Afternoon tea in Frome: what you get, and why we ask for a day's notice

Afternoon tea is one of the nicest ways to spend a couple of hours. It is a treat for a birthday, a catch-up with an old friend, or a reward after a morning walking round Frome's independent shops. Here is how ours works.

What is on the stand

Afternoon tea comes to the table on a tiered cake stand. There are finger sandwiches on the bottom, a warm scone each with jam and clotted cream in the middle, and a selection of small cakes on top. You also get a pot of tea or a coffee each.

It is £24 a person, and you can book it for anywhere from one to eight people.

Jam first or cream first?

This one gets people talking in the West Country. In Devon it is cream first, then jam. In Cornwall it is jam first, then cream. We will not tell you which is right. We just give you plenty of both.

Why we ask for a day's notice

Our kitchen is small and we bake for afternoon tea fresh. Scones are at their best on the day they are made, and the little cakes take time to finish properly. Knowing a day ahead how many of you are coming means everything on your stand was made for you, rather than whatever was left on the counter.

So please book online at least a day before you come. Choose "Afternoon tea" when you book and tell us how many of you there are.

Vegetarian, vegan and other needs

We can make a vegetarian or vegan afternoon tea. Tell us in the note when you book. If anyone in your party has an allergy, put that in the note too, and mention it again when you arrive. Our afternoon tea usually contains gluten, eggs, milk, mustard and fish, and the allergen key on our menu lists the rest.

How long to allow

We hold the table for an hour and a half, which is plenty of time to eat everything, pour a second cup and not feel rushed.

Making it a celebration

If you are celebrating, tell us in the note. And if you would like a whole cake to take home afterwards, you can order a celebration cake online and collect it on the same visit.