Tuesday 31 October 2017

My October Days

My month on Instagram didn't get off to the greatest start when I managed to drop my phone down the toilet! I'm trying very hard to blame this on my friend Nyomi whose Instastories I was watching whilst doing my evening skincare. My phone was propped up on the windowsill and before I knew what was happening it had fallen into the loo.  Really I have no one to blame but myself, let this be a lesson to us all, don't play with your phone in the bathroom.

On the plus side I now have a brand new iPhone 8 so hopefully my Instagram is looking far better - every cloud has a silver lining.

Here's what didn't make it on the blog this month!

Look of the Day

This month I've discovered Look of the Day, the most amazing collection of affordable fashion featuring new styles and trends every week. My current favourite is this Baby Doll dress, I love the colours and the over sized fit makes it perfect for indulgent weekends of food (and we all know I love those!). I have plenty more outfits from Look of the Day to share with you so make sure you follow me on Instagram.

New Girl in Toon - October Days - Look of the Day


Cinnamon Buns

As part of my mission to eat my way round the Newcastle Quayside I finally got to visit Swedish cafe, Dala for a cinnamon bun. Oh wow!  It was heavenly, I've never had a Cinnamon bun like it, it was so special and I can't wait to head back and try some more of their treats.

New Girl in Toon - October Days - Dala Swedish Cafe


Autumn Walking at Allen Banks and Staward Gorge

A Sunday of sunshine was just what I needed to get out on a much needed Autumnal walk. We decided to head to the National Trust site at Allen Banks and Staward Gorge in West Northumberland for a little explore. It was super muddy and so hilly but we had a fantastic afternoon and found the perfect location ever for skimming stones.  Simon was in his element!

New Girl in Toon October Days - Allen Banks and Staward Gorge


Healthy Lunches at Aurora Kitchen

Anyone else struggle to find healthy lunches when they're out and about in Newcastle? The amount of times we've been out shopping on a Saturday and I've ended up charging up and down the high street complaining about how unhealthy everywhere is. This month we've made it our mission to find some new places to visit that are delicious and nutritious. First up was Aurora Kitchen, hidden away near St James Park they have an amazing menu of breakfast dishes, salads and treats. I tried this Onion, Roasted Tomato and Poached Egg on toast and it was SO good!

New Girl in Toon - October Days - Aurora Kitchen


Quayside Colours

I was so happy when October arrived and the trees started showing off their most beautiful Autumnal colours. We had some sunny days the first part of the month and I made the most if it with plenty of walks along the Tyne in my lunch hour.

New Girl in Toon - October Days Newcastle Quayside


Shopping Treats at Cafe Botanico 

After drooling over Italian Week on Great Britsh Bake Off, we were very pleased to stumble across Cafe Botanico at House of Fraser in the Intu Metrocentre. The perfect lunch destination for a busy shopping trip we feasted on decadent sandwiches and fries. I can't wait to return and try some of the sweet treats.

New Girl in Toon - October Days Cafe Botanico Intu Metrocentre




Wedding Guest Ready

Our last wedding of the year arrived this month with a little trip down to Northampton to see one of my friends tie the knot. It was a wonderful day of catching up with people we haven't seen for over a year. I worry that we've now reached that age where we only get the chance to catch up with old friends at weddings, why is there never enough time to see everyone! I loved having the chance to wear my beautiful skirt from Coast, it really is the perfect outfit for a Winter wedding.

New Girl in Toon - October Days Coast Wedding Guest


Loving Gin at Pleased to Meet You

Since the Gin Masterclass at The Botanist I have become completely gin obsessed and am determined to make my way round all of the gin bars in Newcastle. We are very lucky to have a fair few in Newcastle and my first visit had to be to one of the originals, Pleased to Meet You on High Bridge. They have a fantastic menu where you can pick your gin, tonic and garnish - I went for Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and Ginger and I definitely want a bottle for Christmas.

New Girl in Toon - October Days Pleased to Meet You


Paddington arrives at Fenwick's Christmas Department

I'm not going to apologise for talking about Christmas in October, now that the Fenwick's Christmas Department has opened I plan on throwing myself head first into festive cheer! This year the theme is Paddington Bear and the Department is amazing, the best I have ever seen. I've spent a fair few hours in there already - there is so much inspiration for Christmas presents and I may have walked Simon round the floor several times dropping heavy hints!

New Girl in Toon - October Days Fenwicks Christmas Department


Halloween Cupcakes at Pet Lamb Patisserie

Halloween for me isn't about scares and horror films, it's all about the beautiful cupcakes at Pet Lamb Patisserie. Every year they create the most delicious Halloween treats and we can't resist going in and pressing our noses up against their counter. This year I opted for a Ghost Mallow Cupcake and it was so good!

New Girl in Toon - October Days Pet Lamb Patisserie Halloween Cupcakes


Cosy Nights with Pumpkin Waffle

I'm completely obsessed with the candles at B&M - their Bath and Body Work dupes cost £2.99 and the scent they give off is out of this world, it lasts for ages! My current favourite is the Pumpkin Waffles candle, we have it lit every single night and it makes for the most cosy Autumn nights in. I can't wait to see what they bring out for Christmas!

New Girl in Toon - October Days B & M Candles




For more adventures from New Girl in Toon make sure you follow me on Instagram, I post a new photo every day!
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Monday 30 October 2017

Autumn Feasting at Tapas Revolution, Newcastle

Whilst I love eating my way round Newcastle at any time of the year, Autumn is definitely my favourite season for indulgence. Snuggling up in a cosy restaurant with plenty of ambient lighting and good hearty dishes never fails to put a smile on my face and the cooler temperatures make it all too easy to hide an over indulgence of carbs and cheese underneath a cable knit jumper - bliss! I recently revisited Tapas Revolution in Newcastle to indulge in a bit of Autumn feasting.

Autumn Feasting at Tapas Revolution, Newcastle


Tapas Revolution has been a huge success since it arrived in Newcastle earlier this year and since my last visit I've heard nothing but great things about the restaurant with even the harshest North East food critics and bloggers singing its praises (believe me these guys can be a tough crowd!)

If I'm out for an evening of food indulgence I like to make sure I take a fellow foodie with me and if you're planning a trip to Tapas Revolution I would recommend going with someone who wants to get stuck in and try out loads of the menu. Tapas works best when you cover your entire table in delicious food!

Tapas Revolution, Newcastle

My date for the evening was my friend Sarah and we decided it would be fun to pick out three tapas dishes each and share them between us, such a great idea as I tend to get a little stuck in a rut and pick out similar dishes whenever I'm eating out. Getting a friend to choose their favourite dishes for you to try is such a great way to try things you may not have picked out yourself.

When you order at Tapas Revolution the food is cooked the traditional Spanish way which means that food is served in no particular order and arrives at your table as soon as it's prepared.

The first dish to arrive at our table, and my absolute favourite (I highly recommend it!) was the Pan de la casa (£4.50) - Toasted bread, tomato topped with garlic sauce and serrano ham. It was Sarah's first try of the dish and she was just as impressed as me, it's one of the highlights on the Tapas Revolution Menu.

Tapas Revolution, Newcastle  - Pan de la casa



One of Sarah's choices, and something I definitely would never have thought to order was the Torreznos con mojo dulce (£5.95) - crispy pork belly with sweet and spicy sauce. I never order pork in restaurants as it can be so fatty but this dish was perfectly prepared and I helped myself to several helpings.

My favourite discovery of our meal was Huevos rotos (£5.50) - baked chorizo sausage, potatoes and free range egg.  A perfect pot of stodge for Autumn, I've actually been thinking about recreating this dish at home, it was so good!

Tapas Revolution, Newcastle  - Heuvos rotos


Another of Sarah's choices was the Berenjenas fritas (£5.50) - Crispy fried aubergine with a spiced honey and thyme dressing. I'm not overly fussed by aubergine but they tasted incredible fried!  I'm not sure I should encourage myself to start frying my vegetables although it has got me curious what other vegetables I should try fried.

One of my favourite dishes from my last visit to Tapas Revolution was Pulpo a la gallega (£6.95) - steamed octopus with potatoes and paprika, it was my first time trying octopus and I loved it so I was keen to share the dish with Sarah. Luckily she really enjoyed it too and I'm happy I've introduced her to a new dish.





In an attempt to be a little healthy we decided to pick out a salad as one of our dishes and opted for the Ensalada de tomate con queso de cabra (£4.95) - red and yellow tomatoes goat's cheese, olives, and pickled red onion. Definitely far superior to the boring salads that I usually have during the week, it was beautifully fresh and the perfect addition to our feast.

Tapas Revolution, Newcastle  - Ensalada de tomate con queso de cabra
We left Tapas Revolution with very happy tummies and some new favourite dishes from the menu. I loved the opportunity to try some different things and although I couldn't resist ordering some of the dishes I'd tried before, it has made me determined to work my way through the entire menu!

Let me know your favourite tapas dishes, I'd love to know what I should order next time!

Find Tapas Revolution at:

tapasrevolution.com/newcastle/

Intu Eldon Square, NE1 7AP

For more food inspiration make sure you're following New Girl in Toon on Facebook and Instagram.

We were treated to a complimentary meal for two but all opinions are my own. 
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Friday 27 October 2017

How to spend a day in the Cotswolds

How to spend a day in the Cotswolds.  A day doesn't really sound like long enough does it?

When I first discovered the Cotswolds and decided that I was desperate to visit I hadn't really appreciated the true size of the area I was wanting to explore. The Cotswolds stretches across six counties - Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcester and Warwickshire and with 90 miles of beautiful countryside to discover planning a day trip isn't exactly easy and it's impossible to do it all in a few hours!

How to spend a day in the Cotswolds


We were based at The Painswick in Gloucestershire and decided to explore the North Cotswolds, plotting out a little itinerary to take us on a circular route round some of the prettiest towns and villages in the area.

Unfortunately original plans were somewhat scuppered when a storm threatened to hit. Our Cotswolds trip coincided with "the day the sky turned red" meaning that, along with the rest of the country, we were slightly worried that the end of the world was coming so cut our trip short.  It also explains why most of my photographs look like I've put a weird filter on them!

Here's where we managed to get to, and a brief mention of the places that we had wanted to see but never made it to!

Spend a day in the Cotswolds


Bourton on the Water

A 45 minute drive away from The Painswick, our day started at Bourton on the Water, known as Venice of the Cotswolds it boasts a picture perfect display of weeping willows and beautiful little bridges over the River Windrush.

In the height of Summer it is crazy busy with tourists and even on a very murky Monday morning in October there was a fair amount of people carrying cameras and selfie sticks trying to get the perfect shot of the bridges - if photography is your thing visiting Bourton on the Water certainly requires a certain amount of patience.

With an abundance of honey coloured buildings to admire there's a huge amount of tea rooms, pubs and quaint shops to visit and it's the kind of place where you could easily spend hours doing not very much - the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty of the English countryside. 

On a nice day the neighbouring villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter can be reached by foot with a lovely 5 mile round walk between the villages. 

Spend a day in the Cotswolds - Bourton on the Water


Stow on the Wold

The highest spot in the Cotswolds, Stow on the Wold had me giddy running from street to street claiming that each was prettier than the last.  One of the best known of the Cotswolds towns the market square is surrounded by a beautiful display of typical Cotswold town houses and shops. Cosy pubs and cute tea rooms sit on every street and I definitely need to return on a sunnier day!

Spend a day in the Cotswolds - Stow on the Wold


Coffee at Daylesford Farm

A morning of pottering is exhausting so when we were in need of a break we decided to stop at Daylesford Farm just outside Kingham for a cup of coffee and some pastries before enjoying a look round the organic farm shop which included a butcher, bakery, creamery, fishmonger, grocer, cookshop and homewear store. 

Definitely far fancier than our usual grocery shop round Tesco it was a great spot for people watching and playing fantasy shopping (there was no way we were going to be able to afford to deck our cupboards out in all this lovely looking produce).

Spend a day in the Cotswolds - Daylesford Farm


Afternoon Tea at The Painswick 

Our plan for the day had also involved stopping off at the beautiful Medieval town of Burford, the most beautiful village of Bibury and the old market town of Cirencester but unfortunately we were running away from the storm and never made it to any of them!

Instead we had a lovely afternoon snuggled up at The Painswick enjoying the loveliest afternoon tea we've ever had.  If things outside have turned a little murky The Painswick is the perfect place to hide away with a cosy lounge complete with fireplace, a bar full of cocktails and the most amazing food you'll find in the Cotswolds

Spend a day in the Cotswolds - The Painswick Afternoon Tea


... sometimes running away from a storm isn't a bad thing!

For more adventures from New Girl in Toon follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
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Thursday 26 October 2017

Cocktails and Carbs at The Laundrette, Newcastle

In all honesty I'm not sure why I'm bothering to sit down and write an entire post about the Laundrette Newcastle. I'm convinced that all I really need to do is bellow "COCKTAILS AND CARBS" at you and you'll all be grabbing your coats and heading out the door before you've had time to finish this blog post.

Guys, the Laundrette really doesn't need any fancy words or beautiful photographs from me, they are one of the  most exciting new restaurants and bars to launch in Newcastle this year and with the promise of plates full of stodge and full cocktail glasses just in time for the cold dark evenings, well I hardly need to tell you twice do I?

Cocktails and Carbs at The Laundrette, Newcastle


The Laundrette opened earlier this month and is a very exciting new venue for Newcastle as it's one of only three in the country (yes, Newcastle we really are that special!) - with a passion for high quality cocktails and carbs, their motto is "eating is treating" and as that's pretty much how I live my life this restaurant was high on my list to try as soon as I first heard about their opening.

Cocktails and Carbs The Laundrette, Newcastle


The Laundrette began life in Manchester, opening up on (you guessed right!) the site of an old Laundrette and has been a huge hit with food lovers across the North West. Something tells me it's going to feel very much at home in the North East. With its amazing neon "cocktails and carbs" sign hanging over the bar, the tongue in cheek "drop your pants" sign above the loo and its indoor tree - it is Instagram gold and the place to be seen this Autumn.

The Laundrette, Newcastle


Photo c/o The Laundrette

With a breakfast menu to die for (think pancake stacks, french toast and bloody marys!), a main menu packed full of all your favourite carbs (pizza, burgers .. mac n cheese!) and jaw dropping cocktails, something tells me I'll be spending a lot of time in The Laundrette!

My first visit last week was an epic evening of food covered tables with my favourite ladies which is definitely the best way to enjoy The Laundrette. If you don't leave feeling shamefully full you are probably doing something wrong. Leave the diets at the door and settle yourself down for an indulgent feast - over order, wear your stretchy pants and go with your favourite foodie friends. The Laundrette is proper undo your top button and roll your sleeves up type food, my favourite!

The Laundrette, Newcastle - Main Menu


Between us we worked our way through a good amount of the cocktail menu and with each glass more over top than the last I will most certainly be drinking my way through the entire menu over the coming months.

Highlights for me included:

The Laundrette with Love (£9.00)


The Laundrette, Newcastle - The Laundrette with Love


Portobello Road Gin, Lanique Rose Vodka, Apricot, Rhubarb Bitters and Whites served with a Pink Fizz Chaser.

This beauty turned up on a Laundrette board and looked so cute with its garnish of pink candy hearts.  It tasted delicious and was probably my favourite of the night!

Pimpin Pornstar (£9.00)

The Laundrette, Newcastle - Pimpin Porn Star


Absolut Vanilla Vodka, Passionfruit, Pineapple and Mozart White Chocolate served with a Prosecco chaser

A Pornstar Martini is one of my favourites and the Laundrette's twist on the classic is something very special! Just look at that frothy top and the cute shot of Prosecco!

Wafflin on Old Fashioned (£11.00)

The Laundrette, Newcastle - Wafflin on Old Fashioned


Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey, Orange Zest, Maple Syrup and Toasted Waffle

When Simon saw a photo of this pop up on my twitter page during my visit he text me immediately telling me that he had to try this! As a fan of old fashioned and waffles it's a match made in heaven!

Geordie Cocktails

You may have seen the buzz on social media that there are two locally inspired cocktails to order at The Laundrette. Toon Tipple is a twist on an Espresso Martini featuring Newcastle Brown Ale shaken with rum and chocolate liqueur served over ice. I helped myself to several of these bad boys during my visit and they are absolute heaven - we are so lucky to have our very own delicious Geordie cocktail!

The Laundrette, Newcastle - Toon Tipple


Photo c/o The Laundrette

The second Geordie cocktail is Two for Joy (£8.50) a beautiful mix of Gin Mare, Elderflower liqueur and mango & saffron honey garnished with black feathers as a little nod to the Toon's Magpies.  I've not tried this one yet but it's top on my list for the next visit.

The Laundrette, Newcastle - Geordie Cocktails


Photo c/o The Laundrette

Check out the full cocktail list here!

If you think the cocktails have the wow factor just wait until you see the food! The menu has everything you could possibly desire!

With starters including the insanely good Truffle Smoked Cheese Fondu & Garlic Dough Balls (£6.50), BBQ Chicken Wings with Chilli, Spring Onion and Chipotle Aioli (£6.00) Wild Boar Meatballs (£6.50) and Garlic & Rosemary Pizza Bread (£4.00)

The Laundrette, Newcastle - Cocktails and Carbs

My highlights of the main menu include the Shrimp Burger with Pak Choi & Sweet Chilli Aioli (£13.50) Goat's Cheese, Caramelised Red Onion Jam & Pesto Pizza (£10.00) and Salt & Pepper 6oz Tuna Steak (£18.50)

The Laundrette, Newcastle - Pizza
Despite my large appetite there was no room left for dessert (sob) but that just gives me the perfect excuse to return (I might already be making a plan for this weekend!)

Check out the full food menu here!

The Laundrette is a big, bad and in your face night of indulgence! So grab your nearest and dearest, wear something stretchy and get yourself down there before you're the last to the party!

The Laundrette, Newcastle - Cocktails
Find The Laundrette at:

thelaundretteuk.com/newcastle/

48 Westgate Road, NE1 1TT

For more food adventures from New Girl in Toon check out my Facebook and Instagram where you'll find daily inspiration of the greatest places in the North East to eat!

We were treated to a complimentary night of cocktails and carbs at The Laundrette! All thoughts are my own and I enjoyed it so much I'm heading back there this weekend to spend my dosh on some of those beautiful cocktails!
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Tuesday 24 October 2017

Halloween at Intu Eldon Square, Newcastle - The Fashion Spooktacular

I am obsessed with Autumn fashion! The beautiful colours, the cosy knits and suede boots capture my imagination every year and I can't help but go a little crazy in the shops. I'm the proud owner of far too many snuggly coats, a crazy number of boots and don't even get me started on my collection of scarves!  Autumn fashion has well and truly arrived at Newcastle's Intu Eldon Square and I popped along to the centre last night to see what's happening this week as part of the Fashion Spooktacular!

The Fashion Spooktacular at Intu Eldon Square Newcastle


Eldon Square's Fashion Spooktacular is a fun fashion pop up that you'll find outside New Look until 29 October.  You'll find loads of key Autumn pieces from around the centre as well as Halloween inspired homewear and Eldon Square's very own fashion fortune teller, Emma will be on hand to give you some style tips.

It's your opportunity to pick up some style ideas with a look at the biggest trends this season and a variety of workshops and Halloween inspired fun along the way.

The Fashion Spooktacular at Intu Eldon Square


Creepy Crawly Homewear

Halloween has definitely become a bit more of a thing in the UK and our housing estate went a little crazy with the decorations last year and left us feeling a little bit boring with our lack of spooky props! Discover the chicest Halloween homewear at Eldon Square's Fashion Spooktacular and get your place ready for a night of scary fun!

11:30 am on 25, 27 and 29 October

The Fashion Spooktacular at Eldon Square


You'll find plenty of inspiration around Intu Eldon Square as I discovered when John Lewis set me the challenge of creating a Halloween inspired dinner table from a quick dash round their china and glass wear section.

Proof that Halloween doesn't have to mean cheap plastic cups and plates, I found some beautiful pieces including this stunning Joanna Buchanan Bee Napkin Rings (definitely something for my wish list!)

The Fashion Spooktacular Intu Eldon Square - John Lewis


If you're planning on hosting a Halloween dinner party this year you'll find plenty of inspiration around the shopping centre.

How to Pick a Winter Coat

Not sure I need much help with this one as I have a silly amount of Winter coats already but if you are in the market for a new coat this season this is the workshop for you. Discover this seasons trends and learn how to find the best style of coat to suit your body shape and how to style it for the months ahead.

Emma has loads of tips ready for you to enable you to wear some of the seasons best trends. I was interested to learn that picking out this year's trend for checked coat takes a bit of careful consideration and isn't just a case of picking up anything off the rails!

1:30 pm on 25, 27 and 29 October
11:30 am on 24, 28 and 28 October

The Fashion Spooktacular Intu Eldon Square Coats


Autumn/Winter Capsule Wardrobe Wizardry 

Capsule wardrobes are huge at the moment and I have great admiration for anyone that manages to have such a minimal amount of clothes. If you're interested in creating your own for this season you can learn all about how to pick out key pieces to maximise your wardrobe with Eldon Square's personal stylist

3:30 pm on 25, 27 and 29 October

The Top Ten Must have Autumn/Winter Items

Want to know what trends you need to invest in this season? Head along to the Eldon Square Fashion Spooktacular to learn what knits, earings and boots you need to have in your wardrobe.

Emma will be able to give you loads of advice on which Autumn/Winter pieces you need in  your wardrobe and which you should steer clear of (so if you've always wanted to know if red heads can wear red coats she has the answer!)

1:30 pm on 24, 28 and 28 October

The Fashion Spooktacular Intu Eldon Square


Scarily good Halloween Costume Ideas

Want to look chic this Halloween?  Create the ultimate costume using items from all over Intu Eldon Square.

There are some fantastic Halloween costumes ideas in the stores around the centre including this gorgeous grey tulle skirt from New Look paired with this black top from River Island (the details on it really does look like bones - what a find!)

The Fashion Spooktacular Intu Eldon Square  - Stylist


Surprise discovery of the night?  Anne Summers do some really fantastic Halloween inspired outfits and plenty of them can be paired with jeans for a more modest look!

The Fashion Spooktacular Intu Eldon Square  - Halloween Style


Or, you can keep it simple with this gorgeous sequin gold dress from Top Shop teamed with a gorgeous Halloween inspired mask or maybe some cat ears.

The Fashion Spooktacular Intu Eldon Square  - Halloween



The beauty of buying a Halloween outfit from the high street this year is that you can then reuse the items again a few months later as a Christmas outfit.  Swap the cat ears for a clutch and you're Christmas party ready!

3:30 pm on 24, 28 and 28 October

The Fashion Spooktacular Intu Eldon Square  - Cat Mask



Spooky Cocktails at The Alchemist

We finished our evening with a few cocktails at The Alchemist. The perfect way to relax after the Fashion Spooktacular, we were impressed by the amount of Halloween style cocktails there are on the menu. The Mad Hatter's (£20.50)  and the Zombie Apocalypse (£38.5) are both huge sharing cocktails that gave dramatic shows and tasted delicious - I'm talking a table full of smoke, bubbling potion bottles and a syringe of "Zombie Mix" to add ourselves. So much fun!

If you're planning a trip to the Intu Eldon Square Fashion Spooktacular I recommend a post shopping trip to the Alchemist to really get you into the mood for Halloween!

Halloween at Intu Eldon Square, Newcastle - The Fashion Spooktacular The Alchemist


Let me know if you pick up any great tips at the Fashion Spooktacular and make sure you share your fashion finds on Twitter with the hashtag #intufashion.

For more events happening in the North East be sure to check out New Girl in Toon on Facebook and Instagram.
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Monday 23 October 2017

The Best Afternoon Tea in the Cotswolds at The Painswick Hotel

Have we discovered the best afternoon tea in the Cotswolds? When you're staying in a hotel where the food is superb it would be silly not to indulge in a spot of afternoon tea, am I right? During our recent stay at The Painswick in the Cotswolds we found ourselves hiding indoors when a storm threatened to hit and so decided that enjoying a leisurely afternoon tea would be the best way to sit out the bad weather.

Afternoon Tea at The Painswick Hotel


Afternoon Tea at The Painswick is served your way which we really loved. Encouraged to create our own perfect combination of treats and pick where we wanted it to be served really made the experience personal. With the choice of two lounges (complete with fire!), the terrace (ideal in the Summer months!) or in the gorgeous restaurant we were spoilt for choice and spent a good while debating each before settling on the restaurant, our sensible heads knowing that having a proper table and chairs would be better suited to our clumsiness.

Afternoon Tea at The Painswick Hotel  - Tea


Location agreed next we had to decide what we were going to have on our Afternoon Tea. Presented with a cute menu split into savoury, sweet and drinks - we were given the option of letting the chef create us an afternoon tea or picking out five items off the menu each for £16.00 to create our very own afternoon tea.  We loved having the freedom to choose and for a moment I did think about maybe just asking for an afternoon tea of five scotch eggs all to myself (imagine!)

Afternoon Tea at The Painswick Hotel  - Menu


We both decided we wanted a traditional mix of sweet and savoury as part of our tea and agreed on scotch eggs, chocolate brownie, a scone with jam and cream, banana cake and a selection of sandwiches (me) and a pork pie (him).

Simon and I have definitely had more afternoon teas than the average couple and do like to think ourselves quite the experts in all things tea and cake but nothing could have prepared us for The Painswick afternoon tea.  Served on a mammoth wooden board, every inch was covered in delicious looking food, our eyes were out on stalks! All this for £16.00 each?!

Afternoon Tea at The Painswick


Carefully moving some non essentials off the table (we decided to relegate the salt, pepper, water and decorative plant to the windowsill) we managed to make room for our pots of tea and plates and started to tuck in to our delicious feast!

In the battle of pork pie v the sandwiches, Simon definitely won! Pork pies make me nervous as I hate the jelly but I was kicking myself when I grabbed a bite of The Painswick Pork Pie because it was delicious, served warm and with no jelly in sight. I managed to steal a couple of bites before Simon told me to go away and eat my sandwiches! Boooo!

Next up we both attacked the scotch eggs which were the largest scotch eggs either of us had ever seen. They were giant boulders and all polite afternoon tea etiquette went out of the window as we eagerly grabbed one each and set to work.  Easily the best scotch egg either of us had ever had, we half thought about kidnapping chef and taking him home with us!

Afternoon Tea at The Painswick Hotel  - Scotch Egg
Savoury treats demolished next up we opted for the banana cake, deciding this would be a nice light cake to ensure we had the tummy space to finish up later (always think ahead when attacking an afternoon tea!)

Next on the agenda was the Chocolate Brownies, always such a treat for me as my nut allergy means I quite often can't order them. They were outstanding!  So rich and gooey, we had to stop talking as our mouths were stuck together with all of the delicious chocolatey goo! One of us (I'm pretty sure it was me!) had the genius idea of spooning a huge dollop of cream (yes, I know they are meant for the scones!) onto my plate and soon we were enjoying our brownies with cream and fresh raspberries.

Afternoon Tea at The Painswick Hotel  - Brownie


It was around this time, as we sunk into our second pot of tea, that we realised The Painswick Afternoon Tea was perhaps the best we'd ever had. Feeling absolutely thrilled at discovering such a fantastic afternoon tea at such a bargain price, this was instantly replaced with a slight feeling of despair.  This amazing afternoon tea is over 4 hours away from our house!

We finished our feast off with the scones that came served with the largest dishes of jam and cream that I've ever seen (good job as we ate so much of the cream with the brownies!) Simon did his jam and cream dance as he spread his scone with a greedy amount of both (if you know my husband you'll know that he only ever does his happy dance when he's enjoying very good food!) and as he took his first bite he declared it the best.

Afternoon Tea at The Painswick Hotel  - Scones


Yes, it's true!  The Painswick serve the best afternoon tea we have ever had and we are going to have to drive all the way to the Cotswolds just to have it again!

For those that live in that part of the country (it's not fair!) you really need to check it out as soon as possible, and for the rest of us we'd best plan a road trip because, believe me, that afternoon tea is worth travelling for!

Afternoon Tea at The Painswick Hotel  Cotswolds


Find The Painswick at:

thepainswick.co.uk

The Painswick, Kemps Lane, Painswick, Gloucestershire, GL6 6YB
01452 813 688

Although our stay at The Painswick was complimentary our Afternoon Tea was booked on a whim and paid for with our hard earned cash! I decided to share it with you because it really was the best we've ever had and we like to share the afternoon tea love!
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