Middleton Post Office Tea Parlour, Pickering

We were very taken with this cute little tea room behind Middleton Post Office (that’s Middleton near Pickering).

The Post Office is no more than a counter with just enough room for the post master, it plays second fiddle to the tea parlour a sweet little back parlour like your favourite aunties front room. Ornaments, knick knacks, knitted tea cosies and crocheted doilies. It’s not quite cool, not quite vintage, just quaintly old fashioned and we love it.

You could go for sandwiches, soups and savouries, but it is the afternoon tea that really clinched it for us. Cups and saucers are prettily decorated bone china. Real tea (with leaves) is served from a traditional silver tea service with plenty of hot water. A tiered cake stand brings dainty cucumber, salmon and egg sandwiches. Scones are baked on the spot and come out still warm, served with jam and clotted cream and then there’s a selection of tiny, delicate, delectable cakes: strawberry shortcake, lemon sponge and meringue topped with strawberries. It’s traditional, quaint and cracking value at £9.50 a head with as much tea as you can drink.