Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK
info@capitalofthefens.org.uk

Orchard Tea Rooms

Orchard Tea Rooms

As promised, this week is about the Orchard Tea Rooms (Just off the western A47 roundabout, Redmoor Lane). They have a regular clientele, including myself and some friends at least once a month, but it’s time I let more people know about this hidden gem! I love that they use vintage china, which works so well with the lovely tea, aromatic coffee and home-made cakes they serve. They also serve food such as toasties, popular with my children, and soups made from local produce. There is a farm shop – that’s what you see from the road – the cafe is at the back, overlooking the large orchard. It’s a really peaceful place, with trees 80-130 years old. (16 varieties of lichen have been found, showing the extensive biodiversity of this working orchard). It’s a great place to sit and relax; children can run around freely outside while you eat cake!
The farm shop sells local produce, which I’m a big supporter of. It makes so much sense to buy what’s grown by small local producers – smaller crops means quality over quantity. The potatoes I got from there were grown in Tydd St Giles, and are fantastic in all the ways I cooked them, better than King Edwards. The apple juice is wonderful, too. I haven’t had any bad vegetables from there, which is more than I can say for supermarkets…
Jim and Carol Benn run the farm shop, orchard and tearooms, with the essential help of Lynne Doll. All three are passionate about the place, and they give all visitors the feeling of belonging to their little community. They run all kinds of events – rocket stove building, dog shows, pruning courses, and a monkey hunt! (Late August, look out for it). There is a cosy wood burning stove and with the winter sun streaming in, it was a lovely afternoon.
NB: Sadly, I have just seen that GW Franks Butchers are closing this Saturday, after over 100 years trading. What a loss to the town.

Lorena Hodgson runs Red Barn Creative www.redbarncreative.org.uk (see website for Wisbech yarnbomb photos and more)