A bold proclamation to begin with: Paula and I don’t think we’ll eat a more delicious scone than what we had at these cosy little tea rooms near Bude. We cheekily asked the affable owner, Jill, for the recipe but, quite rightly, it’s a family secret! Never mind, it means a return visit will definitely be high on the agenda during our next trip to this corner of Cornwall.

Set within a pretty garden, the tea rooms form part of the family-owned farm. Both have been in the same family for over 70 years. The current owners – Jill and her husband, Richard – have been running the business for nearly four decades.

Close to the rugged Cornish coastline and the South West Coast Path, the tea rooms are adjacent to the Church of St John the Baptist. Free parking is available which is always a bonus, especially as we combined our visit with a short walk along the coast to Hawker’s Hut, the National Trust’s smallest property.

In a way, it’s like stepping back in time when you enter the tea rooms. Old photos, paintings, general decor and 1930s music help create an atmosphere akin to an earlier era.

Although we chose the delicious scones to accompany our cups of tea, there were plenty of options on display, including vegan lemon drizzle cake. Being vegan, it was good to see one’s dietary requirements catered for, whether it’s simply tea and cake you’re after or something more filling for lunch. Jill is rightly proud that her tea rooms have been endorsed by Coeliac UK.

When possible, Jill uses locally-sourced ingredients in her cooking, even from her own garden at times, before baking the lion’s share of her food in the farmhouse kitchen.

After a very enjoyable visit, it was no surprise to discover that Jill and her helpful and courteous team are proud recipients of various awards. This is, undoubtedly, one of the reasons the establishment has appeared on several TV programmes, including Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.

We highly recommend Rectory Farm Tea Rooms so make sure it’s marked as a “must visit” when you come to North Cornwall.

More information:

Rectory Farm Tea Rooms

Crosstown

Morwenstow

nr Bude

Cornwall EX23 9SR

T: 01288 331251

www.rectory-tearooms.co.uk

 

Visited: April 2024