THERE was a notice outside advertising morning coffee and afternoon tea. We walked in and looked round. Should we sit in the attractive enclosed courtyard or inside the hotel? We settled for the lounge.

For 15 minutes no-one took any notice of us. I went to reception where I was pleasantly greeted and directed to the Liberty Bar if it was coffee we required.

Another pleasant greeting and yes of course we could have coffee but as there were carpet fitters in the bar it would be served in the lounge!

This hotel serves lunches and dinners at prices far in excess of our budget. However, the table menus in the lounge gave us a clue as to the 'lite bites and snacks' available from noon to 9.30pm.

Tea or a cafetiere of coffee, both with biscuits cost £2.25. Home-made soup with French bread was £3 and tortilla chips with gluacomole and melted cheese was £4.50. Sandwiches range from £3.50 to £4.95 with a toasted hot triple decker priced at £5.50.

Stuffed jackets at £3.95 was a new one for us. Described as two skins, cheese, bacon and a sour cream dip we have probably encountered this somewhere before but under a different name.

When ordering, we had asked for a pastry or scone. The jugs of coffee and hot water arrived followed a few minutes later by two largish scones, dusted with icing sugar and still warm.

Sachets of Robertsons (thoughtful or had we been recognised?) raspberry and strawberry jam and packets of 'free range' butter completed the tray.

Had the scones just been defrosted? We very much doubt it. Our joint verdict was that these were undoubtedly the finest scones we could recall eating in commercial premises. Before leaving we told the waiter our opinion which he promised to convey to the chef, who we were told, had baked them.

We spent a leisurely hour in the hotel lounge, reading a regional daily paper and concluded that based on the standard of the coffee break, we must visit again to see what the snacks or afternoon tea was like.

Considering that we drank three cups of coffee each and enjoyed quality food, £6 was true value for money.

Updated: 9:28 Saturday, June 28, 2003