Last Thursday, Emma and I visited Bessie’s Tea Parlour in Broadstairs after a few recommendations from the girls at work. We’re making it our mission to visit some great little cafes over the next few weeks to get both of us out of the house and chat away over tea and scrummy cake. After a really good time at the Cupcake Cafe last week, I asked the girls at work if there were any places that were similar that would tickle our fancy and they all mentioned Bessie’s as the place to go.
Bessie’s offers homemade food and drinks that aim to use local ingredients and support local businesses to keep it within the community. They serve freshly made sandwiches, savouries and a selection of cakes alongside a selection of hot and cold drinks too.
The tea parlour comes with a rich history too. Not only has the tea parlour been a firm favourite in the Broadstairs community, since 2012 they’ve been running a little vintage caravan business ‘Bessie the Caravan’, popping up to serve afternoon teas, homemade cakes and drinks all over the UK for events, weddings and private parties. As they say “43-45 Albion Street have been in our family now for over forty years and the building itself dates back to the 1800’s. Over that time, 43 has always been a restaurant and continues to this day to be run by our family as Aqua 43, serving fabulous fish and chips and other traditional British food. 45 has had a more varied existence, being home to a number of retail businesses over time. However, for many years it served as the residents dining room when it was previously know as The Clifton Hotel and Restaurant and families would come and stay to enjoy the beautiful sandy bays in Broadstairs for their summer holidays. The original kitchen in the cellar has been reinstated, although I have fond memories of it as a groovy party room for hotel residents in the 1970’s.”
I went for the Ham and Cheese toastie with a pot of decaf tea, whilst Emma went for a cream tea and a vanilla and raspberry cake. With two pots of decaf tea washed down with a thick cut piece of gammon ham and melted cheese in white bread, our total bill came to £18.85 which for a cosy little cafe, that you could easily miss, with lush music playing in the background, is very affordable without being stuck in a chain cafe.
This is a great little cafe, small but quirky and definitely one to visit with friends and family but it is small and can only fit in 14, maybe 15 people at a squeeze, so try book in advance because no doubt when summer hits, this place is packed!
- Cost:£
- Opening times: 10am – 6pm daily.
- Address: 45 Albion Street, Broadstairs, CT10 1NE
Missy, Me & Him 