Take time out for Afternoon Tea

A traditional Afternoon Tea is still a treat which brings a smile to everyone’s face. Here we have a choice of some of the best in the county and don’t forget, nominations are open for the Lincolnshire Life ‘Taste of Excellence’ Awards 2026. If you visit one of these venues and would like to put them forward for an award this year, you can vote using our paper form or online at
www.lincolnshirelife.co.uk

TIME FOR TEA AT VINE HOUSE FARM
Voted one of the top three Best Independent Farm or Local Shops of the Year in the Lincolnshire Life Taste of Excellence Awards 2025, Vine House Farm is a conservation-award winning arable farm near Spalding which sells a wide range of home-grown and locally sourced produce, along with fresh bread delivered by Pacey’s Bakery and Hambleton Bakery, and Bassingthorpe Milk.

Visitors can also enjoy taking a break in the spacious on-site 70-seater café, with a further 30 seats outside on the deck, overlooking the picturesque wildlife pond and garden.

Enjoy the best in home-made dishes, including breakfast, lunch, delicious cakes, scones and other treats with vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options available.

Afternoon Tea is also available from Monday to Sunday, but must be pre-booked, with full payment in advance. Now available to take away – please allow 24 hours’ notice.

Opening times: Farm Shop: Monday to Saturday, 8am-5pm, Sunday, 9am to 4pm. Café: Monday to Saturday, 8.30am-4.30pm, Sunday, 9am to 3.30pm.

For more information visit www.vinehousefarmshopcafe.co.uk

ENJOY TEATIME FAVOURITES AT HARDY’S
“Treat yourself to our locally renowned afternoon tea at Hardy’s Farm Shop & Café, the perfect way to relax and enjoy a taste of the countryside, overlooking the donkeys and alpacas.

“Served with a selection of freshly prepared sandwiches, home-made fluffy scones with jam and clotted cream, and a tempting assortment of cakes and sweet treats, our afternoon tea offers exceptional value without compromising on quality.

“Accompanied by your choice of tea or freshly brewed 200 Degrees coffee, it’s an ideal treat whether you’re catching up with friends, celebrating a special occasion, or simply enjoying a leisurely afternoon in our welcoming café setting.  

“At Hardy’s, we’re passionate about hearty home-cooked food and creating memorable experiences for our customers every day.”
Open seven days a week, from 9am-5pm, Corner Farm, Hawton Lane, Farndon NG24 3SD.

For more information visit www.hardysfarndon.co.uk

CELEBRATE ‘BACK TO SCHOOL’ DAYS
The Wilderspin National School, a former national school and Grade II listed building in Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire, is home to a museum focussing on the life and works of self-styled “inventor” of infant education, Samuel Wilderspin.

His model school and playground of 1845 has been faithfully restored to demonstrate his Infant System, and historic classrooms show what school was like in late Victorian England, during the wartime years 1939-45, and the postwar decades of the 1950s and 60s.

At this family-friendly museum you can top off your visit with a visit to their weekly pop-up café.

Visitors can step back in time and take a tour of the historic classrooms before taking a break with tea or coffee – while reminiscing with family and friends about school days. The pop-up cafe is open on Friday between 10.30am and 1.30pm.

The school opening hours are 10am-3pm, Thursday to Saturday. Admission and donations support its charitable work preserving and running what has been dubbed “one of the most important schools”.

For more information visit www.wilderspinschool.org.uk

A TASTE OF DODDINGTON – TRADITION WITH A SEASONAL TWIST
Nestled in the heart of the Lincolnshire countryside, the Doddington Hall Tea Room offers a truly memorable afternoon tea experience.

Located in the historic Coach House, beneath the gaze of the Elizabethan Hall, this is one of the most picturesque tea rooms in Lincolnshire.

Handcrafted in-house, Doddington’s afternoon tea is a celebration of seasonal flavours. Menus change throughout the year, showcasing both locally sourced produce and ingredients grown in the estate’s own Kitchen Garden.

Guests can indulge in a beautifully presented selection of sandwiches with flavours changing throughout the seasons as the creative chefs put their own spin on tradition. Served with a generous helping of clotted cream and jam, Doddington’s famous freshly baked scones follow a time-honoured recipe, achieving the perfect balance of crispness and fluffiness.

No afternoon tea would be complete without a tempting selection of sweet treats, and Doddington’s are simply irresistible. From flavoursome macarons to indulgent brownies, everything is home-made and simply delicious.

With both traditional and savoury menus on offer, there is something for everyone. All dietary requirements can be catered for, and there is even a unique menu for children.

A special take on the “grown-up” menu, younger guests can enjoy their own selection of tasty sandwiches and sweet surprises.

While the food takes centre stage, the drinks menu features a fantastic range of Stokes’ hot drinks, with a wide variety of teas and coffee to choose from. There is also the option to indulge with a glass of fizz or a drink from the bar.

For those visiting in the warmer months, afternoon tea can be taken in the Tea Room’s charming walled garden. A secluded suntrap, this pretty garden offers exquisite views of Doddington Hall.

Open on selected dates, advanced booking essential. Visit www.doddingtonhall.com/tearoom

SAVOURY AND SWEET DELIGHTS AT THE DOWER HOUSE HOTEL
If you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion, or just want to treat yourself and loved ones to a five-star leisurely eating experience in stunning surroundings, you can indulge in a mouth-watering afternoon tea created by the talented chefs at the award-winning Dower House in Woodhall Spa.

The recently launched new menu features an array of delicious sweet and savoury favourites highlighting the best of locally sourced, market-fresh seasonal ingredients.

Wrap your taste buds around an impressive range of freshly baked fruit and plain scones, served with thick clotted cream and strawberry preserve, plus desserts such as lemon and pear syllabub, as well as sweet fruit tarts, cakes and finger sandwiches with luscious fillings, including Coronation chicken, salmon, cucumber and cream cheese, and free range egg mayonnaise and cress.

Succulent savouries include home-made pork and apple pie and a slice of vintage cheddar and red onion quiche, all served with an unlimited speciality teas and coffees. Gluten and dairy-free options also available.

The Dower House Afternoon Tea costs £27.95 per person. Bookings essential, 24 hours in advance.

The Dower House Hotel offers a range of comfortable and stylish guestrooms, including a number of suites which are ideal for that special occasion or treat.

To make a booking please call 01526 352588; or email info@the-dowerhousehotel.co.uk.

Visit www.dowerhousehotel.co.uk

TAKE A TRIP TO CAISTOR LAKES
If you’re looking for a stunning waterside setting where you can enjoy a delicious selection of teatime treats, the Ugly Duckling Restaurant is open seven days a week.

With a large dining area which can cater for small and large parties also offering breakfast, lunch, Sunday roasts and evening meals, plus a soft seating area perfect for guests to relax over a cocktail or two, or just coffee with friends.

Fresh, seasonal ingredients make up a mouth-watering afternoon tea menu featuring savoury favourites such as home-made herby pork and red onion chutney sausage rolls and pesto cheese straws, together with classic sandwich combinations.

Enjoy sweet treats, including fruit scone served with clotted cream and jam, mini Eton Mess and a selection of mini desserts with vegetarian, GF and dairy-free options also available on request.

Price £17.95 per person, minimum 24 hours notice required.

For more information visit www.caistorlakes.co.uk

RELAX AND INDULGE AT THE KING’S HEAD
The renowned King’s Head Hotel in Louth’s Mercer Row offers a perfect setting to switch off and enjoy a relaxing and indulgent experience with a deliciously classic Luxury Afternoon Tea.

This former coaching inn and restaurant, which dates from the 18th century, offers a warm welcome providing the perfect opportunity to kick back and enjoy sampling a choice of traditional sandwiches, pastries and cakes, with vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options.

This special Luxury Afternoon Tea (£21) also includes a glass of sparkling Prosecco.

If you’re planning to take a staycation in this attractive market town, the hotel also offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and light snacks in its popular bistro and bar, as well as overnight accommodation featuring seven bedrooms with en suites, plus a three bedroom apartment.

Afternoon Tea is served seven days a week, from 12 noon until 4.30pm. Bookings only.

The hotel is also open from 10am for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Monday to Saturday, and Sunday lunches from 12 noon.

For more information call 01507 602965 or visit www.kingsheadlouth.co.uk

SWEET TREATS AND MORE AT ACE BAKES
If you’re looking for a relaxed spot to enjoy home-made savoury snacks, light bites, plus delicious cakes and pastries, a visit to Ace Bakes Village Teahouse in the heart of Chapel St Leonards is a must.

Popular with locals and visitors alike, this delightful café prides itself on its friendly, efficient service, welcoming ambiance and an impressive selection of freshly prepared food and beverages, including sausage rolls, quiche, pasties, cakes, and sandwiches.

Don’t miss a customer favourite – Ace Bakes Village Teahouse Clotted Cram Tea, featuring a delicious home-made fruited or plain scone served with authentic Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve, plus a pot of English tea (£5.95).

Expert baristas are also on hand to serve up your favourite cup of Stokes of Lincoln coffee blend. Food and drink is available in-house (indoor and outdoor seating), as well as to takeaway, plus speciality cakes can be made to order. Open 10am-4pm, Tuesday to Sunday inclusive.

For more information see Facebook/Ace Bakes Village Teahouse or Tel: 01754 497459

AN ELEGANT TASTE OF TRADITION
A timelessly elegant setting, with a unique heritage, the Petwood is one of the most memorable places to stay in Lincolnshire.

Once home to 617 Squadron, The Dambusters, and surrounded by acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodland, it is steeped in British history.

“Join us for award-winning dining, afternoon tea, or one of our weddings and special events. Explore the charming village of Woodhall Spa or stroll in the spectacular grounds. Whatever the occasion, the Petwood is among the most memorable places to visit, dine or stay in the heart of ‘Bomber County’, Lincolnshire.

“For overstays and short breaks, we offer a selection of classic rooms, delightful garden view rooms and elegant four poster rooms, that combine modern comfort with the character and history of the property.

“For diners, our Terrace Bar, outdoor dining and restaurant are the perfect place to enjoy some of Lincolnshire’s finest cuisine.

“Our menus showcase the very best of our county’s produce and feature a wide range of popular dishes. We also offer a range of menus for all palates and appetites and a lovely children’s menu with smaller portions of the same high quality of food for lunch, dinner and afternoon tea.”

For more information visit www.petwood.co.uk

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