The Tea Parlour

I can’t believe that this place won an award from the British tea council when they use tea bags! Service was terrible. It wasn’t particularly busy and staff were wiping down tables whilst we waited for 10 minutes, after which we had to ask for someone to take our order. My husband’s chocolate cake arrived 5 minutes before my cream tea. We then had to ask the waitress for some cutlery. My scones were delicious…very light. The jam was a thick jelly with no obvious sign of fruit in it. It just wasn’t an award winning performance. There are other tea shops in Hampshire that use loose leaf teas, have a much wider selection of food and cakes and use a jam that tastes home made. Very disappointing.

The Tea Parlour is located in the small Hampshire village of Selborne within Gilbert White's House, the founding father of modern natural history recording. Sadly the house itself though it contains several examples of Gilbert's work has suffered from some neglect when it passed through different owners over the last two centuries, but it's still worth visiting. The Tea Parlour is accessible from the shop and it's a pretty room with probably no more than 10 tables. Service is pleasant and the tea service is very good with a large selection of blends a variety of cakes, scones and so on. I was there for lunch and had an excellent Ploughman's served with warm bread and some great chutney.