Harriet’s Café Tearooms is an example of a quintessential British Afternoon Tea. The whole experience just oozes Britishness, from the selection of specially created British jams in the window, to the plates of hot toasted crumpets whizzing out of the kitchen, dripping in generous lashings of butter. 

As soon as you step in off the cobbled street you are met and shown to your table by one of the staff, impeccably dressed in traditional waitress attire. And the charm of the place doesn’t stop there. The menu boasts a selection of both hot and cold delights, including sandwiches, light meals, and scones, perfect for a quick lunch in quaint surroundings. However, it is the afternoon tea that is the real showstopper. 

Harriet’s offer three types of afternoon tea: the simple Cream Tea at £6.55, the Traditional Afternoon Tea at £14.75, and the Special Afternoon Tea at £16.95. Almost £17 may seem expensive for an afternoon tea, but trust me, it is worth every penny. To prepare your stomach for the veritable banquet of sweet treats, you are offered a selection of teas, from the smoky Lapsang Souchong, to the subtle Green Jasmine. Then the real excitement begins. 

The food is brought to your table on a charming three-tiered cake stand. The bottom tier boasts a selection of delicate miniature sandwiches, with classic fillings such as cucumber and cream cheese, and smoked salmon – enough savoury food to line your stomach for the next two tiers. The second tier proudly showcases one of Harriet’s signature items: two very large, freshly baked, warm fruit scones, accompanied by rich clotted cream and sweet raspberry jam. 

And finally, the pièce de résistance: a top tier piled high with enchanting miniature patisseries. From delightful fruit tarts, to indulgent raspberry and white chocolate cheesecakes, each one is as perfect as the next and sheer indulgence at it’s finest.

The whole experience is topped off by the soft tinkle of the grand piano, gently lulling you into a state of sugar-fuelled happiness. Harriet’s Café is like stepping into an upper-class afternoon tearoom from the Victorian era. If you are after a bit of traditional British charm, and you have a sweet tooth, then this one is most definitely for you.