From one bright idea to seven Tiptree tea rooms
Tiptree tea rooms can be found across Essex and there is one over the border in Suffolk. The first Tiptree tea rooms were set up in 2000 at the Essex Rose 16th century tea house in Dedham in the heart of Constable Country and at Tiptree beside the farm and next to the jam factory where all Tiptree preserves are made. The strawberries used in jam making are picked on the farm that stretches out across the countryside. A perfect circle of fruit farming, jam making and eating the delicious preserves so minimal food miles!
Chosen for their location, historic interest or great views
In 2003 a waterfront location was chosen and “the lock” at Heybridge Basin was opened. This was followed by the Courtyard in Saffron Walden in 2014 and the Barns at Cressing Temple near Braintree in 2015. In 2016 new Tiptree tea rooms were opened at Barleylands, near Billericay. The city centre tea room Bond Street opened in 2017.
Food to suit all tastes
The menu at the Tiptree Tea Rooms focuses on traditional British fare, with a range of sandwiches, jacket potatoes, cakes and our very special Afternoon Teas. All of the food is made using high-quality ingredients and locally sourced where
possible.
A Tiptree cream tea consists of: homemade scones, Tiptree preserves and Rodda’s Cornish Clotted Cream with freshly brewed tea or coffee; this is the most sought after item on the menu, eaten at any time of the day.
Afternoon TEa
An afternoon tea for two or more is a chance to share interesting food with families or friends. Three tiers of temptations with a choice of sandwiches, homemade scones with Tiptree preserves and Rodda’s Cornish clotted cream, an array of fancy cakes and a pot of tea of your choice, or coffee; for special occasions a glass of prosecco might be fun.
Each tea room creates daily lunchtime specials and these will be listed on the blackboard and they are often accompanied by a Tiptree chutney or relish, worth a try then you can buy from the gift shop in each tea room.
Table Service
One of the pleasures of eating out apart from the atmosphere and good food, is great service whether dining solo or with a group of friends or family. Talking to a knowledgeable waiter who understands the menu and can describe the daily specials is part of the experience found in the Tiptree tea rooms.
With their relaxed and friendly atmosphere, visitors are sure to feel at home and enjoy a memorable experience that will make them want to return time and time again.
Learn More About Tiptree
The history of The Courtyard Tea Room
The Courtyard is a bright and airy tea room in Rose and Crown Walk just off the main square in Saffron Walden. Customers enjoy the welcoming atmosphere of this traditional tea room or on warmer days perhaps, sit outdoors in the sun-trap courtyard.
The History of The Lock Tea Room
Bright and airy, The Lock is THE place to eat on the waterfront at Heybridge Basin. Indoors or out, it offers outstanding Blackwater estuary views. This former ship’s chandlers and café serves traditional café-style breakfasts, home-made lunches and Tiptree cream teas.
History of The Essex Rose Tea Room
The Essex Rose Tea House. Around five hundred years old, listed and mentioned frequently in historic surveys and reports, The Essex Rose at Dedham is a fine timber-framed tea room looking out across Royal Square and towards the church.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ORDERING
What types of payment do you accept?
We accept Visa, Visa Credit, Mastercard, and American Express for online orders. These payment options provide both convenience and security, ensuring a smooth shopping experience for our customers.
Can I use more than one discount code on my order?
We are not able to accept multiple discount codes on a single order. Each order can only have one discount code applied, which is limited to one use per customer. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your understanding.
CONFIRMATION
Will I receive an order confirmation/ dispatch notification
Yes, you will receive an order confirmation and dispatch notification once your order has been placed and shipped. These notifications are automatically generated and sent to the email address provided at the time of purchase. This allows you to stay up-to-date on the status of your order and track the progress of its delivery.
I am trying to find your products locally, can you help?
We have an interactive map available on our Where to Buy page to help you find local retailers.
OTHER
Availability
Unless specified all of our products shown online are available to order any time. We never substitute products that are unavailable without prior consent.
How will I be refunded?
All refunds are sent to you via the original payment method used when placing the order.
Still have questions?
If your question hasn't been answered above, please email us
on homedeliveries@tiptree.com. We are always happy to help.
The Home Deliveries team working office hours are Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm.
TEA ROOM FAQS
When is Afternoon Tea served?
Afternoon Tea is served from 12pm every day but please arrive an hour at least before closing time in order to enjoy the full experience.
Do you accept groups/parties at the tea rooms?
Most of our Tea Rooms accept groups and parties but will depend on the numbers in the party/group as not all of the Tea Rooms have the capacity to take large numbers (please call your desired Tea Room for confirmation and availability)
We do not hire our Tea Rooms for exclusive use during opening times but bookings outside these times will be considered.
What does Afternoon Tea consist of and how much is it?
English Afternoon Tea served on a three-tier cake stand with a
freshly made sandwich of your choice, homemade fruit scone, Tiptree Little Scarlet Strawberry preserve and Rodda’s classic Cornish clotted cream. A selection of our miniature individual patisserie items to finish, with your choice of tea or coffee.
Afternoon tea for two people costs £50 and you can upgrade with a 100ml glass of Prosecco each for an extra cost.
Can I book a table in your tea rooms?
Our tea rooms welcome a limited number of reservations, with availability varying on different days.
Calling us directly is the preferred booking method, please be aware that during busy breakfast and lunch periods, our staff may not be able to answer the phone immediately.
Do you sell gift vouchers?
Yes, you can purchase them here.
Or visit any of our Tea Rooms or Jam Shop.
Our partners at Pressi.co.uk offer an e-voucher.
Do you offer farm tours?
Farm tours have come to an end for 2025 and we'd like to thank you all who joined us. Keep an eye on Tiptreetearooms.com for information on farm tours in 2026.
Can we have a tour of the factory?
We are sorry to say that we are no longer able to offer tours of the Factory but we do have the informative Tiptree Jam Museum that you can walk round at your own leisure for free.
Do you have gluten free options available?
The Tea Rooms offer Gluten Free options but it is always preferred to call ahead to ensure they have fresh options at the time of your visit.
How do we know when the tea rooms are operating the times for Summer or Winter?
Our Summer opening times start on 1st March and our Winter opening times start on 1st October. Please call ahead as The Tiptree Tea Rooms may need to consider closing a bit earlier than usual, due to low foot traffic in off season. Please keep an eye on our website and social media for details. Please call ahead of your visit if you are unsure on the opening times.
Are the tea rooms dog friendly?
Dogs are welcome to sit outside at any of our Tea Rooms, our Essex Rose and Southwold Tea Rooms have the capacity to allow well behaved dogs inside. Unfortunately the Tiptree, Heybridge Basin, Saffron Walden, Cressing Temple, Barleylands, and Bond Street tea rooms do not have the capacity to allow dogs inside.
We extend a warm invitation to dogs in our Secret Garden at the Tiptree Tea Room. To ensure a smooth entry, we kindly request that dogs enter the garden through the back gate, instead of accessing it through the Tea Room. (Please note, The Secret Garden will be closed completely from 1st November until the Spring) However there will be limited seating available outside the visitor centre entrance.
Are your tea rooms open on Bank Holidays?
Here at Tiptree, we take your tea time seriously, even on Bank Holidays. You can count on all seven of our inviting tea rooms to be up and running on bank holidays, unless we explicitly mention otherwise. Your relaxation and refreshment matter to us, and we're committed to being there for you on these special days. So mark your calendar, gather your friends and family, and drop by for a serene and satisfying tea experience at our Tiptree tea rooms.
However, please note that all our tea rooms will be shut on Christmas Day. We believe in celebrating the holiday with our loved ones, just like you, and we hope you understand.
What are your serving times in the Tiptree tea rooms?
The Tiptree tea rooms serve sandwiches, toasties, scones and cakes until 30 minutes before closing. All other lunches will finish at 3pm.
What is the expiry date of my gift card?
All of the Tiptree Tea Room gift cards (excluding Pressi e-vouchers) will expire 24 months from issue. If you would like to know the specific date that your card expires please email your serial number to tiptree@trooms.com
Which tea rooms are participating in the tea room passport?
All of the Tiptree Tea Rooms are participating in the Tea Room Passport promotion. A list of the Tiptree Tea Rooms can be found on our locations page.
