Now here’s a question… which goes first, jam topped with cream or cream then jam?
We think it’s the latter. Thick, luscious clotted cream spread across a fluffy scone (fruit or plain – there’s no right or wrong here), topped with a generous dollop of sweet, sticky strawberry jam. Yum! Is there anyone out there who doesn’t love a traditional cream tea? The New Forest is full of cafes, tea rooms, inns, pubs and eateries serving this quintessentially English high tea feast. Here are some of our favourites…
The Old Station Tea Rooms, Holmsley
Lovely tea rooms set in the Old Station where the railway used to run between Burley and Sway. The railway line is now a lovely gravel track walk, and the tea rooms make for a perfect stop for refreshments. Alongside the usual favourites you’d expect from a popular tea room, you’ll find three different sorts of cream tea, The Station House Cream Tea, The Station House Savoury Tea and The Old Station Afternoon tea. The cream teas come with a very generous dollop of delicious clotted cream and scrummy choice of jams.
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The Lavender Farm Tea Rooms at New Forest Lavender Farm, Lanford
This little place wins rave reviews for their home-made cakes, lavender inspired sweet treats, extensive lunch menu and wonderful cream teas. The scones are homemade fruit, plain, lavender or cheese and chive. The recipes used here have been handed down through generations and deservedly receive enormous praise.
Cottages near New Forest Lavender Farm:
Bridge End Barn, sleeps 4
Orchardside at Penn Farm, sleeps 4
Pinns Farm Bungalow, sleeps 4
Steff’s Kitchen at Fairweather’s Garden Centre, Beaulieu
Big home-made scones served with lashings of clotted cream and strawberry jam is the reason why Steff’s Kitchen is so popular. The food at Steff’s Kitchen is superb. They try as hard as possible to use only fresh local ingredients and produce from ‘Patrick’s Patch’. Whilst you are there, take a peek around the garden centre and shop – it’s full of lovely goodies!
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Rosie Lea Tea House and Bakery, Brockenhurst
An inviting village tea room that locals and holiday makers in the know make sure they visit. The scones are homemade – plain and fruit options, topped with fresh strawberries and a choice of strawberry or raspberry jam. It’s all served on delicate china flowered plates and cute tea cups and saucers. Having won numerous awards and fab reviews on TripAdvisor, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular.
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Stanwell House, Lymington
As they say at Stanwell House, “Afternoon Tea is a dining experience in its own right”. We’re not just talking scones and jam here; this place is the ‘Full Monty’. Three tiers of delicious, delectable fun in the form of finger sandwiches and dainty cakes before you even get to traditional scones, jam and cream. They have a large selection of teas for your favourite cuppa, or push the boat out and add some champagne bubbles.
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The Cider Pantry, Burley
This is the place to come if you’re hungry. Their cream teas are simply the most scrumptious, most delicious excuses for excess – true treats! Homemade scones, plenty of unctuous, golden clotted cream, ruby red strawberry jam and big pots of tea. The Cider Pantry is part of New Forest Cider which has a shop stocking lots of cider pressed from their own orchard, pottery, preserves, wine and other produce you’ll most likely want to take back to your cottage for a tipple and feast later.