Elizabeth Bradley

The moment we set foot at Elizabeth Bradley's Tea Rooms we had the sense we'd
reached a peculiar paradoxical place. Driving up the sweeping driveway lined with
Rhododendrons and unusual blue wild flowers, you first realise the place is going
through some kind of identity crisis when you pass the peacocks sauntering around
the "mind the ducks" sign, written in tip-ex on an old cardboard box. The house
itself resembles a grand family home in need of some urgent maintenance, but if you
can see past the peeling paint and broken glass you'll realise the setting is really
something quite special, with beautiful views right over the glistening blue bay and
to Snowdonia beyond.
When we finally summoned up the courage to unlock the car doors and venture
inside, we discovered a quirky mix of sophistication and tawdriness. Jazz music
filtered through the rooms made for a relaxed atmosphere, and the tables were set
for tea with sleek white china, yet the menus were covered in plastic, the tablecloths
had seriously seen better days, and each flower vase contained one solitary greeny
brown leaf. Although the tea choices were non-existent, the deliciously sharp and
citrusy 'very lemony' lemon cake lived up to its name and the cheese scones were
light and surprisingly fresh despite us being the first, and probably the last, guests of
the year.
The contradictions continued in the gift shop, where embroidery kits worth Ł95
were sold alongside edible bikinis and flavoured condoms in flamboyant carrier
bags, and extended into the grounds where we had the choice of feeding the
chickens, ducks and other assorted animals, or playing croquet. It may seem like an
absurd experience, but if you can overcome the incongruity of the place, you're find
a warm welcome and homemade food in a beautiful location.