 10 mile round walk. Felt safe and secure with their stringent COVID safety measures in place. Loved the staff challenging people to check in and wear masks exactly how it should...

Stopped by after seeing the chapel.Had lunch in the tea shop. Food was lovely apart from foreign body in it. When complained, we were then made to look as if we had done something wrong. Staff all stood hoovering over the plate, in clear view discussing the matter! Made us feel very uncomfortable.Red haired staff member was overboard with Covid rules, which was off putting. She was abrupt and not keen on the manner shown. Place was very cold and door left open causing draft down back and cold legs. We asked could it be closed and she said no due to Covid!!Upon paying another of her Covid rules was bill had to be paid on one card only, despite not just one party on our table. Think she's making up rules as she goes along! Never in any restaurant, cafe or public house had this been stated, yet she claimed was the rules and had the nerve to say " well if you must I'll split this time, but only as I'd rather you pay, than not!" Damn rude.Gift shop staff didn't even crack a smile or look up when serving. Overpriced on most items. Nice place to visit, but sadly staff make it unpleasant and unwelcoming!

Extremely well organised so we felt very safe. Delicious food and friendly service. No need to book which was a bonus as it was a spur of the moment decision.

A very rude man shouted 'put your masks on' as we entered the door. When I pointed to my 'face covering exempt ' badge he ignored me. We were given erroneous information about registering for track and trace.The young man who served us was polite but when we asked for the bill no one brought it. Then they refused to split the bill between me and my companion.I felt that they were all so terrified of catching Covid it would be better if they didn't bother opening at all.

Well planned for social distancing; nice to sit outside in the sun and enjoy a coffee or cold drink. Both were excellent. Lovely surroundings.

Firstly, one is made to use the sanitiser at the door which is all well and good .......but perfumed? For someone with allergies this is a big no no plus who enjoys perfume with their food? I don’t. One then steps into a soulless hole which is so far removed from the images on the website I thought that it was a different place. I ordered the Welsh rarebit and a smoothie. The bread was burnt but I was so hungry I ate it anyway and the smoothie was not made with fresh fruit on the premises. Very overpriced for what it was (at £10 something) Will not be back

Whilst being part of the Watts Gallery complex the tea shop is a stand alone operation and well worth stopping at if you are in the area. Established in the old Compton Pottery building there are a limited number of covers so at 13.00 or so there is a queue for a table.A varied menu of cooked and cold dishes and sandwiches all very good, from our experience, with their signature dish being a Welsh rarebit. There is also an impressive range of cakes every day.Service can be a bit slow when busy but we’ll worth the odd wait.

Visited the cafe with a friend. Below average experience. Atmosphere lack lustre, staff indifferent and tea EXTORTIONATE! A simple mint tea (not even fresh, but a mere teabag in an old pot) and 2 cups £5.60! Not even an infusion of extra boiling water to cheer it. Woefully inadequate and over priced. A great shame.

I had a quick birthday tea with a friend here one day early last year. The service was quite good and staff were friendly and prompt too. My friend ordered a cup of tea and I had a slice of their chocolate cake as well. The chocolate cake was delicious. If you are in the area visiting friends, working or just strolling around, I certainly do recommend this cosy nice little teashop. Nice lot of choices on the menu and it is worth every penny as well. The food at the teashop is suitable for vegetarians. What could be better? We had something to eat after our planned trip to a escape room in Guildford earlier in the day.

Service is excellent - very prompt and very friendly. However, that's as far as it goes. On walking in our glasses steamed up and as we looked around we saw that the windows were also steamed up - this may seem a small thing but it meant that th eatmosphere is not controlled and this is what disappointed us. Of course a coffe latte at £3.50 does not seem good value when the Seale cafe a few miles away provides much better value and a far better atmosphere.

My wife and I were visiting friends nearby who suggested lunch at the Tea Shop in the Watts Gallery, it was our first time here and it was a really nice experience.The waitress service was warm , friendly and informed and the menu and food excellent. We could not have asked for more , although busy the food was served promptly and the waiting staff remained calm and friendly throughout.It was a very nice expierience to eat here and we will certainly return and invite others.

Went for a short walk around Watts Gallery and stopped for hot drinks. I echo a previous reviewer in that my Latte was weak and not very hot and the Earl Grey tasted just like an ordinary cup of breakfast tea. I think the supplier of the Tea bags needs changing. Given the price of the drinks, £3.50 and £2.85 we expected quality of taste and better quality cups and saucers. On a positive note the food being served at neighbouring tables looked very good and with generous portions.

Watts Gallery Teashop is, in my opinion, the best teashop in Surrey, if not the UK. The interior is spotless and atmospheric (it used to be the showroom for Mary Watts’ pottery), with large b & w photographs of Mary Watts working in the pottery and very attractive, artistic, notice boards displaying the day’s offerings. The latter includes a mouth-watering range of cakes; soup, quiches and other savouries for lunch; and, my particular favourite, the delicious fruit scones, which are the best I’ve tasted anywhere in the country. Hot tip: arrive for 10.30am when the scones have just come out of the oven. The tea and coffee are also excellent. The decaffeinated coffee is particularly fine and every bit as good as the standard variety in terms of aroma and taste. Other features that make for a most pleasurable dining experience are the solid and spacious wooden tables and chairs and, most importantly, the friendly and considerate staff. I can’t recommend the place highly enough.

I would have given 5 stars as the food was great, really tasty. Unfortunately though the waitress tipped a jug of milk in my lap, she was terribly apologetic and we saw the funny side of it but we didn’t think much of the fact that despite now being very wet, I was not offered anything off our bill in way of apology. If we hadn’t been close to where we were staying and had been planning further out door activities that afternoon it would have been a disaster as I was very cold! Whilst paying, I pointed out that it would be nice if the fact I was covered in milk was noted in the bill, we were given the price of one pot of tea off! Wow!

Have been before and therefore knew I did not want to order the Welsh rarebit, way too much mustard in it last time.Ordered the macaroni cheese. Very watery and sloppy. The nice salad beside was ruined by being drowned in dressing which again had far too much mustard. It would be a good idea to offer the dressing in a jug on the side.....I really enjoy visiting Watts, so disappointing about the food. Expensive for what it is too.I will visit again, but will just have coffee and cake, those are good albeit quite pricey .....

Stopped for lunch and had their excellent Welsh Rarebit with tomato and mushrooms together with a pot of tea. All excellent with good speedy service. Worth a visit.

The cafe stands independently from the exhibitions. It gets very busy. Good coffee and cakes. Service is a little slow and prices are above average.

Don't tell anyone or the queue will get even longer! Excellent Macaroni cheese, autumn salad and Welsh Rarebit enjoyed by all present ... but not all together!

Very lovely and friendly teashop, nice atmosphere and decor. Only had tea and coffee but they were all very good.

This is a very nice place to stop and have a break especially after having a look around as there is so much to see. The welsh rarebit is recommended but do note it is a little expensive for what you get and my friend came away still hungry.

Nice cafe. Very friendly, good service. However very disappointed with the coffee: probably the most expensive and definitely the weakest flat white I have ever had!

Perfect lunch stop to refuel on our 50k walk. Delicious food and delightful service. Huge Sausage rolls, homemade soup and generous portions. Local hogs back cider

We had morning coffee and cake, plus lunch there. It was marvellous. Good service, lovely coffee and homemade cakes, and a delicious lunch. Bravo!

Wow best cheese on toast I have ever had, who knew something so simple could be so tasty, hats off to this little tea shop. Best cheese on toast in the UK!! love the decor as well lots of tea pots and images of tea and coffee related things, very cosy.

Arrived on foot having walked the North Downs Way from Guildford, looking forward to a cup of tea and a light lunch. The café was busy inside, but there were a number of vacant picnic tables outside. Our party of four was told in no uncertain terms that we could neither be served at the outside tables nor take food and drink away to consume there. This despite others at nearby tables eating and drinking from what they told me were “take away” paper cups and food trays which they had bought in the café. When we enquired about other possible lunch venues nearby, a young male member of staff directed us to what he described as a pub. It turned out, after a 3/4 mile walk along a busy road, to be a former Thai restaurant which an nearby shopkeeper told us had closed 8 months ago; thank you Watts Gallery! Needless to say shan’t be going there again. Are you doing so well that four potential lunch customers can be fobbed off so casually?

Having browsed the lovely gift shop here, I met a friend and we had lunch in the café. Unfortunately it was very busy, probably not unusual in the summer, and the noise level was high, so chatting was difficult. Not helped by a hard floor, hard wooden chairs and tables, hard walls, nothing to absorb the sound - this is all too common, so not just a problem here. We chose the speciality Welsh Rarebit, which certainly was delicious, followed by good large mugs of coffee. Looking up at a high window, I noticed that it was completely covered in cobwebs - not too good, a long feather duster was all that was needed. Oh and there was no toilet paper at all in the Ladies. Probably will return but a bit of a mixed experience.

Well worth having lunch or whatever here rather than seeking out nearby pubs. Wine and very good beer and cider are on offer to quench the thirst. The staff were excellent and the menu was all tempting. We can Recommend a sausage roll and salad as well as the Welsh rarebit which was just as good as Fortnum’s’ !

Visited the Tea Shop recently with a friend, we shared smoked mackerel salad which sadly was not great. Even tho we had reasonable number of mackerel pieces the salad consisted of a few sad lettuce leaves. Very disappointing. Also expensive.

These are lovely tea rooms, we had coffee and then lunch here which were excellent with great service.

This small cafe is part of the Watts Gallery estate in beautiful countryside between Guildford and Godalming. Service is friendly and efficient in a spacious pretty room but the star attraction is the food- my salted caramel cake was fabulous and my wife's cheese scone was warm from the oven and delightful. The choice of cakes is great- I could have sampled any of them. We will look forward to another visit here next time we go to the gallery.

Friendly staff. The cakes looked excellent with extensive choice. Welsh rarebit the house speciality was excellent.

30 minute wait for a £7 sandwich. As a piece of bread and a sausage goes, it was adequate but grossly overpriced.

Nice surroundings but quite expensive. I was disapponted to be given half a cup of coffed and the waitress was suprised I asked for extra hot water. I would have made a complaint but did not want to embarass the friend I had with me. Just take note that customers pay for a whole cup of coffee!

Have been here a couple of times now and really like the informal layout. Lunch of quiche and salad or afternoon coffee and cake have gone down well. It's nice to wander round the gift shop and gallery as well - often spotting something that can go in the drawer for a birthday pressie later. The location just off the A3 makes it a good meeting spot if you have a friend driving from further afield - and plenty of car parking too. With a bit more time I would look at the watts gallery itself - the amazing horse statue you see through the open glass wall makes you want to see more.

My friend and I enjoyed deliciously flavoured welsh rarebits with tomatoes and mushrooms in a stylish atmosphere. Although the cafe was busy, the drinks and food were served very quickly by friendly and welcoming staff. We're looking forward to our next visit.

It was our first visit to this tea shop. I had the soup of the day which was cauliflower because it was very cold and windy outside. It served the purpose. It came very hot and it was very tasty. My family recommended me to try the scones which are homemade and very good. I tried the plain one with clotted cream and strawberry jam. It was very, very good! Worth the calories!!!

Loved the quirky decor! Friendly staff and delicious food, including the biggest (and tastiest) coronation chicken sandwich I have ever seen. Would also recommend the wicked hot chocolate and the Watts Works Welsh Rarebit is the stuff of dreams.

Called in after a walk, Sunday lunchtime and it was very busy but we didn't have to wait at all for service.

With nine cakes to choose from, this is teatime heaven. It's not cheap. Tea costs £2.50, cappuccino £3.25 and a slice of cake is £3.50. But it's all good quality, the tea room is attractive and service is efficient. There's free wifi too.

We have been eating the Welsh rarebit here for years, it’s always great. The kids lunchbox is popular our daughter. Nice ginger beer, smoothies & traditional lemonade. The cakes are always very tempting, with a wide range on display by the door. Handy to pop into the gift shop and galleries whilst you’re visiting.

A bit surprised how small and busy the cafe is even on a quiet day at the gallery so assume people come just to go to the cafe. The coffee was really good and although a bit early for the breakfast menu I got a bacon sandwich on granary which wasn’t on the menu - lots of bacon in fresh bread with a nice dressed salad garnish - and crisps which weren’t really necessary. We thought we would only be spending an hour at the gallery but 3.5 hours later we were back for a cup of tea and delicious cheese scone. Busy and full but plenty of very helpful staff

Stopped at the cafe after a walk in Compton and had lunch. The food was fantastic and really good value. I'd particularly recommend the quiche, which came with a generous portion of delicious salad. Coffee also very nice. In spite of the fact that they were really busy, the service was friendly and efficient (without being too much!) and the setting is gorgeous!

I visited here with my mum after a recommendation from a friend & we were not disappointed! We both had rarebit with mushroom & tomato, a pot of tea each & a piece of cake each - they have a cake board with a long list of cakes! We had the salted caramel & the lemon & both were delicious, fresh & moist.

You don’t have to be visiting the Gallery to sample the delights of the Tea Shop. They serve coffees and tea with cakes, or lunches, which can be sandwiches or a selection of warm food or salad. All freshly made and tasty. We found the children had plenty to choose from. Mismatched antique crockery is fun and the mugs using Mary Watts’ glaze are interesting.

This is a friendly Tea Shop, you can get snacks and a simple lunch there, which is very useful if you are going to the Gallery there or any of the other places in the complex. Equally it is near the Watts Memorial Chapel, which is well worth seeing.

We had lunch and afternoon tea here while on a visit to the superb collection of attractions at the Watts artists village.

The cafe is welcoming and moderately price. The food is fresh and the menu offers a variety of options from sandwiches to the most amazing homemade scones. The staff are happy to help and the service is quick. A lovely place for afternoon tea or a bit of lunch. The location is also great for dog walking and spending time outdoors as there is both outdoor and indoor seating available. A lovely independent cafe

Great place to meet friends and share a lovely cup of tea and sample a wide range of cakes. Combine with a visit to the gallary or Watts Chapel if the weather is fine & to burn off a few of the cake calories!

Staff were rude. I'd taken a friend who'd had a hip operation and needed a little understanding bc she was on crutches. All I got were snappy staff. Won't be going again.

Excellent tea room which is well worth a visit. Free and good parking. Really good selection of food and drinks and well prepared and presented. Quick and friendly service. Highly recommended.

5 of us for lunch on Thursday September 6th. All of us chose something different from the extensive menu. I had a lovely Welsh Rarebit served with mushrooms and tomato and it was delicious. Friends enjoyed tomato and lentil soup with bread and another one enjoyed quiche with salad. Friendly staff and service was speedy. Altogether (apart from the wasps) it was an enjoyable meal.

New term coming up, I wanted to give my 14 year old grandson a lunchtime treat. Remembering the many happy visits to the Watt's Gallery Café when I lived in Guildford (some years back) I took him there. They serve light lunches and he chose pea soup as it is his favourite, sadly, it appeared to have been made with dried peas which had not been cooked properly/for long enough. The soup was full of dry powdery lumps, presumably dried peas. My grandson did not eat it after the first spoonful. I had ordered their famous welsh rarebit with sausage and bacon. the sausage was so dry and wrinkled it must have been left over from the day before and the rasher of bacon was like shoe leather. As my grandson was still hungry we ordered waffle and icecream which I reckoned they could not ruin. When the waitress came to take away out plates I pointed out politely that the soup was unacceptable. As well as the food we had an apple juice and a cup of coffee. The bill came to over £26 and yes, I was charged for the soup. I did not make a fuss as I did not want to embarrass my grandson. I wrote a letter to the Cafe manager telling him/her our experience and our disappointment, sent it first class. That was well over a week ago and I have not received an apology.

The Watts Village is very interesting and makes a good afternoon out but the tea shop was a real disappointment. We had a pot of decaf tea for two and one piece of carrot cake and it cost £9! The carrot cake was ok, maybe a bit dry. The tea was dreadful. It was completely insipid and tasted of nothing, even after we had given it time to brew. The member of staff who served us was delightful but I certainly wouldn’t rush back there for a cup of tea! At that price, surely you can expect better.

Simply the BEST tea shop I have ever visited. Anywhere that has a selection of a dozen cakes on offer gets top points!

Good food friendly staff all homemade mismatch cups really cool do cakes and snacks famous for Welsh rarebit

Fabulous vegetarian fare . I had the cashew nut paella which was delicious and my mum had the quiche which looked great .

I had Welsh rarebit and salad - really nice - and the sausage sandwich looked lovely too. Love that they use local Hogs Back beer in the Welsh rarebit and serve Greyfriars wines from the nearby vineyard. Serving staff are polite and friendly.

Nice clean cafe, tables inside and out. Table service. CoffeeI thought a bit expensive but at least it's a good size cup.

I have been to the tea shop a few times ,the food is always great,my friend has the Welsh rarebit and I had the last quiche of the day, both a good value. The staff were ok but not very attentive to tables, on clearing the table ,we said maybe we should have a dessert, and the lady said oh yes do, but never came back to take an order or advise us what there was! it was not over busy ,so I do feel the customer service does let the place down, and could make the tea shop much more of a destination for lunch, just a shame we left that we wouldn't rush back.

My son and I visited Watts Gallery during a half term break. It was a pleasant half day out and we had lunch at this café and tea shop. I had the Welsh rabbit, which was tastefully done - decent food but the it is slightly pricey. At the same time, the café gets very busy during lunch time and I get a sense that they are understaffed. Arrive early or bring your own food to eat onsite if you can.

Used to call here when dog walking, it had excellent home made cakes. It still has but at a price.

This tea shop is a cut above many of this size. No bog-standard sandwiches here. The food is all attractive and nourishing and what's more, interesting. Specialty of the house is Welsh rarebit - we didn't try anything else so cannot comment on other dishes except to say that they looked nice. The rarebit was nice, but not exactly a revelation. Nothing on the menu is above £8.95, so reasonable too. They do have an alcohol licence.

Lovely morning for a drive in the country so we took the back-roads to Compton and stopped off at The Watts Gallery. Slightly caught out by their not opening until 10.30 but comfy bench seating in a sheltered sunspot gave us a comfortable perch unitl they did open.

We were visiting the Artists' Village, so called in for lunch at about 1pm. It is obviously very popular so we had to wait for a table, but not too long. The menu provide a variety of wholesome food, including chunky sandwiches, Welsh rarebit and hot dishes of the day, in addition to a selection of cakes to die for.