Posted on July 23, 2021
Summer time calls for strawberries, cream and all those fresh flavours of the warmer months, and artisans in The Cotswolds are serving them up on a platter! These rolling hills may be home to beautiful scenery but it's also the backdrop to a thriving sweet treat culture.
Whether you're after a delectable slice of cake or yearning for finger sandwiches alongside crumbly scones and lashes of clotted cream, keep reading to find out the best bakeries and spots for afternoon tea in The Cotswolds.
The Kitchen, Minchinhampton
Serving up delicious breakfasts, lunches, afternoon teas as well as sweet treats throughout the day, Peter and Assumpta Golding prepare all their food fresh each day. By only working with local Cotswolds suppliers, their menu is wonderfully seasonal and full of locally sourced, fine ingredients.
The Kitchen is the perfect spot for whiling away time over a cup of tea or coffee with that day’s bakes. Their beautiful bay windows are perfect for watching country life in The Cotswolds pass you by as riders trot past on horseback or occasionally spot a herd of cows strolling down from the Common!
If you’re after afternoon tea, then The Kitchen are more than happy to serve up something special featuring dainty sandwiches, freshly baked scones, homemade cakes and pastries! You’ll have to give Peter and Assumpta a heads up in advance if you’d like the afternoon tea however so they have plenty of time to prepare. Find out more and book in your afternoon tea over on their website.
Jack’s, Cirencester
Nestled in one of Cirencester’s oldest streets and described as the Notting Hill of Cirencester, Jack’s Tearoom and Kitchen has been serving up sweet treats since the early 2000s. There’s a real passion for market-fresh ingredients and honest cooking at Jack’s which makes their menu extra special.
With some of the most delicious combinations of ingredients, there is something for everyone to enjoy, whether you’re popping in for breakfast, lunch or tempted by something on their sweet cake display. Loved by locals and travelling foodies, Jack’s delicious, handcrafted menu is carefully curated to take you on a culinary journey, so get ready to fill up on lots of tasty treats on your visit.
Discover their menu in advance over on their website.
Lavender Bakehouse and Coffee Shop, Chalford
Lavender Bakehouse has had many pasts in the pretty village of Chalford. For many years it was the general Cooperative store before becoming a cabinet making workshop and florist. Now, it’s the go-to local bakery and coffee shop in Chalford.
The indoor decor pays homage to this bakehouse’s previous roles, with the general store cabinets still in use to display that day’s bakes! The ethos of the café is very much about local food, supplied by small producers. Everything is home cooked and their cakes and pastries are baked fresh every day.
Afternoon tea is a specialty here at Lavender Bakehouse and is the perfect place if you’re after a traditional, elegant afternoon tea. The tables are laid out with their best china tea sets and the food is served on pretty cake stands and vintage platters to create that sense of occasion.
Find out more over on their website and make sure to book your afternoon tea in advance.
Bakery on the Water, Bourton on the Water
A small, artisan bakery in the beautiful Bourton-on-the-Water, right by the River Windrush, Bakery on the Water is one of our favourite spots for something sweet!
The family-run bakery has been perfecting their craft since the 1920s, and each generation has passed on their expertise and passion for baking to the next. For that reason, their bread, pastries and cakes are some of the best in The Cotswolds.
Part bakery and part cafe, you can pick up something to go, sit in the cafe to watch all the hustle and bustle in the kitchen or relax in their riverside garden. Afternoon tea is something special here with scones baked all throughout the day so you’re served up a tasty scone fresh out of the oven!
Check out what’s on offer in the bakery over on their website or head to Bakery on the Water’s Instagram for a peek at some of their tasty treats on offer.
Blockley Café, Blockley
Blockley Café sits in the heart of one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds and has something to please everyone. With excellent coffee, brilliant breakfasts, tasty lunches and some of the best cakes in the Cotswolds, everything is freshly cooked or baked using local produce whenever possible.
Sweet treat stand outs are their own donuts and cruffins, with a variety of new flavours and fillings each week to sample. Their website is currently under construction, but you can head over to Blockley Café's Instagram to see some of the tasty food on offer here!
Gilbertine Kitchen, Poulton
A mother and daughters run café, based within the stunning grounds of Priory Estate in the heart of the Cotswolds, Gilbertine Kitchen is renowned for its gorgeous coffee and homemade cakes.
Featuring English classics such as coffee and walnut cake and victoria sandwich alongside tasty pastries such as cinnamon swirls, this little café is a cosy pit-stop for those exploring The Cotswolds. It’s become a favourite among locals for it’s friendly service and welcoming, family atmosphere and it’s a perfect spot to spend a relaxing afternoon watching the world go by over a cup of coffee and cake.
Follow Gilbertine Kitchen over on Instagram to find out more.
The Old Post Office, Guiting Power
A post office turned independent tea room, The Old Post Office has been known to serve up the best cakes in the North Cotswolds! Owned by the super friendly and welcoming Marie and Fiona, each day they bake a wonderful selection of English classic treats for walkers and visitors to Guiting Power to enjoy.
From apple and cinnamon cakes to bakewells and brownies, this little spot in Guiting Power is a unique find in The Cotswolds and a tea room experience like no other. While inside it’s a little cosy, there are plenty of tables outdoors to enjoy your cake and tea al fresco. The perfect way to enjoy an English summer!
Find out more about The Old Post Office over on their Facebook page.