I love my job. Not only do I get to meet lovely people, but now and then I get to do something very decadent, such as eating my own weight’s worth in cake, in the name of work.
And that just happens to be what I did when I recently took a trip into the rolling countryside outside Abergavenny to the village of Grosmont. Here, nestled among chocolate box cottages between the post office and the village pub is Gentle Jane tea room – a delightful gem of a place which, until now, has been known only to those real connoisseurs of cake who have come to realise that owner Alison really does know what she’s doing with a balloon whisk and a wooden spoon.
When I visit on a warm, summer afternoon, I’m met by owners Richard and Alison Brown who have been operating the tea room since April this year. As soon as I arrive I can see exactly why Gentle Jane is growing in its popularity as a destination tea room – there are squishy leather sofas and armchairs to sink into beside the open fireplace, the walls are dotted with local artworks and there’s a small outside courtyard with a stunning view of the medieval St Nicholas’ Church and the countryside beyond. You can browse the range of books and gifts available for sale here, and direct your younger companions to the basket of children’s books and toys to keep them occupied. And all this before I’ve even started talking about cake!
I know a bit about cake. I also know that many chain coffee shops get away with serving meagre slices of not-so-moist cake for outrageous prices. Not so at Gentle Jane’s. Alison makes all of the cakes herself in the tea room kitchen, and her cake display cabinet brims with all manner of heavenly delights, which are sliced into sumptuous servings. Take the pineapple and chocolate layer cake for example – pillowy soft layers of sponge sandwiched together with clouds of ginger cream, studded with chocolate and pineapple. Or Alison’s Bramley apple and maple tray bake – deliciously moist sponge concealing fresh chunks of apple, topped with a sweet maple frosting and a scattering of walnuts. The range of cakes on offer changes, of course, and this alone will be sure to tempt you back for return visits just to see what Alison has created as well as deciding which of the many different types of tea to opt for…
Gentle Jane isn’t just about the cake, though. You can also enjoy a light lunch of soup, a range of filled ciabatta rolls or a Welsh cheese ploughman’s. And if you can resist finishing it off with a slice of Alison’s mouth watering lemon and strawberry cheesecake, you might choose a Rowlestone Court ice-cream which also happens to feature in the impressive-looking milkshakes – perfect on a warm day!
Do go along and visit Gentle Jane where, alongside tea, cake and a relaxed atmosphere, you are guaranteed a very warm welcome. I can’t guarantee it will be a slimming experience, but certainly an experience that you’ll want to repeat. When you visit, make sure you ask about the name ‘Gentle Jane’ too – it’s an interesting story!
Gentle Jane Tea Room is located in the heart of Grosmont Village and is open Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11am – 5pm and Sundays from 12noon-5pm
