Looking for afternoon tea in Scarborough?
The quintessentially British custom of afternoon tea has been enjoyed for centuries. Now, more accessible than ever and not just a dining concept reserved for the upper classes, afternoon teas are being offered across the country in all manner of settings. At The Yorkshire Press, we love a good afternoon tea and have eaten our fair share of them over the years. They vary considerably in composition and quality so it can be difficult to know which one to book when seeking an afternoon of indulgence or arranging a delicious surprise for someone special. In our opinion, everything is more enjoyable when you’re beside the sea and the popular seaside resort of Scarborough provides the perfect setting.
Just like afternoon tea, the coastal town of Scarborough surged in popularity during the 18th Century. During its Victorian heyday, visitors flocked to the town from afar hoping to discover the therapeutic benefits of the recently improved Spa and enjoy shows performed by some of the era’s great music hall stars.
Today, the town remains one of the UK’s most popular seaside resorts and there are numerous visual reminders of its Victorian history scattered around the town. If you’re planning a visit to Scarborough, why not combine two great British traditions and include a classic afternoon tea experience in your seaside itinerary?
To save you from time-consuming web searches and, of course, a less-than-pleasurable experience, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to enjoy afternoon tea in Scarborough…
Here are some of the best places to get afternoon tea in Scarborough…
Ox Pasture Hall
Lady Edith’s Drive, Scarborough YO12 5TD
Ox Pasture Hall is a luxury country house hotel set on 17-acre grounds. Beautifully restored and extended, this gorgeous country house with stunning gardens is considered to be one of the best places to stay in Scarborough and one of the best boutique hotels in the whole of Yorkshire. You don’t have to be staying at the hotel, however, to enjoy the delights of this characterful country house. Boasting numerous areas in which to enjoy contemporary and creative menus of local produce, Ox Pasture Hall is a wonderful place to eat.
Afternoon tea at Ox Pasture Hall is available daily between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm but must be booked by 10:00 am the same day. Served in various locations across the hotel and its grounds including the superb Courtyard Restaurant, a charming rustic bistro and under a thatched gazebo in their gorgeous courtyard, it’s priced at £22.50 per person or £32.50 with Champagne.
This one is certainly one of the most beautiful places to have afternoon tea in Scarbororough. On warmer days, we recommend enjoying afternoon tea on one of the hotel’s pretty terraces to soak up the glorious views of the hotel grounds and the surrounding countryside. It’s a traditional affair at Ox Pasture Hall rather than a quirky afternoon tea, so expect dainty finger sandwiches with classic fillings, freshly baked scones served with the usual accompaniments and a selection of dainty yet delicious cakes and desserts.
Palm Court Hotel
St Nicholas Cliff, Scarborough YO11 2ES
Those who like a taste of luxury but prefer to break from tradition will adore the afternoon teas at the family-owned, 3-star Palm Court Hotel. Again, this one provides the perfect setting with elegant interiors and classic dining rooms but there are three different afternoon teas to choose from. Stick with tradition and enjoy the quintessentially British finger sandwiches and delicate sweet treats, opt for a more savoury version with just a couple of items to satisfy that sweet tooth or enjoy one with a seaside twist and choose their fabulous Fish & Chips Afternoon Teas.
Classic Afternoon Tea includes the aforementioned finger sandwiches with fillings such as Smoked Scottish Salmon, Coronation Chicken and Roast Beef with Horseradish plus a range of dessert favourites like Lemon Posset, Pavlova and Cherry Bakewell. With the savoury alternative Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea, most (but not all) of the sweet treats are swapped for savoury delights like a Mini Prawn Cocktail, Pork Pie and Homemade Sausage Roll. There are now sweet treats with the Fish & Chips Afternoon Tea. Instead, you get to tuck into a range of fish favourites like Haddock Goujons, Scampi and Deep Fried King Prawn with crushed peas, hand-cut chips, tartare sauce and plenty of bread & butter.
All the afternoon teas at Palm Court Hotel cost £18.50 per person or £24.50 with Champagne.
Emma’s Coffee Lounge
30 Huntriss Row, Scarborough YO11 2EF
Those seeking a more informal afternoon tea in Scarborough will find a splendid one at Emma’s Coffee Lounge on Huntriss Row. This homely and welcoming independent eatery was established in 1981 and is one of Scarborough’s longest-serving coffee lounges.
It’s a traditional English afternoon tea at Emma’s Coffee lounge comprising finger sandwiches containing a variety of fillings, a slice of quiche, miniature savoury pastry, homemade scones and a fantastic array of freshly made desserts. The included sweet treats and the sandwich fillings change regularly as everything is homemade and they’re always creating new and wonderful treats but you’re guaranteed to find some truly scrumptious goodies on your three-tiered platter.
Conveniently located in the town centre and near the tram lift to Scarborough’s south beach, this afternoon tea in Scarborough is ideal for those spending a day exploring the town. This one is priced at just £12.95 per person and if you prefer, you can order to take away. As everything is homemade, please ensure you provide them with 24 hours’ notice.
Daisy Tea Rooms
513 Scalby Road, Scarborough YO13 0NW
Another place offering an informal afternoon tea in Scarbrough that’s budget-friendly but utterly delicious is Daisy Tea Rooms on Scalby Road. Super popular with local residents, they are open for breakfast, lunch and, of course, afternoon tea.
The afternoon teas at Daisy Tea Rooms are priced at £14.50 per person and they offer both a traditional and a savoury version plus gluten-free and vegan afternoon teas too. With the traditional version, you can choose any cold sandwich from the menu to be enjoyed with salad, coleslaw, crisps, a scone with jam and cream plus a selection of homemade sweet treats and tea or coffee.
Those who don’t possess the sweet tooth that gets many of us into trouble can swap out the sweeter items and have a cheese scone and a slice of fruit loaf instead. Daisy Tea Room also does a lovely little afternoon tea for children. Priced at just £10, it includes a cold sandwich, crisps, a scone with jam and cream, a homemade cupcake and a drink.
The Green Room of Bar Street
19-25 Bar Street, Scarborough YO11 2HT
Situated on one of Scarborough’s oldest streets is The Green Room – a casual dining venue serving affordable menus of quality food. The menus change with the seasons as most of their produce is sourced fresh from local producers and suppliers but it’s always varied with something to suit all tastes. The decor in this brilliant brasserie won’t disappoint either as they’ve masterfully created a space which blends contemporary chic with vintage charm. A wonderful backdrop for those all-important Instagram pics!
Again, there’s more than one afternoon tea type to choose from at this charming restaurant in Scarborough. The standard offering costs £12 per person and includes your choice of sandwich, quiche, house salad, scones with accompaniments and a couple of little cakes.
For an additional £6, however, diners can upgrade to their Deluxe Afternoon Tea and choose from a range of premium sandwiches to be served with crisps, house salad, a sausage roll, a scone with jam and cream plus two pastries from their daily selection. This one also comes with your choice of cocktail or a glass of prosecco rather than a cup of tea or coffee. £18 for a sparkling / cocktail afternoon tea by the sea is more than reasonable!
Xanders
119 Falsgrave Road, Scarborough YO12 5EG
A more contemporary afternoon tea in Scarborough is this absolute gem at Xanders on Falsgrave Road. Xanders is a cosy cocktail bar with Birra Moretti and prosecco on tap so those in search of a more boozy daytime dining experience are well catered for. This place is best known for serving amazing cocktails so we highly recommend taking full advantage of their uniquely boozy afternoon tea offering.
There are two menus to choose between when booking afternoon tea at Xanders. Option one includes sandwiches and wraps, sausage rolls, homemade quiche, coleslaw, crisps and a selection of cakes. Option two includes sandwiches and wraps, quiche and cakes plus a couple of pasta salads rather than sausage rolls. Both of these come with one glass of prosecco or a cocktail for £16.96.
However, sometimes one drink isn’t enough so diners at Xanders can upgrade to a brilliant and bottomless afternoon tea. Pay £32.95 for afternoon tea with two hours of bottomless prosecco, £24.95 for bottomless cocktails or £36.95 to enjoy both prosecco and cocktails during your time slot.
Have we missed your favourite afternoon tea in Scarborough from our list? You can email your recommendations to business@theyorkshirepress.co.uk
