Bayberry Hollow — Restaurant in England

I have visited Bayberry Hollow on a few occasions and have usually been pleased with the food and service. Hence why I’m giving it 3 stars. However, on my visit today I was very disappointed. Myself and a friend ordered food, I ordered a soup and a scone.

Our food came out and my soup tasted very odd, it was burnt and smoky which is not what I expected from leek and potato. I very rarely say anything negative unless needed, I am from a hospitality background and understand the difficulties of getting things perfect, however this soup was pretty awful and the scone was stodgy in the middle.

I told the waitress and she checked with the kitchen. On her return she said the chef agreed and something must have caught on the pan when making it. Therefore would I like to order something else. She was very apologetic and although I appreciate these things happen from time to time; I was shocked the chef didn’t check the batch of soup before it went out. The waitress thanked me for letting them know which shocked me that it took a customer to highlight that something wasn’t right. I ordered the quiche whilst my friend finished her food, it came and was unfortunately pretty overcooked and bland. I felt underwhelmed with the food, so ordered a fruit scone (my friend already had one which looked lovely) my scone arrived and after taking my first bite I realised the cream was actually soured cream, not clotted cream. I told the waitress, who was very apologetic. She was obviously embarrassed and said ‘it’s not your day today’ which I agreed but part of me was fed up by this point as I just wanted something tasty for lunch and what felt like a simple lunch was a bit of a shambles. After having my scone and tea, which was ok… but I’ve certainly had better here before… we got moved downstairs when we ordered another drink and received the bill. I appreciate the staff sorted the order in the end, however, unfortunately it was not enjoyable regardless of the mistakes made. I would have appreciated perhaps a cup of tea on the house to apologise for the inconvenience, but nothing. To end on a positive, the staff are always very friendly and BH always has a nice and welcoming atmosphere, however, unfortunately I most likely won’t return again due to the disappointment in the...

A Hidden Gem: Our Surprise Visit to Bayberry Hollow Bistro

Today, quite by accident, we stumbled upon a true hidden gem—Bayberry Hollow Bistro. Taking a detour to avoid a traffic jam, we found ourselves driving through the quaint village of Tanfield. Just on the edge of the village stood Bayberry Hollow, housed in what appeared to be a beautifully converted old pub.

As we stepped inside, my wife was instantly drawn to a charming little gift shop. Though small, it was thoughtfully stocked, and to her delight, there was a shelf of Jellycats. Being a devoted fan, she immediately said she’d return for a closer look after lunch.

The lunch menu was modest and well-curated, offering a selection that felt had been carefully chosen. I told my wife that a smaller menu often means a sharper focus on quality, and I’m happy to say, I was right.

We both ordered the homemade corned beef pie, served with golden chips, perfectly cooked broccoli, and creamy mashed carrots. It was, without a doubt, one of the best corned beef pies I’ve ever had. The pie was deep and generously filled with flavourful, seasoned corned beef. The pastry was light and crumbly, the chips crisp and golden, and the vegetables cooked just right, all topped with a rich, delicious gravy.

I told the staff it reminded me of the homemade pies my mother used to make, real comfort food that warms the heart as much as the stomach.

What truly elevated the experience, though, was the exceptional service. The staff were incredibly friendly, and our server, Jo Jo, welcomed us like old friends. She chatted warmly with us about the food and made our first visit feel like a special occasion.

It brought to mind a line from Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson, where he writes about stumbling upon Durham and instantly falling in love with it. He later became the university's chancellor. If he had discovered Bayberry Hollow, I think he might have said:

“You've never been to Bayberry Hollow? Good God man, you must go at once! Please, take my car!”

All in all, it was a wonderful, memorable experience, and we’ll be returning soon, and yes, my wife did go back and buy...

I hate leaving a negative review but I was shocked at the price when presented with the bill. For afternoon tea for me and my mam it came to a couple pounds short of £60. I was expecting it to cost around half that price as when I checked the menus online they said £16 per person. Ive even looked at reviews from a few years ago where people have said the afternoon tea was £13.50 each so I dont understand how me and my mam have been charged £29 per person. Even Lumley Castle is not this expensive at £50 for afternoon tea for two and that's at a castle and on the high end, not a noisy, cramped cafe.

We prebooked and waited almost 40 minutes for it to come out. The place was crammed full, noisy, and quite cramped. Not a cosy setting, but for what I thought was going to be the price I thought it was worth it once the food finally came and was going to overlook the wait and leave a good review because food was delicious and the lady serving us was lovely too. Then the bill came and this just ruined it. I feel I have been massively robbed and now feel stupid for not challenging the cost or asking how much before booking. It's a shame because I'm moving to very nearby and this place came recommended to me by my friend who also told me that afternoon tea was only £15 per person so not sure why I've spent double that amount. Me and my partner spend a lot of money visiting cafes. Also not all the food we asked to be packed to take home was packed. Left feeling gutted....