Tea for two (or three or four…) in East Hertfordshire

At Home Instead East Herts and Uttlesford, we love to take aging adults out for a break from their daily routine. And what better break than to pop into one of the area’s charming cafes for a morning coffee or an afternoon cup of tea? We’ve put our heads together and come up with our favourite five places to visit for a cuppa. Towns such as Bishop’s Stortford and Sawbridgeworth have their own thriving tea culture that provides some ideal spots for your older loved ones to visit.

Rosey Lea Tea Rooms and Café

One venue with its own charm is Rosey Lea Tea Rooms and Café at Wickham Hall in Bishops Stortford. This is one of a small chain of four cafes (one in Market Square, Bishop’s Stortford, and others in the Henry Moore Studio and Gardens at Much Hadham and at North Weald Airfield). At Wickham Hall, you and your senior can relax with a hot or cold drink, plus one of the café’s great choices of homemade cakes and scones, delicious sandwiches and traditional cream teas.

Rosey Lea Tea Rooms and Café is independently run, with friendly staff. The owners are passionate about great food and drink and specialise in loose-leaf teas (including caffeine-free) from Char of Winchester. There’s good access for wheelchairs indoors and dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating area. Opening times are 9:00am to 4:00pm, Mondays to Fridays and Sundays, and 9:00am to 5:00pm on Saturdays.

The Shed Coffee House

An independently owned café is The Shed Coffee House, based in The Maltings by Sawbridgeworth train station. The cafe offers a diverse choice of hot and cold drinks, including locally-sourced coffee from Paddy & Scott’s. To tickle your tastebuds, there are Danish pastries, sandwiches, cakes and bagels. And if you or your older person are technologically-minded, there’s free Wifi available as well.

If you become a regular visitor, you can use one of the café’s loyalty cards, which gives you a free drink after you’ve bought ten teas or coffees. The Shed is a great little place to take your older loved ones if you’re looking for teatime with a difference. It’s open on Mondays to Saturdays from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and on Sundays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Unfortunately, it’s not suitable for people with mobility issues, as there are steps at the entrance.

South Street Pantry

Located (unsurprisingly!) in South Street in the centre of Bishop’s Stortford, South Street Pantry is a vintage-style café and sandwich shop. It’s a quaint, family-run business that offers a wide variety of scrummy food items, including sandwiches, paninis, toasted teacakes, muffins, crumpets, scones and home-made cakes for you to drool over. If you’re feeling particularly hungry, it also has a great breakfast and dinner menu! And of course, there are hot and cold drinks to enjoy as you eat. There’s plenty of seating both indoors and in the large courtyard (open during the summer), where you can sit surrounded by beautiful flowers.

If your loved one has mobility issues, please be aware that there are two steps at the café entrance. However, the courtyard has wide double doors, providing easy wheelchair access. The café’s open on Mondays to Saturdays, 9:00am to 5:00pm, and on Sundays from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

CJ’s

If you’re visiting Sawbridgeworth, it’s well worth popping into CJ’s, a family-run shop that sells over 60 flavours of ice cream (including coconut-based vegan options) – ideal for a hot summer day. However, it’s great for any season, as it sells many other types of hot and cold drinks and food – including tea, coffee, milk shakes, cakes, chocolate brownies, churros, cupcakes, flapjacks, shortbread, mince pies, muffins and scones. Phew!

CJ’s takes its name from its founders, Carlin and James, who love producing high quality, homemade food items. Their tasty ice cream is based on a 125-year old recipe and even your older loved ones might find it hard to resist! The café is located in the heart of Sawbridgeworth and is open from 6:30am to 5:00pm on weekdays and from 8:30am to 5:00pm at weekends. There’s just a low step up to the entrance.

Caffeinn

In Florence Walk, North Street in Bishop’s Stortford, you can find the delightful (and delightfully named) Caffeinn. This is an independently-owned café that’s known for its friendliness and service and has consequently achieved high ratings from its customers (4.5 on Trip Advisor and 4.7 on Facebook).

The drinks on offer include various teas and coffees, hot chocolate and fresh fruit juice. Snacks include a selection of yummy cakes and pastries, as well as larger meals (including vegetarian and gluten-free options). Located in a quiet arcade, there’s both indoor and outdoor seating available. You and your senior can nip along at any time between 8:00am and 5:00pm an Mondays to Saturdays, or from 9:00am to 5:00pm on Sundays. There’s wheelchair access to the cafe and there’s also a toilet (but not a disabled toilet).

So, if you and your loved one are at a loose end and fancy popping out to visit a café for a relaxing drink and snack somewhere in the East Hertfordshire area, why not try one of our suggestions? We hope you enjoy it if you do!

To find out more about the wide type and range of home care services we can offer at Home Instead East Herts and Uttlesford, just pick up the phone and give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you!