The tearoom is attached to a well-stocked village store. We were greeted on arrival by the proprietor and invited to sit at a picnic table to the front of the shop or in the back garden, alternatively inside. We opted for the latter.

Accommodation was limited. In fact there were only two tables surrounded by a fascinating collection of knick-knacks, mostly for sale.

The menu is short. Scone (70p), toasted teacake (75p), sausage roll (60p), or steak and kidney pie (£1.20) plus soup and drinks were on offer.

Ann asked what soup was available. Chicken, golden vegetable or beef and tomato came the reply. Chicken for Ann and vegetable for me please. We also asked for a roll and two were taken from the bakery shelf. They were presented to us buttered. The soup was flavoursome and extremely hot. At £1.35 each we felt it was good value.

To round off our snack we shared a pecan pastry and a carrot cake (£1.55). These were fresh.

A rather old-looking notice on the wall proclaimed "Eat here and you'll never live to regret it".

I suspect that the notice was probably for sale and not an indictment of the tearoom!

The sign on the A64 that had attracted us to this venue was perhaps rather pretentious for the size of the tearoom and range of food available. Nevertheless, this would be a welcome oasis for anyone in need of refreshment and obliging assistance.

You might even be tempted to buy some of the locally-produced goods on sale.

Updated: 09:29 Saturday, April 06, 2002