English Breakfast tea and Victoria Sponge

Location: Havilands Café, Meer Street, Stratford-upon-Avon

Date: 17 June 2009
Description: English Breakfast tea and Victoria Sponge cake

Notes: Michelle and I decided to check out the new cafe attached to the Havilands bakery/sandwich store on Meer Street - all sounded promising since their cakes are superb (their window is a delight and includes elaborate gingerbread houses at Christmas-time).

Things got off to a bad start as we arrived on a drizzly lunch-break and were visually assaulted by lime green cheapo chairs outside the front. Yuk. Still, inside it's less Ikea and more minimalist tea-room with black table-tops and simple white china. I was distracted by a book on a shelf next to our table about hosting 'Tea Parties' and had to be reminded to look at the menu.

The menu is simple and caters squarely for the Stratford tourist at lunchtime - sandwiches or a variation on sandwiches. Much like the shop next door. We chose hot drinks and a slab of baked stodge. The Vic sponge (pictured) looks promising but was incredibly dense in texture and stingy on the icing - it had possibly been sat in the cabinet for a few days. And I had to ask for a fork to eat it with. Hmm. Michelle's pan au chocolat was unexceptional - just your average pastry, and so average she can't recall whether it was served hot or not. The tea was fine though and I requested that they offer skimmed milk in future. Michelle's coffee was OK but rather small and not the quality offered by specialist coffee shops.

Verdict: Great for a take-out cake or sarnie in a hurry but not a great place to indulge in a cuppa and cake.