Marie's Tea Room — Restaurant in Gravesham

Unfortunately after years of using Marie’s Tearoom and shopping in the Emporium I’m left with no option but to warn people not to go here, and certainly not to pay any money in advance.

I booked Christmas afternoon tea for December 2021 and paid in full after checking over the phone and on the website that it was refundable if notice given (considering the issues at the time with covid).

Unfortunately 2 of my friends ended up self isolating so I phoned up 5 days beforehand and spoke to the owner Graham, who confirmed the cancellation and agreed to refund the monies paid.

The following week I went in for a different afternoon tea booking, and having not received my refund asked if the staff member could chase it up. She said Graham would phone me, he didn’t.

As it was Christmas time I left it a few weeks and still hadn’t had my refund, so I phoned and asked to speak to Graham. Again I was told he would phone me, he didn’t.

After another few days I phoned again, and when the staff member asked me my name, I heard him say Graham there’s a lady on the phone for you and he told him my name. I also heard Graham’s response that he wasn’t going to talk to me.

I was as patient as I could be, and have always been happy to support a local business but this experience is absolutely disgusting. Keeping people’s money when you advertise a full refund on cancellation is theft.

With no other option, I’ve had to involve my credit card company who have investigated and refunded me based on the evidence I have to show the payment was refundable on cancellation.

All it would have taken was a simple phone call from Graham to explain if there had been a delay with the payment company. What irritates me even more, is that when I cancelled I would have happily re-arranged for another date if he had asked me to as an alternative to a refund.

Now all I can say is I will never use them again, and cannot recommend...

A quaint little tea room with a great selection of teas, coffee, savories and sweets, and reasonable prices just next to the Victorian market and down the hill toward the River Thames from Gravesend's main shopping street.

Old, mismatched furniture and similarly unique cups, saucers, plates and teapots match the cute Victorian corner building that house them. The prices are right with a Cream Tea (scone, clotted cream, jam and tea of your choice) just £4.20 ($5.95) and a large caffe latte just £2.50 ($3.50).

The Daily Special the day we were in was Truffle Risotto (£5.95/$8.40), quite a bargain by British standards, but with dinner just a couple hours away, I did not sample it and, therefore, cannot comment on the taste or quality. The tea and coffee, however, were plentiful and tasty and the scones (plain, cheese, or fruit) large, fresh and scrumptious.

The staff are very friendly, efficient, inviting and professional. A sign of quality and proper sanitation, the toilet (bathroom - one unisex) is spic and span and properly stocked with TP, hand soap, hot water, and plenty of paper hand towels. I was told they just finished renovating the kitchen, having installed 100% stainless steel counters and equipment.

A delightful little place, appropriately enough there was a large group of sweet, older ladies having High Tea (finger sandwiches, cakes, pastries, scones, clotted cream, jams, and tea) when we were there. If in Gravesend and in need of a drink, snack, or meal, Marie's is a good bet and a GREAT TravelValue!

CombatCritic Gives Marie's Tea Room A well Deserved 10 Bombs Out Of 10 And A Spot On My "WALL OF FAME" ... More...

We turned up for our booking that I prepaid for Mother’s Day, a younger lady checked the booking and guided us to our table.

All of a sudden we then was being shouted at and humiliated in front of the whole restaurant by an older lady telling us to wait. She then started shouting saying you’ve booked for four people, everyone in the restaurant was staring at us. I said yes we have booked for four people and there are four of us. She continued to shout and wave her arms, we could hardly get into our seats because the tables were so close together.

She then realised quickly what she was saying was wrong and there was four of us. She then walked off in a huff without apologising for her mistake or behaviour.

The way she spoke to us and humiliated us in front of the whole restaurant then caused my mum to have a panic attack, completely ruining our Mother’s Day gift for her. If I hadn’t prepaid the £80 for the tea we would’ve left straight away.

I was so upset by how this ruined Mother’s Day and completely disgusted by the way we was spoken to and treated. The way we was spoken to and treated was completely uncalled for and unprofessional.

The dairy free option of the afternoon tea also didn’t have any scones or cream and had less cakes and sandwiches but cost the same amount.

The tables were so close together we couldn’t sit down and there was so much on the table we could hardly move. The restaurant also smelt of damp and our coats smelt like damp once we left because the smell...