Quintessential tea shop has traditional values at its heart

THE Georgian Tea Room in Topsham is a quintessential English tea shop where "good old-fashioned home cooking" is the order of the day, according to owner Heather Knee.

"We get a lot of regulars who come in here every day without fail," said Heather.

"The older people like the bone china and embroidered tablecloths — and the good food they are served, of course! Families tend to come in at the weekend and in the holidays."

Serving a choice of hot meals every lunchtime and a roast lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Tea Room prides itself on its wholesome ingredients and traditional values.

"We always use fresh veg — this week we've had a lot of runner beans, and my husband and I have been up every evening peeling them," Heather said. "We get everything fresh — I even cook my own ham and bake my own bread rolls."

The Tea Room also boasts an impressive array of cakes and scones. "All the baking is done on the premises; my cheese scones practically fly out," Heather said. "There's usually a choice of four cakes — which can be anything from the delicious carrot cake to almond slices."

The cosy interior seats around 30 people, and there's a walled garden for patrons to enjoy on a sunny day. Afternoon tea is served daily, with Heather's cake selection in high demand.

There is also a selection of teas to choose from, as well as home-made lemonade, smoothies and milkshakes made with ice cream. Also on offer are a number of local and regional wines and beers to enjoy with lunch.

The Tea Room has won Taste of the West's Best Tea Rooms award for five consecutive years, and Heather has even shown a professional a thing or two.

"I showed Michael Caines how to make clotted cream for the Great British Menu," she said, with a touch of pride. "I think he was quite impressed!"

The Georgian Tea Room is open from 8am until 4.30pm, Tuesday to Saturday.