Last time, I wrote about three new tea companies in Bristol but didn’t have enough room to include a fourth called TART - named for the savoury and sweet tarts that are the speciality of the house.  Great name - short, memorable and to the point!  I had known for some time that this would open some time this year - ever since Jenny Bashforth (in the photo with me at the shop’s counter and below right) came to my tea masterclass and talked about her idea of opening a tea room and deli on Bristol’s Gloucester Road.

In fact, the shop has now been open for 13 months and Jenny and her daughter Ellen have created a beautiful space that is attracting an interestingly mixed clientele.  The Gloucester Road is a colourful part of town with its restaurants, music shops, pubs, craft jewellers, coffee bars and food stores – a traditional sort of mix on a traditional sort of British high street. 

Tart stands out as smart, contemporary, tempting and interesting and draws customers in for cups of tea, great food, and a selection of high quality foods and food gifts – hand-made chocolates, olive oils, fruit preserves, chutneys, stylish sugars, fresh free-range eggs, smart cook wares and kitchen equipment all beautifully displayed on an old-fashioned dresser.  Many of the food products are locally produced and as far as possible, Jenny’s chef also uses locally-produced ingredients for all the dishes he prepares.

At the front, tables and chairs offer plenty of seating in the busy main body of the shop; up a few steps towards the back of the store is the ‘snug’ – a calmer area that is perfect for a quiet chat; and at the back of the store is a private dining room where special events and exhibitions are held and where individual tea parties celebrate graduation, birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions.  Here the décor is gentle and discreet – more like a room at home with soft subdued lighting, an old-fashioned fireplace and elegant furniture.

The tarts are a favourite at lunch time to eat in or to take away and the choice varies from day to day – choose for example from savoury specials such as goats cheese with rocket and pine nuts, leek ham and smoked cheddar or Andalusian onion tart, or indulge in traditional sweet treats such as Bakewell, custard or chocolate tarts.  Yummy!

Tart is at 16 The Promenade, Gloucester Road, Bristol

For more information, go to www.lovelytart.com

South from Bristol, the historic Dorchester has its very own tearoom now in the shape of Char-Chars which is brilliantly placed on the main pedestrian street where everyone shops and strolls.  I met husband and wife owners Sonja and Phil when they came to our tea masterclass at Tregothnan Tea Estate in September this year and was so pleased to have to opportunity of visiting to see their pretty tearoom for myself.  That’s them with me at Char-Chars at the tiop of the page!

This is a little dynamo of a place – full of ideas and activities and knowledge and connections.  The menu offers a really good selection of teas and there’ plenty going on to attract new customers who are ready for adventure and want to discover new teas. The counter is livley and full of enticing products and foods - see above left.

Starting in October and running through to last week, Sonja and Phil hosted ‘Around the World in 8 Tea Days’ – a series of Sunday tasting events at which teas from India, Japan China, Africa and the UK and various herbal and fruit infusions were served.  The 7^th session saw the launch of Char Char’s own new blend (a secret mix of China, Indian and African teas).

Char-Chars also features Tregothnan tea from the now famous Cornish tea garden and recently held an event that offered guests a chance to enjoy warm home-baked scones with Tregothnan’s rare Kea Plum Jam and Cornish clotted cream  - a nice change from more traditional strawberry preserve.

The layout of the store on two floors (the first floor room is shown on the right) allows Sonja and Phil to display the work of local artists and two special exhibitions have recently added colour and interest to the tearoom.  Bill Toop, Dorchester based watercolourist whose subjects include Cornwall and other West Country counties, exhibited some of his work; and the work of Fine Artist Julie McCabe were on show when I visited.  Julie works in many different media, always exploring the possibilities of new materials and she has sculpted human figures and cups, saucers and spoons using large speciality tea leaves and glue (see below).  The effect is astonishing and unlike anything I have ever seen tea used for before.

Char Chars is much more than a tea room – it is a warm, welcoming space that inspires and excites, inviting new comers to join in the adventure, travel the tea road, discover something new.  There is an energy and a passion here that is infectious, fun and irresistible.

Char-Chars is at 50a South Street, Dorchester, Dorset.  DT1 1DQ.

For more information, go to www.char-chars.co.uk

A little further east on the south coast in Poole, Paul and Tracey Irons have turned a once derelict shop into the cosy Courtyard Gardens and Tea Rooms where locals and tourists alike can enjoy a great cup of tea in the peace and quiet of this traditional tea room.

What was a few years ago an abandoned building with an overgrown yard tangled with weeds and buddleia bushes, is now a little haven hidden away behind the facades of busy tourist shops in the oldest part of the town.  Most of the tearoom building dates back to the 16^th century and some of the walls go back to the 18^th century.

Guests can choose the rustic décor of the tearoom, the fresh open air of the little courtyard or the intimacy of the little dining room across the yard.  The little courtyard is a treasure trove of favourite plants – honeysuckle, clematis, jasmine, potted palms, figs, olives and oleander and in spring, daffodils, crocus and snowdrops.

In this interesting historic setting, customers can tuck into wholesome savouries such as baked potatoes with various toppings, pasta dishes and cottage pies, or feast on delicious traditional fruit cakes, Dorset Apple Cake, chocolate and orange cake, a slice of Victoria sponge, or a cream tea with scones and clotted cream.  Traditional British treats in a historic traditional setting!  Look out for the little old doorway at number 48a on the High Street in Poole Old Town.

  Courtyard Gardens and Tea Room are at 48a High Street, Poole, Dorset, England. BH15 1BT 

Find out more at www.thecourtyardgardens.co.uk

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