AFTERNOON tea is a quintessentially British pastime.
Whether rain or shine, there’s nothing better than a relaxing afternoon enjoying some much-beloved staples - from delicious scones topped with rich cream or jam, to fluffy finger cakes and a warm cup of your favourite char.
With its stunning countryside, beautiful villages and engaging historic seat, Cheshire has a wide variety of establishments with tantalising menus to choose from.
So if you’re planning a lovely weekend break, a birthday celebration - or just fancy a splendid afternoon treat - there’s something for everyone.
New Care Homes, a care home operator based in the North West, has commissioned a study to find the Best Places to Enjoy Afternoon tea in Cheshire.
They gathered a variety of information including the number of establishments, from cafes to stately homes, that serve afternoon tea; the cost of a standard afternoon tea session and the percentage of ‘Excellent’ ratings on Trip Advisor, to discover the best places for afternoon tea in Cheshire. Each venue was then ranked in order to find the best value and venue to visit.
According to the results, Vale Royal Abbey is the best place to enjoy a spot of afternoon char. Located near the village of Whitegate, this former medieval abbey is surrounded by the stunning Cheshire countryside on all sides, making it a wonderful escape for the day. With prices starting at £21.95, a 4.5 Trip Advisor Score and a 60% ‘Excellent’ review share, Vale Royal Abbey should be top of your list for a spot of tea.
In second place is Inglewood Manor Hotel. Located close to Ledsham just outside of Ellesmere Port, Inglewood Manor is a stunning Edwardian country house located at the heart of 38 acres of exquisite countryside. Afternoon tea is served in two suites that provide a great view of the garden and grounds.
In third place is the Queen at Chester Hotel. Located in the heart of Chester, the historic seat for the region, the hotel is right across from the train station and boasts an illustrious history. Since opening in 1860, this magnificent Italianate hotel has hosted guests such as Charles Dickens, Cecil Rhodes, Lillie Langtry and members of the Royal Family.
Speaking on the results, Dawn Collett, commissioning director at New Care Homes who commissioned the study said: “Popping out for afternoon tea is often considered something that only the older generation do, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Day-to-day life can be stressful and can often leave us feeling like we don’t get to spend time with the ones we love as much as we would like. From celebrating great news and milestones to just catching up with friends and family, afternoon tea is a wonderful pastime that people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy - whether that’s with your favourite cup of tea or even with a nice glass of champagne!”
1. Vale Royal Abbey, Whitegate
Prices from £21.95 | Trip Advisor: 4.5 | 60% ‘Excellent’ Reviews
2. Inglewood Manor Hotel, Ellesmere Port
Prices from £22 | Trip Advisor: 4.5 | 64% ‘Excellent’ Reviews
3. The Queen at Chester Hotel, Chester
Prices from £19.95 | Trip Advisor: 4 | 51% ‘Excellent’ Reviews
4. Peckforton Castle, Tarporley
Prices from £22 | Trip Advisor: 4 | 51% ‘Excellent’ Reviews
5. Oddfellows, Chester
Prices from £24 | Trip Advisor: 4.5 | 60% ‘Excellent’ Reviews
6. Grosvenor Pulford Hotel, Chester
Prices from £28 | Trip Advisor: 4.5 | 60% ‘Excellent’ Reviews
7. Thornton Hall Hotel and Spa, Wirral
Prices from £29 | Trip Advisor: 4.5 | 63% ‘Excellent’ Reviews
8. The Mere, Knutsford
Prices from £30 | Trip Advisor: 4.5 | 63% ‘Excellent’ Reviews
9. Georgian Tea Rooms, Macclesfield
Prices from £25 | Trip Advisor: 3 | 66% ‘Excellent’ Reviews
The Results*
Rank
Name
Address
City
Price
Trip Advisor
Excellent Review Percentage
1
Vale Royal Abbey
Whitegate, Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 2BA
Whitegate
£21.95
4.5
60%
2
Inglewood Manor Hotel
Badgers Rake Lane, Ledsham, CH66 8PF
Ellesmere Port
£22
4.5
64%
3
The Queen at Chester Hotel
City Road, Chester CH1 3AH England
Chester
£19.95
4
51%
5
Peckforton Castle
Eddisbury, Cheshire, CW6 9TN
Tarporley
£22
4
51%
5
Oddfellows
20 Lower Bridge St, Chester, CH1 1RS
Chester
£24
4.5
60%
6
Grosvenor Pulford Hotel
Wrexham Road, Pulford, Chester CH4 9DG England
Chester
£28
4.5
60%
7
Thornton Hall Hotel and Spa
Neston Road, Thornton Hough, Wirral, CH63 1JF
Wirral
£29
4.5
63%
8
The Mere
Chester Road, Knutsford WA16 6LJ England
Knutsford
£30
4.5
63%
9
Georgian Tea Rooms
43 Chestergate, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 6DG
Macclesfield
£25
3
66%
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here