August 24th, 2008
“The Orchard – a corner of England where time stands still as the outside world rushes by.” This taken from their website is a reasonably good description of The Orchard in Grantchester. Famous for poets, scientists and medics alike going back many many years, this place has a long historic association with Cambridge University. Yesterday, we met up with family and friends alike for afternoon tea. The place was busy with people sitting out amongst the apple, pear and plum treas on little wooden deck chairs from a bygone age. We ordered up a round of cream teas for 8 people (£40 – not cheap!) and spent the next couple of hours relaxing chatting, fighting wasps and topping up with fresh tea and the occasional bottle of wine. The scones were OK, but nothing special; the clotted cream came out of individual plastic tubs as did the Robinsons strawberry jam. Not a patch on the cream teas served up by Harlequin Coffee and Tea House in York. The place itself is run in a very professional way; i.e. squeeze every penny out of you and do very little for it. You have to queue, there is no table service and lots of signs remind you that “consuming your own food is strictly prohibited”.
A very pleasant place to spend a few hours though with great walks back along the river towards Cambridge.
Rating. 3 Stars.
Posted in Coffee and Tea Shop