August 2025 by naiya ellis
we ordered 2 cream teas (£11.50 each), expensive for a cream tea but would have been worth it if the quality was actually good. scones were awful (soft and dry), seemed store bought (although much worse than the supermarket ones i?ve had), low quality cheap jam, and not much flavour in the tea
August 2025 by David Webster
I really dislike leaving negative reviews but this place used to be really really good. Having not been for several years, I was in Marlborough and decided to stop in for a full English breakfast. What an odd experience.
The food was served approximately 5 minutes after ordering which immediately made me think it wasn?t cooked fresh. The beans were cold and had a slightly acidic aftertaste. Almost like too much vinegar but it wasn?t that flavour profile. Strange
The mushrooms were rubbery and frankly inedible
The bacon looked anemic, very fatty and wasn?t warm.
Eggs and toast were fine but it?s fried eggs and toast, not sure how far you could mess that up.
The hash brown was the standout issue for me, and I noticed the lady a few tables away had left hers entirely. It had almost a fragrant taste to it, like it had been sprayed with a perfume. It was so over powering I tasted it and immediately put it back on the plate.
Zero atmosphere, no background music.
In the toilets the ivy plant was obviously homesick as it was growing through the open window.
The server was reasonably attentive, pleasant but didn?t give me the option to leave her a tip which I would have if offered.
Overall a negative experience. Ownership must have changed since I was in there last as this was a world away from the home cooked quality food I had previously. The cakes selection looked good so perhaps it was just the morning kitchen staff that is the issue. It?s a real shame. As I?ve written this review it reminds me of the kind of experience one would have from visiting a motorway service station. You feel somewhat made a fool out for overpaying for an underwhelming experience. Questionable cooking, minimum spend on facilities maintenance. For over £20 for a breakfast and drink for 1 person I would not recommend making the trip there
I really hope the owners see this and have a good internal look at their operation, appreciate this is just my experience but that ivy hasn?t made the decision to become a house plant overnight. That?s weeks /months of neglect which has gone from an overlooked checklist item to a conscious decision to ignore a very obvious problem.
The breakfast here honestly used to be worth a 20 mile drive which we did regularly. It?s now on par with a little chef outside of smog filled petrol station.
August 2025 by Alice Gregson
Ordered a kimchi toastie which arrived semi-toasted, with beetroot instead of kimchi. Staff were inattentive and forgetful. Avoid eating here unless you order tea and cake.
August 2025 by Emma Seymour
Didn't stay for a cup of tea today, as a pot for two people was £8.20. Appreciate that staff have to be paid and that a premises in Marlborough High Street is expensive, but this does seem an awful lot of money for 2 teabags hot water and milk.
August 2025 by Jan Oversteyns
Charming atmosphere, and the food and cakes are delightful. Would definitely return if I'm ever in the area again.
August 2025 by Ray Pocock
Potentially a nice place to eat with good atmosphere. Ordered all day breakfast around late lunch time. Table top appeared clean but was sticky, bacon appeared to be reheated very crispy, hash brown very solid. No butter for the toast. Tea was nice but I suspect not decaffeinated as requested. Had difficulty beaconing to staff had to go to counter to obtain butter.
August 2025 by Catherine Cox
Called in today for tea and cake. The place looks tired and in need of a face lift. Ordered Dorset Apple cake, which was apparently baked that day, and I think it would be fair to say it was the worst Dorset Apple cake I have ever eaten! Dry, with barely any apple to be seen, I wouldn?t recommend it. My cake was left in crumbs on my plate as it was far too dry to consume.
July 2025 by MARIA Delves
Had only a soft drink and was charged over £8.00. FOR THE TWO OF US. It was a dandelion and burdock. Outrages!
July 2025 by Silas Day
Really disappointing breakfast. Poor service, high prices. You can find much better elsewhere in Marlborough
July 2025 by Laurence Day
Can?t even toast a piece of toast! Poor service and high prices
July 2025 by Sarah Antoni
Delightful tea room, great own blended breakfast tea
June 2025 by Frank Punshon
Very friendly and a lovely spot right on the High Street.
June 2025 by Helen McD
Lovely tea room. Full English breakfast served all day. Food was excellent quality and a huge pot of tea. The staff were lovely and service was very efficient. Will definitely be back tomorrow.
June 2025 by R Reilly
I never ever order BLTs when I eat out so I don't know what came over me when I decided to select this from the menu but I don't regret a thing.
I like my BLTs a certain way: the bacon needs to be crispy, or with zero fat around the edges, and always with toast, never bread.
After I had ordered at the counter, I realised I had neglected to specify these details and braced myself for an overpriced soggy mess of a sandwich.
No need... the BLT was perfect! Toasted bread and crispy bacon, with the fat still on but perfectly crisped to give the sandwich some depth of flavour.
My only criticism was the fries weren't great because you could taste the oil they were cooked in was a little old but I could live with that when the BLT was so delicious. I've given the atmosphere 4 stars simply because I had to listen to a group of ramblers who were sitting near me moaning about the prices, and the noise of traffic passing was loud (I dined al fresco) but inside it looked cosy and calm. (The ramblers did also comment on how excellent the service was so they weren't all doom and gloom. ?)
The service was impeccable; the servers were chirpy, polite and personable.
A little expensive at £4 for a pot of tea for one, but hey, welcome to Marlborough.
Sunny day, nice cup of tea, BLT al fresco, what a treat!
June 2025 by A
I have been here a few times before, but not for a few years now.
I was really shocked at the pricing to be honest, when I visited the other day.
The prices of hot drinks were quite extortionate and you don't even get a big mug.
Same with the cakes they look amazing, but for around £5.00 a piece. It's quite a lot, really.
However, it was a clean restaurant and the service was good.
