Cost – £25.00 per person (Nov 2023)
Parking and Access – There is no parking available outside No 49. However, there are a couple of small car parks in the town, which are not too far away. There is a step up to the entrance.
The toilet had a couple of steps to get to it, and is a small room.
Background – We unexpectedly found ourselves travelling to the pretty town of Usk for a couple of nights. We needed something to do during the day we would be there. Obviously, an Afternoon Tea was the answer.
I was very pleased to find somewhere doing Afternoon Teas, as Usk is a very small town. We rang to book, and off we went to Wales.
Contents (per person) eight small, triangular, crustless sandwiches (smoked salmon with cream cheese, Coronation chicken, ham and tomato, egg mayonnaise). One medium/large fruit scone, a small dish of strawberry jam and a small dish of clotted cream. Six very small petit four between the two of us (two different macaroons, a lemon tartlette, a chocolate cake, a raspberry jelly and an apple jelly). Pot of tea.
Options Available – Prosecco or Champagne could be added to this Tea.
Comments – We were shown to a table, reserved for us, by the front window of one of the rooms. The rest of the room was empty, though another couple came in later.
No 49 is an interesting mixture of coffee house, interior furnishings shop and dress agency. There are several rooms with tables in for eating amongst the furnishings that are for sale.
The table was laid with pretty green and white china plates, topped with a paper napkin, a knife and a cake fork. There was also a matching green and white, china, cup and saucer each.
As we sat down, we were asked what we would like to drink. We both asked for tea. This arrived shortly after, in a pretty white, china, teapot, with a pattern of green ivy leaves on it. There was also a small white pottery jug of milk. The tea was made with teabags.
The tea was quite strong, so we each poured a cup, then asked for the teapot to be topped up with just hot water. This was done, straight away. The tea was not too bad after the top up.
The Afternoon Tea was delivered on a three-tier round, spindle type, cake stand.
The sandwiches were all very well filled and were freshly made. They were topped with some salad bits. My favourite was the Coronation chicken.
The scones were a medium/large size and had been warmed up. They had been split open ready for us. The scones were a little dry. They didn’t taste like they had been made that day.
There was enough jam for the one scone each, and plenty of clotted cream.
The petit four were extremely small.
This was easily the smallest selection of sweets we have ever been served in an Afternoon Tea. Also, they had clearly been brought in and not made specially. I’m afraid we were disappointed with this part of the Tea.
Service was average throughout. We were visited and checked that all was ok a couple of times, and the teapot was refilled promptly.
| Savoury | 1.5 |
| Scone | 1.0 |
| Jam | 1.5 |
| Cream | 2.0 |
| Cake (variety) | 1.0 |
| Cake (quality) | 1.0 |
| Tea | 1.5 |
| Presentation | 2.0 |
| Service | 1.5 |
| Value | 1.0 |
| Total | 14.0 |
All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The photographs are all my own.
I remain completely anonymous and always pay for my Afternoon Teas. They are never gifted to me by the businesses reviewed.
I am the legal copyright holder of the content and images on this blog.
Sarnies Scones and Cakes 