The ethos and
the experience that is
Aunt Martha’s
Victorian Tea-rooms
The year is 1897 and
Her Majesty is celebrating her
Diamond Jubilee.
For those reading this publication upon
your visit you can expect to encounter
a setting very different to your
21st century life
For some this may be challenging,
but I would say
Aunt Martha
‘Remember your ancestors’
Experience
Allergens
2015
When booking and when ordering your repast
at Aunt Martha’s she wishes to ensure that the
experience is most enjoyable. Should you however be
unfortunate enough to have a special dietary need
then she would ask that you inform her, or her staff
so that they may take the appropriate action
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Contents
Introduction
Aunt Martha Experience
Tearooms
A personal message from Lady Atherton
When the message needs to be
‘I am thinking of you’
What you need is a special cake from
Heartsease
Personally I will not use any other cake maker
For
Christenings, Birthdays, Engagement,
Weddings, Anniversaries,
in fact for any occassion just ask
Aunt Martha
Gardens
Emporium
Menus
Etiquette of taking tea
Beverages
Cream Teas
Savouries
High Teas
Additional Services
Groups & celebrations
Christmas
Appendix
Booking information
Contact Details
www.heartseasecelebrationcakes.co.uk
A few words of introduction
Good day to you all.
People often ask me
‘What is Aunt Martha’s all
about?
It is an easy question to ask
but a difficult one to answer
succinctly.
Is it the food, the gardens, the
tea-rooms, the staff?
In truth it is all of these, and perhaps more
as you, my guests, become part of the whole
experience.
The Tea-rooms
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I have chosen ‘Courting toile’
as the design for the wall
covering in my tea-rooms, as I
believe it embodies all of the
finer aspects of life.
For the china it had to be
blue Willow pattern, again
portraying a touch of elegance
Courtesy of my cousin, Lady Atherton, in addition
to the candles on the tables, the room is lit by gas
lamps; I am still not entirely convince about their
safety.
As you can see recognition has come from many
quarters, but to me the most important of all is
yours
We can take a maximum of 32 patrons, which I
feel is a number which engenders a friendly
atmosphere.
With kindest regards
For those who are less able to move around we
help as much as is possible. Similarly for those,
like myself, who have special dietry needs we do
our very best to assist.
Aunt Martha
The Gardens
In addition to taking your
refreshments in the tea-room
itself I am pleased to offer,
weather permitting, the
facility to, as the Italians
would say, take your repast
‘alfresco’ .
The seating areas range in size from an intimate
2 to our Castle which provides a getting together
size of 8 seats.
To aid your digestion within
the grounds are a total of 15
different garden ’rooms’
around which you may stroll.
A word of warning, however,
you might encounter my
gardener, Old Ned, or
his assistant, Young
Master Charles.
So you have been
warned
Aunt Martha’s
Emporium
I am pleased to say
that in addition, what I
hope you will agree,
is a fine menu I do
have an attractive range
of handmade items for
sale in my shop.
These items range
from cushions, cards &
candies to scarves, soaps
& shawls.
You may also be interested to
know that gift vouchers can
also be purchased which given
a little notice can be personalised to make a very special
birthday gift
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Taking Tea
Beverages
‘Taking Tea’ has now become an institution where
From across the Empire I have selected a fine
selection of teas and other beverages. Naturally
your chosen tea will be brewed exactly as
Mrs Beeton recommends that is in a pot with
spare hot water for that second or third cup.
Some teas can then be purchased from
my shop.
knowing the right way to behave is paramount.
My aunt, Charlotte de Brassey has provided me
with copies of her small tome entitled
‘Ettiquete of taking tea’
which I have had placed on the tables within
my tea-rooms. You will be able to learn much by
spending just a little time in reading her words,
but those of most importance are these
‘Of paramount importance one must
ensure that your hostess remembers your
attendance at her party because of your
repartee and not because of
the stains you left on the cloth.’
Charlotte de Brassey
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On hot summer days perhaps a cold beverage
would be more to your liking then again you
can choose from a range of beverages including,
just in from the United States of America,
Dr Pemberton’s Tonic
which, I understand he has distilled from the
Coca leaf and Kola nuts
Space does not permit me here to provide details of the
22 different teas
6 coffee blends
4 hot chocolate choices
5 cold beverages
available to accompany your menu choice
Hot beverages from £2.00 per person
All cold beverages cost £1.50 per person
What is on the Menu?
Life is just full of decisions and a visit to my
tea-rooms just adds a few more.
Creating the menu to be part of the
Aunt Martha Experience
Did not come easily as so I have looked to provide a
range of choices. If you are looking for meals which
would be found in the ‘Chop Houses’ in the towns
and cities then look elsewhere.
At Aunt Martha’s in ascending and unpretentious
terms we offer for your delectation:-
Just a cup of tea & a piece of cake
Cream teas
Light savouries
Light lunches
Sunday Lunches
High teas
Furthermore each week there will be something
new for you to enjoy. From delightful decadent
cakes to tempting & tasty savouries
More than
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just a cup of tea and a piece of cake
With over 30 beverages to choose from and
Invariably at least three cakes ’from the trolley’
even this repast becomes an experience
Cream Teas
Classic Cream Tea (Fruit Scones)
or
Nattie’s Cream Tea (Plain Scones)
These traditional cream teas are ideal for a light treat,
you can enjoy:2 freshly baked fruit / plain scones served warm,
with our homemade Strawberry and Vanilla Jam and
a pot of local clotted cream plus the beverage of your
choice
Cost £6.50 per person
When in season strawberries (with extra cream) can be
added to either cream tea at an additional cost of £1 per
person
Savoury Selections
Earl of Sandwich
In honour of the 4th Earl you can enjoy a well
filled sandwich having one of the following fillings:~ Local Wiltshire Ham & Cucumber ~ Cucumber ~
~ Smarts’ Single Gloucester Cheese & tomato / spring onion~
~ Egg Mayonnaise ~ Tuna Mayonnaise ~
All served with Old Smokey’s Apple & Raisin Chutney;
Please let the maitre d’ know if you do not want
lettuce in your sandwich
Cost £4.50 per person
Ploughman’s Paradise
Prince of Wales Repast
Unhappy with the prospect of waiting
over 6 hours for his next meal the Prince
of Wales decided to join the
ladies in taking tea in the afternoon
and to satisfy his appetite, his
preference is for the savoury.
Served on locally made bread and
using Smart’s Double Gloucester cheese this could be
called a Welsh Rarebit, but that hardly does it justice.
This repast is served with a finger salad with mixed leaves,
radish, cucumber, carrot, celery and Old Smokey’s Apple
& Raisin Chutney
Cost £5.95 per person
Wiltshire Ham, Aberdeen Angus beef, Smart’s Single
Gloucester Cheese - you choose which combination you
would like.
Accompanied by a full seasonal salad and a hunk
of artisan bread, local butter and a selection of our homemade chutneys, it is served on a wooden platter.
Cost £8.50 per person
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GF if notified in advance & subject to product
availability
Brigadier’s Savoury Tea
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The Brigadier, like the Prince of
Wales, enjoyed savoury food as
much as the cakes and so Aunt Martha created this High Tea just for
him.
It also reflects his military
time in India
This High Tea comprises:Four Classic sandwiches, cut with military
precision and which rely upon flavours, from the selection of tasty fillings, rather than being too fancy
A warm, freshly baked Cheese Scone & butter
served with our homemade Old Smokey’s Apple &
Raisin Chutney
2 further Savoury delights with that colonial feel
For that touch of sweetness we have:2 decorated sweet treats or cakes
And to cleanse the palate a lemon pudding
Darjeeling Autumnal Flush is the recommended bever-
age which you are welcome to try a sample,
if you wish, before committing yourselves, but naturally
guests are able to choose from our range of beverages
Cost £18.50 per person
includes initial beverage top ups
Her Ladyship’s High Tea
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Created especially for Lady Atherton
is this pretty high tea which is a
celebration of all things fruity.
The High Tea comprises:Four tasty Queen’s sandwiches having a selection of tasty
fillings and all suitably garnished.
a delicious warm, freshly baked, homemade fruit or
plain scone served with a pot of our homemade
Raspberry Jam & local clotted cream
a selection of at least FOUR mouth-wateringly wicked sweet
treats and cakes, made by ourselves, reflecting the seasons
PLUS a delicious seasonal pudding.
The recommended beverage is the Geisha Girl, which you
are welcome to try a sample if you wish before committing
yourselves, but naturally guests are able to choose from our
range of beverages
Cost £18.50 per person
includes initial beverage top ups
N.B
If your passion is chocolate, then let me know when
booking and I will see what can be done to oblige
Viscount’s High Tea
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Rich and flamboyant and
reflecting his love of gambling the
high tea epitomises the young Viscount
Designed to be enjoyed by 2 or
more to share and is therefore
ideal for celebrations this new
high tea will appeal especially to
those who prefer the savoury.
This High Tea comprises:5 delicious sandwiches designed to reflect the
Viscount’s love of cards & gambling.
Plus a Double Gloucester cheese scone served warm
from the oven with parsley butter and our homemade
Downstairs’ Chutney
Plus a trio of other savoury delights including one unique
to Aunt Martha’s the Chanket
For a touch of sweetness a brace of wickedly sweet
treats
The Grand Finale
Something which is fast becoming ‘all the rage’, a pudding to
share. A feast for the eyes as well as the palate, a lavishly decorated moulded Jelly or Blancmange; you choose the flavour and
leave the rest to Chef.
The recommended beverage is the Viscount’s Tea which you
are welcome to try a sample if you wish before
committing yourselves, but naturally guests are able to choose
from our range of beverages
Cost £23.50 per person
includes initial beverage top ups
Minimum of TWO people
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Aristocratic High Tea
This High Tea, as its name suggests, is the perfect way to celebrate
and is designed for two or more to
share.
Created for the Dowager Duchess
this high tea celebrates her love of
flowers and all things fancy and comprises:-
5 dainty and delicious Queen’s sandwiches ornately decorated as befits the Duchess
A cinnamon flavoured scone fresh from the oven served with
our homemade Aristocratic Apricot and Almond jam and local
clotted cream.
Plus FIVE mouth-watering, delicious & decadent sweet treats
beautifully decorated with cream, sugar craft & chocolate
Duchess Celebration Cake
The highlight of this tea is the Duchess cake. Perfect for any celebration and appropriately sized for your guests
to share and designed to impress. Choose one feature cake from
the following:Victorian Fruit Stack - Classic Coffee & Walnut Chocolate
Indulgence - Resplendent Raspberry Delight
Luscious Lemon & Cream Fancy
The recommended beverage is the Lady Felicity, which
you are welcome to try a sample if you wish before
committing yourselves, but naturally guests are able to
choose from our range of beverages
Cost £23.50 per person
includes initial beverage top ups
Minimum of TWO people
You might also like to consider one of Aunt Martha’s
Celebration Cakes from the Heartsease Range (additional cost)
Birthdays - Anniversaries- Hen Parties- Baby Shower
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Church - WI - Reading Circle
Nurses - Midwives - Gardening Club
Do you belong to a group or wish
to celebrate a special event ?
Why not consider a gathering
at Aunt Martha’s?
On offer is a range of menu choices from cream teas
through to Her Ladyship’s High Tea.
You might also like to round off the
afternoon with an entertaining talk by
Aunt Martha or Old Ned.
If this is of interest just ask for a
detailed brochure
Experience Christmas
by candle light at
Aunt Martha’s
November 18th to
December 20th
Ask for details
Booking Information
All of the High Teas require advance booking and the
payment of deposits as follows:Her Ladyship’s High Tea
The Brigadier’s Savoury High Tea
Bookings should be made by close of business on the
Tuesday before you plan to visit, although occasionally it is
possible to accommodate later bookings.
A deposit of £3 per head is required with a minimum of £10.
Aristocratic High Tea
Viscount’s High Tea
Both require a minimum of 7 days notice. A deposit of £5
per head is required with a minimum of £10.
Directions to the tea-rooms
Despite having a Drybrook postal address you are looking to get
to the Steam Mills area of Cinderford, in particular look for
Steam Mills Primary School.
Having found the school,
you will find turning for
‘The Branch’ immediately
alongside.
Follow the road for
approximately 150 yards
and the Tea-rooms can
be found on the right
hand side.
For Sat Nav use GL14 3JD
Providing that we are informed beforehand we can
usually cater for vegetarians and those with allergies, like
wheat, dairy & nuts.
In the event of cancellation / reduction in numbers within 24
hours of planned arrival a charge of 50% of the menu tariff
will apply.
Our regular opening times are from
Wednesdays through to Sundays from 12 noon until 4.00 p.m
(5.00 p.m. on Saturday & Sundays) with last orders being
taken 45 minutes before closing.
For groups of 10 or more we may be able to offer a
wider range of times and days
Aunt Martha’s Victorian Tea-Rooms
at Brook Cottage
The Branch, Drybrook
Gloucestershire
GL17 9DB
e-mail :- [email protected]
telephone:- 01594 824514
Office hours only please
www.auntmartha.co.uk
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