Ginger & Pickles Tarporley

Ginger and Pickles has a slightly 1940s feel to it but there’s no rationing here; there are cakes in abundance. The tea room is set in a gorgeous double-fronted building on the High Street in Tarporley and there are also a few tables outside, too.

It all starts with brunch. The full English comes as a Cheshire version with toast and a Staffordshire version with a cheesy oatcake. We recommend the Beforenoon Tea – a tiered cake stand with a smoked salmon bagel, a bacon sandwich, cooked breakfast staples, and doorstop toast with jams and chutneys.

Lunch consists of sandwiches, melts, light bites and Robbie Williams themed-oatcakes. As a Staffordshire lad, he’s been immortalised with a She’s The One oatcake topped with cheese, beans and sausage, and a Rock DJ oatcake topped with stilton, black pudding and chilli jam.

There are always cakes available at Ginger & Pickles, from Bara brith to Bakewell tarts, served with excellent coffee or a loose leaf tea. Afternoon teas are as glorious as you’d expect from somewhere that takes baking so seriously. In fact the bakehouse is just across the road – talk about locally sourced.