Highcliffe Castle Tea Rooms

Walked from Mudeford quay to here (which isn’t easy for my wife) after checking their website. Arrived at 3pm to have a cuppa cake only to find they’d decided to close early, despite the website and bill-boards saying open till 4pm. Asked in the reception and they weren’t in the slightest bit interested. Won’t waste our time again.

Weeds growing out of drains greets you! You cannot always go inside as main doors closed and you have to join the long queue to be served from a little window. Cakes just taste of high levels of sugar and the customers have to bring a cloth to wipe wet seats every morning outside if you want to sit down! Finally, most seats outside are situated next to a dustbin. The council should give it up and let a professional private outfit run the place, while the council should get on with what the council tax payers expect!!

Limited lunch menu which was disappointing but sausage rolls were very tasty. 3 ciabatta 3 pasty/roll options, can’t see why there can’t be more sandwich choices.

Have been here many times but today only serving take away from a small window, only sandwiches ,drinks and a small selection of cakes. Hopefully this arrangement is a one off?

I’ve been here a few times for lunch over the years and remembered the lovely home made cakes (specifically Dorset apple cake). On a recent mid-week visit I had the bacon and Brie panini and a slab of lemon drizzle cake (no Dorset apple unfortunately) with a coffee. The food is top notch, really fresh and tasty with good quality ingredients. The cake was a bit more of a Victoria sponge than a drizzle with a lemon curd and buttercream filling, but was absolutely gorgeous. There’s plenty of seating and the view/location is just such a nice spot to relax. The covid measures in place felt adequate and the tables inside were still fairly spaced out with good ventilation. The coffee was quite strong, but to my liking. Service was fairly quick and friendly. It’s not to overpriced either. A great location and good eatery.