I’m having a bit of a love affair with Northumberland at the moment! What with moving out into rural Northumberland, our Northumberland Castles Challenge with English Heritage, and Robson waxing lyrical in the wonderful Tales from Northumberland, I’m feeling pretty smitten with this gorgeous county. And now I’ve found a macaroon that is going to make you not only want to visit but to move here. Sorry to break it to you like that. Prepare yourself for the visual treat that is Afternoon Tea at St Mary’s Inn…
Afternoon Tea at St Mary’s Inn, Morpeth
My best friend Alex was visiting last week as a goodbye before she leaves the UK for a new, fabulous job in Japan. When St Mary’s Inn invited me to review their afternoon tea, I just had to take my bestie for a final fling before she goes and leaves me!! *sobs*
Now, you may remember Mike and I went for a date night to St Mary’s Inn in December and had a wonderful time, so I knew we were in for a treat. I just didn’t realise how much of a treat!
We were seated in yet another room in St Mary’s Inn’s labyrinth of loveliness and again I was taken by the simple place settings and the wood burners in each cul de sac. It’s somehow grand but cosy all at the same time.
Once I’d finished annoying the other punters by taking a bunch of photos we sat down to enjoy a coffee and pursued the menu whilst we waited for our afternoon tea to arrive.
And then it did. In all it’s beautiful glory… The St Mary’s Inn Afternoon Tea.
1. The savoury stuff
(i) Sandwiches
Once I’d messed around taking loads of photos from every possible angle, we were finally able to tuck in. We started with the sandwiches, obvs, which were salt beef and mustard, cheese and pickle, prawn marie rose and egg and cress. The egg and cress won for me, it was so delicious!
(ii) Cheese Scone
Then we moved on to the little balls of wonder, also known as the cheese scone. They were perfection, the only downer was that the butter was unsalted. As a buyer of organic unsalted butter, there’s nothing like the real deal when you go out for a treat!
2. The Sweet Stuff
Then we were ready to tackle the cakes! Wow, they looked beautiful. Each one a mini piece of perfect art.
We started our sweet journey with a taste of the chocolate brownie, being careful not to eat too much as it was really rich and there were still 3 more cakes and some fruit scones left to taste! It was, as the picture suggests, melt-in-the-mouth amazing.
But the star of the show has to be this baby.
The lime and white chocolate macaroon.
I’ve never seen the attraction of macaroons before now but this one cake, sent directly from heaven, has changed that forever. A crunchy outer shell that reveals a perfectly gooey and chocolately middle. This is the macaroon that all other macaroons, nay, all other cakes will have to stack up against. I was going to elaborate and imagine a world where we all lived in Northumberland eating these macaroons and castle hunting…but that’s going a bit too far, so I’ll leave it there!
The rhubarb pavlova was also divine. The rhubarb was perfectly tart and crunchy, while the cream was just…uuuuuum. I really liked this too!
Then finally we had the apple tart, which was very sweet! Sounds crazy after all those other cakes, but the combination of the super buttery crust and sweet, sweet icing pushed us up to our sweetie limit!
We were then ready for our closeups.
Now you’re just being silly – it was the apple tart that did it!
We finished off, the way all good afternoon teas should, with a fruit scone complete with homemade raspberry jam and clotted cream. We might be a long way from Devon but this was still a mean and perfect finish to our afternoon tea.
So there you have it – this is what you can expect from an Afternoon Tea at St Mary’s Inn!
What was the thing that had you drooling the most from this afternoon tea?! Are you considering moving to Northumberland now?
Of course you are! I’d love to hear your comments xx
I’m linking up with the lovely Michelle over at Bod for Tea and her wonderful linky Share the Joy!
I think we paid St Mary’s Inn a visit a few days after you for afternoon tea. I definitely slightly bemused the staff and other customers taking lots of photos – I always wonder what they think we’re doing! We thoroughly enjoyed our tea and it is a bargain price at under £15 per person. I always leave St Mary’s Inn wishing it was my local!
Oh me too Samantha!! It’s so gorgeous 🙂 The last time we visited was a sunday evening and there were loads of locals in for a wee pint with their dogs. Mike and I were so jealous! xx
Right that’s it, I’ve packed my bags and I’m moving up to Northumberland! St Mary’s Inn looks a-mazing, stunning interior, very homey in a classy way, and those cakes are to die for! Yummmm. Thank you for your kind words about #sharethejoy and thanks for linking up too!
My pleasure as always love – sorry it’s taken me 8 weeks to join in again (note it’s only 9 weeks old now – but seriously, where does the time go???!) xx
Yum-O! We used to visit Morpeth as a family when I was younger..if only I’d known this place existed (although I may not have truly appreciated it!) Defo want to visit,nay,move there..that macaron looks divine!! Plus loved the different sandwich fillings..down here it’s usually cream cheese and cucumber,smoked salmon (bleurgh!) or ham. Also loved the sound of the sweet scone..yum! Am going for afternoon tea this mothers day so I shall certainly be measuring it up against this one!! 🙂
Haha! What a lovely thing to do for Mother’s Day 🙂 And I look forward to you moving here! p.s. I think when you were visiting morpeth St Mary’s Inn was actually a County Asylum, so probably best you didn’t visit! xxx
Yes I adore afternoon tea so taking my mum but it’s more for me.lol. Ahh family holidays were never that bad that we needed an asylum ;D xxx
Ooh that afternoon tea looks and sounds scrummy. Your comment about having to take photos from every available angle before you could eat made me chuckle – the joys of being a blogger! 🙂
Ha! At least it wasn’t warm food – that drives my husband to distraction!! Thanks Louise xx
Ooohhh i love a good high tea!! Looks scrumptious!!
Oh wow this looks absolutely amazing!!
wow that macaroon looked amazing!
Urgh, so bloody good. I’d love one right NOW!!! xx
I’ve never had a macaroon! Can you believe that? I love Northumberland and we’ll be up there again this summer. My English Heritage guide has arrived this week so I’ve already been doing some planning.
PLEASE will you tell me when you’re coming – we can do a castle together. I would LOVE that!!! xxx
That looks amazing huni! So glad you and Alex were treated to a lovely time xxx
It was soooo good – will have to get something lined up for when you come to visit! xxxx
This post is actually my idea of heaven. Well, if it was all in front of me actually – that would be heaven, but this is a close second. I am torn between the cheese scones and the pavlova… it looks like you and your friend had a lovely time and this was the perfect send off! Ray xx