Tiptree at Barleylands Tea Room & Café — Restaurant in Basildon

Not the best experience in the Barleylands Cafe for lunch on Mon 24th August. Our first introduction was to a rather rude woman, who I assume is a supervisor/manager, that proceeded to shout from behind the counter 'if the 2 metre spacing rule is not met the cafe will close down'. Now I agree that the spacing is currently important and it was busy but to approach it in that way and not more politely was very poor service. I'm pretty sure the owners would have something to say about lost revenue when really the staff could of politely dealt with the situation. This same statement was repeated a few minutes later right next to me, at volume, once we were inside.

I ordered a toasted sandwich which genuinely came with 10 crisps on the side. The sandwich was basic sliced loaf but nice enough, but the best part of £10 for a sliced bread cheese and ham toastie and 10 crisps. Not good. Two toasted sandwiches, two kids sandwich boxes and two cans of Pepsi £30! We were fortunate Eat Out to Help Out applied and it was £15.

If I return to Barleylands a packed lunch will definitely...

We haven't been to a Tiptree Tearoom for ages. Always enjoyed it. This was no different. As a bit of a fussy eater what I like most about the Tiptree version of afternoon tea is that you get a choice of one filling each which means when there are usually the three of us we get to choose three fillings we all like and then we mix and match that way, so much better than getting fillings I don't like. And boy are these sandwiches filled. No cheap ingredients here. And instead of putting mustard, relish etc in the sandwich it comes as a little pot on the side. This time there were six of us. The table was set ready for us. The staff were lovely, chatty when with us and so attentive, nothing seemed too much trouble. The food was delicious and the variety of cakes were good. The sign of a good scone is to able to break it open neatly without using a knife and these were good scones. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. The shop is a little on the small side but had a good selection. Was able to buy my favourite, old...

Really disappointing. If you’re renowned for cream teas, you need to do better. Firstly the signage is bizzarre, it’s split into two. Tea Room & Cafe (one space tables to left or right & separate counters) If you want cream tea you go to the cafe, for other menu options you go to the tea room… Then the cafe is partly self service, you get a tray line a mway service station. The rest is up to you. The way they sell the cream teas is just odd. One cream tea comes with 2 scones and a CUP of tea. But only one cream & jam which isn’t enough for 2 scones. And if this is what you do, it should be a POT of tea not a cup. It should be cream tea for one = one scone, one cream, one jam, one small pot of tea - cream tea for two = 2 scones, 2 creams, 2 jams & large pot of tea. Who wants 2 scones without enough condiment to cover them?! Really strange & really odd way to do the one thing you should be...