National Cream Tea Day. A day late but not a scone short.

Welcome back to another helping of The Lady’s Great British Tea Room tour.

“National Cream Tea Day” was on June 28^th, I didn’t get a chance to indulge, so a day late and one sunny Saturday afternoon later. I found myself out for a for a trundle down to the Devon coast in Tramp for another excursion on the tour. The Devon seaside always seems to draw me in. Maybe its the sea air and plentiful views, A run down to the village of Branscombe. leaving the Lady behind yet again, (Perhaps the blog should be changed to “Tramp Trundles!”) Tramp has been the mode of classic transport over the past few months including a couple of long haul runs for various Jowett Car Club events. One jaunt up to Derbyshire for Bradfords at Staden Grange in Buxton for the Bradford only gathering. Where I also stopped off at Bakewell the home of the Bakewell tart naturally popping in for a rather indulgent sample. (The first time I have left nearly plate full of cake! So sweet and very, very filling!) Another run out in Tramp was a drive up to Grantham for the annual rally, if you remember last year I drove Lady up to Harrogate, and visited Betty’s Tea Room. If you haven’t read it have a browse Here.

“Any road with any load” one of Jowetts many quirky advertising slogans back in the day. Along my journey I picked up Catherine who wanted to come along on one of my blog expeditions. She was my tour guide for the day having visited this tea room before. Travelling down to the village of Branscombe a real test for a classic with good brakes and the will of the driver; Hill descents and a changing down in gears with a few notches on the handbrake for good measure. Even passing another classic parked up in the village, smiles, waves and hand signals exchanged as we negotiated the tight turns and steep inclines around the passing places in the road. I seem to recall a few years ago (Ten in fact!) of an Air show and classic car show held here, with a live airstrip. Planes taking off and landing right next to the rows of shiny classics on display. The wonder and amazement of a field full of old fashioned flying machines of both the winged and wheeled variety. Another memory of sunny afternoon, with sounds of aeroplanes and motor cars filling my ears.

Back to today the hottest day of year, here we are soaking up the sun and scenery of the Devon countryside arriving at a National Trust tea room called The Old Bakery Tea Room (Catherine’s choice of tea room) on the edge of Branscombe. Nestled opposite The Old Forgery, this beautiful old building seemed to be rich with an ambience a quaint English tea room, the low ceiling in the door way certainly knocked me on the bobble of my flat cap! A large wooden table next to the old wood brick oven, with a large mixing bowl behind it. Could certainly make enough scones to feed most of Devon I would imagine back in its heyday. The bakery had been mixing up since the late 18^th century with the last owners finishing in 1987. Generations of bakers carrying on an occupation spanning decades. Spread across the table an array of sweet delights ranging from a Lemon Drizzle, Victoria Sponge to glistening Pastries not to mention a mountain of scones looking to be conquered.

Sitting outside in the garden seating area on a hill, with wooden picnic benches lining the green, we sat at the top admiring the view of the Old Bakery, even though scaffolds were around the side, it is a remarkably pretty building with a thatched roof, a real gem of discovery if you looking for a quiet spot to indulge and relax. We ordered Afternoon tea which was severed to us at the table, Warm scones presented with thick fruity chunky Jam arrived in ceramic pots, accompanied by a huge dollop of clotted cream in the other. We ordered a pot of both Strawberry and Raspberry, so sweet and succulent, looking very appetising when spread onto the scone in a fruity lump on top of the cream. It is the Devon way after all. Tasting even better, something yummy to enjoy on a sunny afternoon.

Having sampled some Devon delights, and rested in the tranquillity we decided it was time to move on following the lanes back out of Branscombe heading back towards Seaton. Stopping off for a few snaps of the countryside along the way. Tramp once again proving his reliability for this sunny trundling business, however on the run back he seemed to be over indulging on oil, having lost a few pints on the return journey back. Hopefully by the time you read this a bit of Tramp TLC will have been prescribed.

Until next time on The Lady’s Great British Tea Room Tour.