Cottage Tea Rooms Clovelly — Restaurant in Torridge District

I'd love to give zero stars if possible due to the poor attitude towards allergies! I visited with my family and niece who has a life threatening nut allergy. Firstly the manager Mark was rude and clearly had no interest in helping us find a safe option for my niece. Secondly and more concerning is that the staff were clearly ignorant regarding allergies and the LEGAL requirement for them to provide the information. We even heard the kitchen staff saying "we can't provide the information for the whole menu!”

A server eventually produced the allergen folder that had been behind the counter the whole time. He seamed to be the only one with any understanding of hospitality and customer service.

After being made to feel so unwelcome we decided to leave and instead enjoyed much better service at the shop over the road where the owner was happy to help us with allergy information and even had a full allergen list for the ice cream they serve on the wall.

My advice if you'd like any sort of customer service then look elsewhere!

ADDENDUM in response to your poor recollection of events: At no point did we “huff” at your wait staff. We offered to do it ourselves as the table in question was around a corner and easier for us to reach. You were not present at that time and so can’t comment as you did not witness the interaction. The first waiter did not know what an allergen folder was! Maybe some staff training is in order? We had to ask THREE times before finally the allergen folder was given too us. Offering a 4 year old things she ultimately can’t have is torture at that age, which you’d understand if you had children or insight. As you yourself admit, your menu is 4 pages long and some guidance to the nut free options would have been helpful. With you complete lack of willing assistance in this matter how are customers supposed to trust that you would adhere to safe avoidance of cross contamination in the kitchen? And finally is your remarks about covid concerns. At no point did you or your wait staff wear masks, nor did you ask any patrons to wear them. A busy period of business is no excuse for poor service and a...

Myself, my husband and sister, visited here on our visit to Clovelly. The tea rooms looked delightful, and we couldn't wait to place our order and await our much anticipated lunch. The menu tempted us with the promise of a freshly dressed Devon crab sandwich served on fresh granary bread with fresh salad. Sadly the sandwiches arrived, the crab was the very dark meat, which was very salty and served on what we would consider cheap sliced bread. The salad looked like it had been prepared and put on plates, quite a while before being required. We were very disappointed, but we were prepared to put it down to experience.

Untill, my sister began to eat the salad, underneath was a dead fly, which appeared to have been dead for quite a while. On moving the fly, there appeared to be an egg underneath the fly. Not wanting to draw attention of this to other diner's, I picked the plate up and took it to a member of staff. I very quietly discussed the matter with her. I related to her that I wasn't demanding a refund, which she thanked me for, without offering any alternative.

I returned to our table while we collected our things. The lady in question brought an order to the next table, she did not have the decency to apolgise to my sister. In fact she totally avoided any eye contact at all. My personal advice would be to avoid these Tea Rooms, as our order came to £45, which I feel was money...

As you make your way down into the charming village of Clovelly, you’ll find the tearoom about halfway along the cobbled path.

It serves a lovely selection of tearoom favourites: baguettes, sandwiches, scones, and quiche, just to name a few. Both hot and cold drinks are available too.

We were lucky with the weather and made the most of it by sitting outside with a stunning view of the sea. There are a few benches with umbrellas tucked away at the back. In the sunshine, it’s a real little sun trap!

The food was delicious, with generous portions. The quiche was homemade, which is always a bonus. It’s great to get fresh, quality food in a spot that could so easily rely on passing trade.

One bit of feedback I’d offer. It would be lovely if the outdoor dining area was a smoke-free zone.

Although there weren’t any ashtrays provided, a couple of people near us lit up while we were eating, which did slightly affect the otherwise lovely atmosphere.

I’m not suggesting the tearoom encourages smoking at all, but a clear sign or a little note from staff could really help keep the area enjoyable...