Staffs were friendly and really enjoyed the afternoon tea.
I had sicilian apple cake and passionfruit sponges. They were lovely.
Thanks Ruby T’s!

Oh!  How I would have liked to try the Passionfruit Sponge - alas my breakfast companion and I were too early.  I suspect I would have loved it.  

'Ruby' apparently did a great deal of work for charity back in the day, so he grand-daughter (if memory serves) set this cafe up in her honour.  

This little cafe is quite olde worlde-y, and I like it for that alone.  I love that tea comes in proper, traditional tea cups, I love the tea spoons are exactly that - even down to the little teapot at the other end.  I appreciated the real embroidered cloths.  If I didn't know better I could have thought this place had been here many decades ago.  

This is one of the quieter cafes on the strip, perhaps because of it's lack of modern styling.  A couple of people having their morning cuppa, the coffee machine was certainly a nod to present day, and the Cappuccino was enjoyed by my companion who is just getting 'into' coffee.  

I chose the Prince of Wales tea - which somehow seemed the appropriate choice given our surrounds - and it was a good cup of tea, very good.  Add to this, that when I requested a top up of hot water (which in no way diminished the quality of the tea after two cups had already gone from the pot) and it came in the sweetest jug befitting the style of this place that really fits in so well in Maling Road.

The straightforward menu left both of us in no doubt what we wanted;  Benedict for me, choosing the bacon over the ham or smoked salmon.  Wilted spinach, perfect poached eggs, properly cooked bacon on lightly toasted and very fresh focaccia bread.  I can't say for sure if the hollandaise is house made, I suspect it is, it was fine.

Opposite me the Smashed Avocado and Feta with extras of two free range poachies and smoked salmon on toasted focaccia was tucked into with gusto.

Friendly staff, a lovely looking selection of cakes, treats and savoury meals like pot pies and lasagne (with bechemel - yay).  As I mentioned, I would have delighted in trying the Passionfruit Sponge - a childhood delight of mine, and certainly would consider the Sunday Lunch, like the good old days at home one day.  This is familiar food cooked as if it was your aunt in the kitchen.  

This cafe calls itself a 'coffee and tea house', and they certainly do their tea well - real tea, loose leaf, in a proper pot with a cute little strainer within.  The breakfasts we tried were good to very good.  Service to we two new customers was more like old friends, and the regulars were treated like family that you like!  Newspapers to read, books, pretty gift cards for sale (we got one), a charming change from the new style cafs popping up everywhere.  Although technically not anything to do with the cafe, having a gorgeous independent book shop immediately opposite is a big bonus in my books.

Lovely cute little place that reminded me of a tea house. With lots of sweets like scones, biscuits etc to enjoy with your tea or coffee. Coffee was good, service was friendly. Our little biscuits were served on dainty, pretty plates like your Grandma used to use.