Lunch at Lavender Tearooms at Etal – review

We recently enjoyed lunch at Lavender Tearooms at Etal while enjoying a ride along Heatherslaw Light Railway so thought I’d share our review.

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About Lavender Tearooms at Etal

Situated on the Ford and Etal estate in one of the prettiest villages in Northumberland you will find the Lavender Tearooms at Etal.

This family-owned business run by Victoria and Richard Baker is a tearoom, village shop and post office.

Having taken over the premises in 2008 many changes have been made. Seating for 14 has been extended to 35 seats inside and much more seating available outside.

Relax and enjoy the offerings of the tearoom in the welcoming front garden or inside on cooler days.

Once inside you will be greeted with shelves full of not just essential items but also an array of wonderful Northumbrian products such as tea, coffee, honey, chutneys, bread, cakes, and ice-cream.

You will also find greetings cards, books, paintings, soaps, and driftwood ornaments.

The tearoom menu offers sandwiches, jacket potatoes, toasties, paninis, cakes, and scones.

Homemade cakes include tea bread and lavender cake, so named because of the lavender herb used in the mixture.

How about a Singing Hinnie a local delicacy which is similar to a large scone, cooked on a girdle and when ready “sing”.

The tearoom made an appearance on the Antiques Road Trip in 2020 as they are the only stockists of the hinnie.

In 2010 the tearoom was also used as a back drop in a film starring Charles Dance and Adrian Lucas.

While in the village you can visit Etal castle, take a walk along the river, enjoy a journey on the Heatherslaw Light Railway that travels between Heatherslaw and Etal and you will also find the only thatched roof pub in Northumberland.

Coach parties and organised groups are welcome, please call ahead to book in.

Dogs are more than welcome in the lovely front garden.

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Lunch at Lavender Tearooms at Etal

Having explored Etal Castle and the ford with tummies rumbling we decided to head for lunch at Lavender Tearooms at Etal.

It’s a gorgeous building that looks really enticing and welcoming and was already quite busy

Although it was a warm day we decided to try our luck and find a table inside in the shade.

We walked through the post office/shop section which stocks lots of essentials and locally produced goodies and found a table for the three of us.

After a peruse of the menu we placed our order at the till and enjoyed taking in our surroundings.

We went for the Kids Kombi ham sandwich, crisps, apple, chocolate bar and orange juice for Elsie.

While Steve opted for a panini I plumped for the prawns and Marie Rose sauce sandwich from the summer menu.

There’s lovely local artwork adorning the walls and soft music playing. Wooden highchairs are also available.

After a short wait, Elsie’s lunch in a cardboard car was served much to her delight and mine and Steve’s food swiftly followed.

The prawn sandwich is honestly one of the best I’ve ever had it was absolutely delicious and the crisps and side salad were the perfect accompaniment.

Steve enjoyed his panini and Elsie thoroughly enjoyed her lunch and the lady said she could take the cardboard car away with her which she was chuffed about.

Her chocolate bar was a Penguin biscuit which she very much enjoyed and we saved some of her crisps and apple for the train journey back to Heatherslaw.

Elsie was super brave and even used the toilet at the tearooms which is outside the main building through a pretty little garden.

The toilets were really clean and Elsie approved of their choice of soap.

We found the prices really fair and the food was fresh and delicious.

There’s something for everyone on the menu from toasties and paninis to sandwiches soups and sweet treats.

We really enjoyed our lunch at Lavender Tearooms at Etal and definitely recommend it.

It’s a popular spot so you may have a wait for a table and food but we think it’s worth it and we would be more than happy to return.

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Where is Lavender Tearooms at Etal?

Etal Village

Cornhill-on-Tweed

TD12 4TN

Northumberland

TD12 4TN

what3words

unguarded.haggling.most

Telephone:

Tel: 01890 820761

Email: lavendertearooms@btinternet.com

Website

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Lavender Tearooms opening hours