Afternoon
Tea at The Dormy House
TheDormy House is a beautifully restored farmhouse located in the heart of the
Cotswolds on top of the famous ‘Fish Hill’ on the outskirts of the village of
Broadway. The 17th century building has since undergone a
renovation, closing its doors to the public in March this year, to then re-open
again in August with its makeover complete and new touches in place.
Intimate
autumnal warmth circulates the air the moment you arrive at The Dormy House.
The aroma of burning log fires subtly floats through the breeze, a carpet of
beautiful golden leaves lay graciously on the ground underneath the trees they
were once attached to, and the sun shines glowingly over the Cotswold Hills and
fields that surround us.
As we stepped through the door, we are welcomed by the
warmth of the log fires we first encountered on the driveway. The footman
greets us and shows us through to one of the many cosy rooms available to enjoy
afternoon tea at The Dormy House, each one offering the relaxing vibe we crave
for.
Each
room exhibits diversity in character and sparks a unique style of elegance
relayed in the individuality of the décor. Alas, they share a historic
resemblance in the old features that remain untouched and unblemished from the
recent makeover. There is now a contemporary feel to the place as a whole with
little touches added to the soft furnishings without hindering the fact that is
still very much a traditional 17th century country house hotel.
Every
room bestows its own exclusive warmth with either a wood burner or an open fire
taking the centrepiece with a fully stocked log basket located nearby. The
footman is hot on his toes in keeping each one ablaze, conducting regular
rounds adding logs as he goes. The sofas and armchairs surrounding have their
own individual style, although they all share a similar happy ending of
indulging comfort as soon as one’s posterior hits the cushion. Coffee table
books on country houses, gardens and pursuits are placed alongside bookcases overflowing
with beautiful old books waiting to be opened and bought back to life. These
are just a few of the little touches in place to ensure guests are provided
with the much loved home comforts during their visit to The Dormy House.
Afternoon
tea at The Dormy House follows the theme for unique characteristics found in
and around the place as a whole. Where there’s tradition in a good
old-fashioned, yet refreshing cucumber sandwich, there is also uniqueness in one
of their home-smoked salmon pin wheels, a new addition unheard of to me until
now. The menu presents five options for afternoon tea each one offering its own
luxurious individuality and appeal, accommodating a variety of cravings and
taking into consideration the possible dietary requirements of guests, with
‘gluten-free’ option available. The Dormy House also welcomes families through their
doors and recognises that a child’s tastebuds often desires something a little
less formal than the food of grown-ups. So for those ‘sticky fingers’, there’s
sausage rolls, jam fingers, mini chocolate cakes, cookies and healthy fruit
smoothies, a scrumptious feast that will satisfy the little ones for a while,
giving the parents a chance to relax and indulge for themselves. It’s menus
like these that make you wish you were a child again!
On this
occasion, we opted for the ‘Lazy Afternoon’; a themed offering we felt
reflected our mood on this particular midweek afternoon in autumn. With a
selection of sandwiches, pin wheels and wraps, homemade fruit and plain scones
accompanied by oozy clotted cream and The Dormy House strawberry preserve, finished
off with mini cakes and tarts, we were in for a taste of real indulgence. For
£16, you are not only in for a treat with a difference, but an eye for a
bargain also. The quality of the food was exemplary both in taste and
presentation. The home-smoked salmon was decadent in flavour and wrapped in a
granary pin wheel, created a distinctive twist that contributed to its overall
perfection. The ham and mustard wrap shared a similar footing, the home cooked
ham had been generously sliced which allowed us to appreciate its natural sweet
flavour. It was evident by the freshness of the bread, that the sandwiches were
freshly made for us, a rarity often found in afternoon tea these days where
they are often assembled in advance and therefore stale upon service.
Next, it
was onto some of life’s sweetest pleasures of scones and cakes, and for the sweet
tooth’s’ amongst you, you are in for a treat. The scones had been freshly
baked, and served with oozy clotted cream with a crusty skin and The DormyHouse’s own homemade strawberry preserve. This was a perfectly executed
representation of a Great British classic the Queen would applaud and Mary
Berry would crown a ‘good bake’. The chocolate and orange Battenberg was a
delicious, quirky take of a Terry’s chocolate orange. Light and moist in
texture, each of the key ingredients came through distinctively without
overpowering one another. The fruit tart with lemon curd topped with
strawberry, plum, blackberry, blueberry and kiwi with an apricot glaze was the
most satisfying way of getting in the ‘5 a day’. The pastry was nice and flaky –
‘no soggy bottoms’ which alongside the combination of sweet, zingy, citrus
flavours from the fruit was the making of something rather beautiful.
The
famous saying goes that you often ‘save the best till last’ and here, saving
the millionaire’s shortbread until the end definitely defined this line. Each
layer was perfectly portioned and carefully, so not to overpower one another.
It produced a real ‘melt in your mouth’ sensation which alongside its luxurious
richness would satisfy any millionaire.
There
is a wide range of tea offered at The Dormy House, supplied from the renowned
luxury brand, Tea Forte. Alongside the usual suspects of Earl Grey, English Breakfast,
Lapsang Souchong, Jasmine Green and Darjeeling, there are some unique
characters also. Raspberry Nectar, Orchard Vanilla and Citrus Mint all bring a
flavoured diversity to the afternoon tea experience. As fragrant in smell as
they are taste, they offer a unique type of warmth that is both soothing and
refreshing.
TheDormy House is the perfect place to venture on an afternoon in autumn or winter,
offering warmth and relaxation throughout. From the cosy interior within,
packed with home comforts to indulge in, the friendly and knowledgeable staff
who show every attention to detail and go to great lengths to ensure
satisfaction, to the delicious and flawless representation of this
quintessential daytime tradition. I would definitely recommend you pay a visit
to this marvel in the heart of the picturesque Cotswold countryside.
The Score..
Food: 5*
The
food served for afternoon tea here was marvellous, everything was fresh and the
cooked elements were executed to perfection. The flavours were vibrant and
satisfying bringing enjoyment with every mouthful. The portion size of each
element was well thought out, leaving you moderately full come the end, though
without that feeling of guilt by indulgence.
Selection
and Quality: 5*
The
menu offered a sufficient display of options for afternoon tea, with
substitutes for children and customers who have a gluten free intolerance. There
were quirky alternatives offered alongside the customary sandwiches, still
using the classic ingredients of ham and mustard and smoked salmon, although
executed with a unique style. The quality of the food served here was good,
freshly made, with everything tasting even better than it looked.
Presentation:
5*
The
presentation was simple but elegant, served on white bone china it complimented
the classic style found throughout The Dormy House. Each element of the
afternoon tea looked appetizing and matched the satisfying taste which came
soon after.
Service:
5*
Friendly,
knowledgeable, showed attention to detail and went to great lengths to bring
satisfaction to the afternoon as whole. Megan, our waitress, bought us a
selection of tea to try having not been able to choose between the varieties of
enticing flavours offered.
Atmosphere:
5*
The
ambiance was welcoming and relaxing from the moment we arrived up until we
left. The Dormy House is a place of warmth, with a wide range of home comforts
offered throughout. Seated in the window overlooking the picturesque Cotswold
countryside, the views were some of the finest, and that’s a setting we all
desire whilst enjoying the British tradition that is afternoon tea.
The
Dormy House
A: Willersey Hill, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7LF
T: 01386 852711
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