Situated on the Ford and Etal estate in one of the prettiest villages in Northumberland you will find the Lavender Tearooms at Etal. This family-owned business run by Victoria and Richard Baker is a tearoom, village shop and post office. Having taken over the premises in 2008 many changes have been made. Seating for 14 has been extended to 35 seats inside and much more seating available outside. Relax and enjoy the offerings of the tearoom in the welcoming front garden or inside on cooler days. Once inside you will be greeted with shelves full of not just essential items but also an array of wonderful Northumbrian products such as tea, coffee, honey, chutneys, bread, cakes, and ice-cream. In addition, you will also find greetings cards, books, paintings, soaps, and driftwood ornaments. The tearoom uses many of the products, so if you have enjoyed them why not take some home for yourself to enjoy later or as a gift to treat someone.
The tearoom menu offers sandwiches, jacket potatoes, toasties, paninis, cakes, and scones. Homemade cakes include tea bread and lavender cake, so named because of the lavender herb used in the mixture. How about a Singing Hinnie a local delicacy which is similar to a large scone, cooked on a girdle and when ready “sing”. The tearoom made an appearance on the Antiques Road Trip in 2020 as they are the only stockists of the hinnie. In 2010 the tearoom was also used as a back drop in a film starring Charles Dance and Adrian Lucas
Whilst in the village you can visit Etal castle, take a walk along the river, enjoy a journey on the Heatherslaw Light Railway that travels between Heatherslaw and Etal and you will also find the only thatched roof pub in Northumberland.
Coach parties and organised groups are welcome, please call ahead to book in.
Dogs are more than welcome in the lovely front garden.
Local breads, cheeses, ice-creams, chutneys, flour, savoury pies, scones and tea-cakes served in the tearooms are from local suppliers: James Fords Bakery, Doddington Dairy, Heatherslaw Mill, Trotters Family Bakers, Woodfire Bread Company and Northumbrian Pantry