High Tea. What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Finger-sized cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches, freshly baked scones (and having that age-old argument of which should go first, the jam or cream... of course it’s the jam, right?), cakes galore and pot after pot of piping hot tea – the stuff that fuels a nation. Well, it definitely fuels me most days! ;)
We’ve got a massive soft spot for anything special that encourages you to take time out, sit, chat and relax and we’re always on the look out for cool Somerset coffee shops, so it’s only right that this blog is dedicated to one of the coolest spots we’ve found in a little while - The Drawing Room at Butleigh... definitely our cup of tea!
Owner, Jade, is one of the loveliest people you’ll meet and she creates gorgeous home made High Teas in the Drawing Room of her funky Somerset home. We spent a brilliant afternoon there after a manic week, and it was just what we needed to blow away the busy day cobwebs!
The Drawing Room's not just about these once-in-a-while treats though. There’s so much going on at the heart of this 15th century converted farmhouse... from a place to drop in for coffee and homemade cake four days a week (Jade makes the delicious bakes herself), to the buzzing artisan markets she curates here.
There's revitalising yoga classes, a whole host of pop up events (take your pick from pottery painting to bath bomb making), and private parties too if you fancy a birthday High Tea.
The Naked Pantry has also just opened up here, a shop championing plastic free shopping which is a concept we love.
And talking of love, it's the overall feel of The Drawing Room that does it for us! The cool details and unique little touches bring the personality of the place to life, with postcards from A Spoonful of Sugar & Co, pom pom posies from Chi Chi Moi and we're loving the old school photo :).
Here in this pretty Somerset village, Jade is creating somewhere that brings the wider community together and that’s something very special indeed. Children are genuinely welcomed (you’ll often see Jade’s children playing, or Jade with her youngest in her arms) and dogs can happily come along with you for a cuppa in the outside courtyard... and catch some rays as you sip!
Whenever you visit, you feel part of the family and that's totally down to Jade's warmth and imagination. Having moved from Brighton a little while ago, it’s clear that she's in love with the house, village and way of life in this special corner of Somerset and for us, there’s nothing quite like uncovering a gem in a place you wouldn’t necessarily expect.
The coffee shop will become a regular haunt of ours for sure and I take my hat (collection) off to Jade, for the beautiful place she’s created and the sunshine you’ll find here every time you visit... whatever the weather outside.
To keep up with the adventures at The Drawing Room in Butleigh, follow Jade on Instagram.
Opening hours for the coffee shop are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am-2pm and Sunday from 11am-4pm. Look out for special events like the High Tea. Yum!