Sometimes there’s nothing more satisfying than getting together to meet friends over a lovely cuppa and a big slice of cake – or for the connoisseurs amongst you, afternoon tea and scones.
Yup, more and more people are meeting up and flocking to their local tea rooms, and not just because it’s getting too glum and dreary to sit outside these days – tea rooms and ‘coffee crawls’ are fast becoming a hot social scene among folk who feel like getting together in a chilled, relaxed setting so they can just hang out and have some fun.
It’s official. Beer gardens are out, afternoon tea is in (if you’ll pardon the pun).
That’s right, afternoon tea is the new rock ‘n’ roll. And in case you’re still in any doubt, we’ve lined up a few of our favourite establishments that we think would make an excellent place to get together with a friends for a fun, chilled time out. Or at the very least, change the way you think about tea…
The Cheerful Chilli
Where: East Chevin Road, Leeds, LS21 3DD
With a name like The Cheerful Chilli, you wouldn’t expect anything less than some place fun, current and very, very lively – and that’s exactly what you get here.
On top of their wide selection of teas and hot drinks, they also serve up some tasty treats, light lunches, as well as an extensive menu of rustic home-cooked dishes and puddings. Intimate and friendly, it’s a great place to meet up if you feel like trying something a bit different (and by different, we mean pubs and bars). It’s still got the same kind of hustle and bustle you would find in a trendy bar, with the same kind of atmosphere, but with a pleasant change of pace for those of you who don’t fancy having a drink.
Dulcie Butterfly
Where: Woodland Drive, Leeds, LS26 8DW
For those of you wanting to experience a good old fashioned tea room with a modern vibe, you’d be hard pressed to find any place better than Dulcie Butterfly.
Set in stylish, shabby chic surroundings with a warm and fuzzy atmosphere, it’s the ideal place to meet friends, grab a quality cuppa and share some of their scrummy homemade cakes and finger foods. They have an extensive range of luxury teas, from the traditional Yorkshire brew to French Violet, coffees, lattes and cappuccinos, all served in classy vintage china – so you can feel all proper and sophisticated while you dunk your biscuits!
Shaky Jakes
Where: North Lane, Leeds, LS6 3HG
Okay, so admittedly this place isn’t an actual ‘tea room’ as such. But they do serve a variety of hot drinks, including teas, coffees and hot chocolates (which are all perfect for this time of year).
However, what Shaky Jakes is best known is their crazy take on the afternoon tea, which is why we had to stick it on the list. If you fancy scones with clotted cream, or cakes of any sort, they’ll gladly blitz them in a blender and whip up a batch of rich, tasty milkshakes to share with your friends. We told you afternoon tea isn’t what it used be!
If this sounds like your cup of tea, be sure to check the MixingOut community for the latest afternoon tea events and other fun get together in your area.
