As Sidmouth is located within the county of Devon and Devon is famous for the traditional cream tea, this is the best place to be this June as the UK celebrates National Cream Tea Day!
National Cream Tea Day is marked annually on the last Friday in June, with the Cream Tea Society hosting all their usual events both online and at various locations across the UK. Here in Sidmouth, you can enjoy a traditional Devonshire Cream Tea, made using the very best in West Country clotted cream, home made jam and of course freshly baked scones, all you have to do is decide where you’re going to stop off to eat yours!
In Sidmouth, there are loads of cafés and restaurants offering Cream Tea on their menus, you can even find gluten free and vegan versions and some places offer a cream tea with champagne or prosecco so you can make it a really special occasion. As we’ve only just celebrated the Jubilee, why not visit the former home of the queen’s great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria and sample one of their cream teas? The Royal Glen Hotel pride themselves on their cream tea. Guests can join them for afternoon tea where you can enjoy homemade cake, pastries and sandwiches alongside your cream, jam and scones or upgrade to swap your tea for champagne. The Royal Glen is just off the Esplanade and has its own elegant surroundings where you can have a peaceful and private dining experience.
Or for a cream tea with a sea view, check out what is on offer at the Royal York and Faulkner Hotel, a magnificent Regency Hotel with an unrivalled position on Sidmouth’s Esplanade. The Café-Bar is popular with visitors, residence and hotel guests and is open throughout the day serving a variety of light meals. Their cream tea and afternoon tea menu is available for guests of the hotel and is served daily in their York Lounge which overlooks the ocean – perfect for those who want to enjoy a Devon tradition while overlooking the coast.
Somewhere else you can enjoy an uninterrupted view of the sea is the Belmont Hotel, one of the luxury Brend Hotels. They offer a traditional Devonshire Cream Tea or their very own version, a Belmont Tea. The menu also includes the chance to experience their indulgent afternoon tea too for those who have a larger appetite. Their sister hotel, the Victoria Hotel also has stunning views and a decadent menu to tempt you. Alternatively, the Hotel Riviera is a popular place to stop off for a traditional Devonshire Cream Tea, which you enjoy either in the lounge where you can look out over the Esplanade and the beach or outside on the terrace which is particularly enjoyable on a warm day. Their cream tea menu includes a traditional Devon version, a full afternoon tea and then options to allow you to customise your cream tea, ideal for those who aren’t that keen on tea or would rather have a coffee or hot chocolate alongside their scones and sandwiches.
You can find more options for places to enjoy a cream tea here.
Now you know where to head for a traditional Devonshire cream tea while in Sidmouth, all there is left to do is make sure you eat it the right way – don’t forget, here in Devon the cream goes first!