The Almshouse Tea Shop, Axbridge, Somerset
If, when you’re on your large group holiday in Somerset, you go out exploring and happen to find yourselves in Axbridge, go to The Almshouse Tea Shop in the town square. What a lovely little place this is, and in such a characterful listed building. In fact, a bit of history, because it’s worthy of telling: it was built around 1450, which is an awfully long time ago, to house 24 poor men. Back then, there were just four dormitories, each with a fireplace, and the first floor could only be accessed via a simple ladder. Telling of its age is the character and what’s been rescued of the original features – the medieval double trussed oak roof is incredible!
By 1850 the building was no longer used as a poor house – it was used as brewery instead. Then, sometime later, it fell into disrepair and lay empty for a long time, until it was lovingly restored in the 1980s. It’s been a tea room for over 10 years and it’s like its found its forte; with all the lovely warm feels and the homeliness, it’s as if this was what it was meant for all along. There are plants and ornaments, pictures on the walls, and lots of fairy lights; all the traditions and charm of a traditional tea shop, but it’s not stuck in the past.
They do hot and cold food and drink to eat in or takeaway. Hopefully you’ll have the time to go in and find a table, either on the ground floor, or potter up the spiral staircase to the first floor. On the menu are warm croissants, freshly cut sandwiches, jacket potatoes, pasties, quiche and soup of the day, which you can have with a sandwich – they call it a ‘soupwich’.
They do a fabulous afternoon tea at The Almshouse Tea Shop; plenty of sandwiches, cakes that are impossible to resist, and freshly baked scones with jam and cream. They’ll tailor it to just how you want it and can even offer an afternoon tea for vegans.
The tea shop also has a small book shop, and outdoor seating, so you can sit in the sunshine and watch the world go by.
Open: 10:00am-4:00pm Tues to Saturday
T: 07970 249982
All information correct at the time of writing