Cost – £15.00 (Oct 2016)
Background – Nancy’s Vintage Tea Rooms are situated a short way from the clock tower at the end of Newmarket’s High Street. There are several ‘normal’ tables plus a couple of low tables with comfy chairs and sofas. There was a good display of homemade cakes and slices on the counter.
Contents – 1 finger sandwich each (egg mayonnaise), 1 triangular sandwich (chicken with tarragon), 2 small shaped open sandwiches (a heart shape topped with smoked salmon and a circle topped with cream cheese and cucumber). Two medium sized scones (your choice from fruit, plain or cheese – we chose fruit), a mini Tiptree jar of strawberry jam and a small heart shaped dish of clotted cream. A small profiterole, a tiny piece of carrot cake, a mini lemon meringue tart and a mini chocolate dessert in a shot glass. The tea was made with loose tea leaves from a large choice of varieties.
Comments – We had booked our Afternoon Tea ahead which turned out to be just as well as there was a large baby shower going on in the tea room which took up most of the tables. We were seated at a low table on a comfy sofa in the window area. The table was laid ready with non-matching vintage china, a cake fork, butter knife and a teaspoon.
The tea arrived first in a pretty china teapot. It was then quite a long wait until the rest of the tea arrived.
The Afternoon Tea arrived on a three-tier spindle type cake stand each. It was well presented and looked inviting.
The sandwiches were adequately filled but the two open sandwiches were rather small. There was a mix of brown and white breads.
The scones were of medium size and were fresh. There was not really enough jam and even less clotted cream.
Once again, the cakes were a little too small (or perhaps we are a little too greedy?). They were all tasty, particularly the mini lemon meringue which was topped with slightly sticky but hard meringue – perfect!
The tea was rather too strong for either of us and we were never offered a refill. This may have been an oversight due to the number of people in the room.
The service was very attentive but a little slow.
| Sandwiches | 1.5 |
| Scone | 1.5 |
| Jam | 1.0 |
| Cream | 1.0 |
| Cake (variety) | 1.5 |
| Cake (quality) | 1.5 |
| Tea | 1.0 |
| Presentation | 1.5 |
| Service | 1.5 |
| Value | 1.5 |
| Total | 13.5 |
Sarnies Scones and Cakes 