Afternoon Tea
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the elegant traditions of our full afternoon tea service - or the irresistible pleasures of a perfect Devon Cream Tea - at the very place where the cream tea was invented - The Bedford Hotel in the heart of Tavistock.
The Duchess of Bedford Afternoon Tea
A selection of sandwiches, home-baked scone, Hogs Bottom strawberry jam, Devon clotted cream, home-made cakes.
Served with your choice of tea or coffee.
Served 3pm-5pm
£23
Sparkling Afternoon Tea
As above, plus an indulgent flute of prosecco.
£28.50
Devon Cream Tea
Home-baked scone with Hogs Bottom strawberry jam, Devon clotted cream and your choice of tea or coffee.
Served all day, every day.
£8
Bookings: 01822 613221 or book online
We don’t serve our traditional afternoon teas in December, but instead offer a festive cream tea, Christmas cake, mince pies and other treats of the season, as well as our classic Devon Cream Tea.
We are pleased to cater for food allergies or dietary requirements with advance notice. A surcharge of £2 per person applies for gluten free afternoon tea.
Home of the Cream Tea
The Bedford Hotel originally formed part of Tavistock’s Benedictine Abbey. The Abbey was established in the 10th Century, but was badly damaged by Vikings in 997AD. Restoration of the Abbey was undertaken by local workers and monks, who were rewarded with bread, clotted cream and strawberry preserves. And so the Devon Cream Tea was born.
Tavistock’s afternoon teas are closely tied to the Earls of Bedford, and since 1694, the Dukes of Bedford who called The Bedford Hotel their home. Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford (3rd September 1788 – 3rd July 1861) is said to have created the “afternoon tea” whilst visiting the 5th Duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle in the mid 1840’s. It is reported that dinner had come to be served later and later in the day, until an extra meal called luncheon had to be created to fill the gap between breakfast and dinner, but as this new meal was very light, the long afternoon left people feeling hungry. The Duchess found a light meal of tea (usually Darjeeling) and cakes or sandwiches was the perfect balance.
Afternoon Tea at The Bedford is a treat not to be missed. Enjoy a classic Devon Cream Tea, complete with local strawberry jam and rich clotted cream, or push the boat out and order our full Afternoon Tea (with a glass of fizz perhaps?).