Yesterday I came across a little gem, a little tearoom situated in Bournemouth town centre which is apparently the only tearoom in Bournemouth. I have lived here for 3 years now and have never once come across this place, which is a huge shame as I am a sucker for a good tearoom! But sadly I will be heading back to Guernsey soon, so won’t be able to make the most of this café.
Frieda’s is a family run tearoom which strives on serving high quality foods packed with healthy ingredients, which are locally sourced. From the moment I walked in, I was taken aback by the cute shabby chic interior. The inside was decked with furniture which looked as if it had come straight out of an antique shop, beautiful flowers and lots of bunting. There was a very relaxed and amicable atmosphere evident within the tearoom and I really was in my element, maybe getting a bit too snap happy! It was extremely quiet when we arrived, which may have been a result of its location down a quiet side road off the main highstreet.
Both Grace and I struggled making a decision for lunch as there was lots of choice, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, a tart of the day, all day breakfasts and hand breaded chicken strips to name a few. I decided on a cheese and ham jacket potato and Grace chose a steak sandwich on fresh farmhouse bread, and of course a huge pot of tea! I am not a big fan of steak but it was cooked to Grace’s requirements and considering the sandwich was all eaten, I think that was a sign of a good lunch! My jacket potato was simple but great, and the homemade coleslaw was really tasty. I don’t think the pictures do justice to how tasty the food was.
The members of staff were super friendly and we even made friends with an old lady who had come in for a bite of lunch. The level of service and the food provided was great and although it was hard to resist the cakes on offer, it gives me more reason to return. I can’t wait, afternoon tea looks especially good!
A visit is definitely recommended and I am certain that you will not be disappointed, especially if you enjoy simple food cooked really well. To find out more about Frieda’s Tearoom check out their Website or their Facebook page, I guarantee the pictures will win you over!
The tearoom can be found on Stafford Road.
jess x
A quaint and quintessentially English experience
For a charming breakfast, look no further than the family run, independent tea room that is Frieda’s. The personal touch really is evident in every part of this lovely tearoom from the home-cooked food, to the welcoming interior, and the attentive service. The menu prioritizes locally sourced and healthy ingredients and serves up some of the best poached eggs in town. The beautiful bunting, rustic wooden furniture, and delightful tea sets lend this quaint café its enchanting atmosphere.
Price: Mid-range
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 9 am-4 pm, Saturday 9 am-5 pm, Sunday 10 am-4 pm
Watch out for: the poached eggs & quaint atmosphere
Address & telephone number: Frieda’s Tearoom, 7 Stafford Road, Bournemouth, England, +44 1202 291981
By Marianna Hunt
Just when you think all of the good ideas have vanished from our midst, Frieda’s Tearoom and all its wonderful originality come to light.
Family owned and operated, Frieda’s Tearoom is an afternoon tea experience like no other. Set on-board a vintage shabby-chic double-decker bus, guests are individually greeted and the personal hospitality continues right through your one and a half hour experience along the beautiful Bournemouth coastline. The return journey starts at Bournemouth Pier and heads to Boscombe Pier and Southbourne’s historic Hengistbury Head.
During our tour, we experienced exceptional sunshine with glorious 28C temperatures. As we watched the sea shimmering like the Mediterranean, it was difficult to believe we were in the UK. From the top deck of the bus, the sea views were fantastic and afforded us views of majestic yachts, jet skis and powerboats speeding across the horizon.
Afternoon tea on a vintage bus
Frieda’s pulls out all the stops to ensure a quality experience. The plates, sugar bowl and milk jug are all served in beautiful gold plated bone china for a sense of occasion.
Given that the afternoon tea experience takes place on a moving bus, extra precautions are taken to avoid spillages – tea is served in lovely ceramic handle-less mugs with rubber lids and the three-tier cake stand is affixed to the table so it doesn’t fall over.
The delicious afternoon tea consisted of homemade cakes and sandwiches (cheese and coleslaw, smoked salmon and cream cheese, egg mayonnaise and cheese and chutney) and oven fresh scones that were still piping hot from the oven and served with clotted cream with homemade strawberry jam and delightful Rainforest Alliance certified Dorset Tea.
The desserts were a piece of art with options such as lemon slices, sensational macaroons (fruity and lightly chewy in the middle), mini chocolate cupcakes and strawberry slices on offer.
For a memorable afternoon tea experience unlike any other, Frieda’s is in a league of its own. Frieda’s Teabus Tours operates every weekend and departs at 2pm from Bournemouth Pier.
*My afternoon tea experience was hosted by Frieda’s Tearoom. All opinions are my own.
Ben Ricci – http://www.destinationdelicious.com/restaurants-and-bars/friedas-tearoom-bournemouth-england-uk
Frieda’s Afternoon Tea Bus
If you like to take your tea with a view, why not book a seat on Frieda’s Teabus, which serves up luxury afternoon tea on tour every Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 3:30pm?
This beautifully decorated, vintage Teabus takes you on a 90-minute tour from Bournemouth Pier along the seafront to Boscombe Pier on a loop taking in Boscombe, Southbourne, Hengistbury Head, Mudeford and Christchurch as you enjoy Frieda’s home-cooked treats.
Great British menu
Your afternoon tea menu features mini cakes, pastries, macaroons, scones with clotted cream and jam and a selection of handmade sandwiches to enjoy as you follow the town’s famous blue seas and golden beaches. The sandwich fillings celebrate traditional English tea tradition with time-old favourites including egg mayonnaise, ham and homemade coleslaw, smoked salmon and cream cheese and cheddar cheese with English chutney.
Special diets
The Teabus actually offers a variety of afternoon teas to accommodate vegetarian, gluten free and pescetarian diets. As you cruise along the coast there will be opportunities to step out and breathe in the fresh ocean breeze.
Take a satisfied sip of your orange juice, tea, coffee or hot chocolate fresh from a dainty china travel mug. Perhaps you’d prefer a refreshing fruit tea, a decaffeinated or Earl Grey or a cappuccino?
Tea with a view
Standard prices for the Teabus are Adults from £30 and children (age 6 to 11) from £25. Under sixes are unfortunately not able to join the bus tours for safety reasons. If you want the VIP seats on the top deck at the front of the bus, it’s an extra £5.
The Teabus is also proving quite the hit for hen parties, birthday, retirement and anniversary celebrations or gatherings looking for something unique in Bournemouth while exploring the town. Use the contact form on the website to check in with Frieda and explore the options including booking your own performer or entertainer to come on board.
There is room to accommodate one guest in a wheelchair per tour but the wheelchair must be stowed in the designated area and the customer take a seat at one of the tables for the duration of the journey.
Frieda’s Tearoom
Frieda’s Teabus is run by Frieda’s Tearoom – a colourful cafe just off Old Christchurch Road near the Lansdowne.
The Tearoom offers the same tasty snacks served on the bus plus a wider range of accompanying food and drink including breakfast, lunch and light bites.
Festivities at Frieda’s
We have reached that time of year when every store smells sickly sweet and minty and Michael Buble is blasting from every corner. Here at Frieda’s we are almost the same except the shop smells delicious and you couldn’t feel more at home if you tried. Our homemade cakes on offer are fantastic as usual but we have added the addition of a glorious fruit cake for the festive season and it is not to be missed. Our afternoon tea has also undergone a makeover for the holiday season and now contains a mini mince pie and the cutest little gingerbread. Our bus has also taken on this festive theme, so make sure you book your space now before it is too late.
Christmas shopping can really run you down so why not stop in and take the weight off your feet for a while in our cosy tearoom, we will even listen to you rant about how you can’t find the action figure little Jimmy just decided to ask the mall Santa for.
Not only do we have the usual range of hot drinks available for you we also have our amazing special hot chocolates which are something to behold and honestly drinking one is like getting hugged from the inside, what more could you possibly want.
We are all very excited to welcome you here this holiday and would like to remind you all that we do shut up for Christmas on 23rd December so you haven’t got long to get your Frieda’s Festive experience in.
See you all soon.
Happy Holidays from everyone at Frieda’s
New Year, New You, Same Frieda’s
Here at Frieda’s we are preparing for our closure over Christmas and our reopening in the new year. We are having a change in our team here but that’s all that is changing, you will still find the usual delightful welcoming on arrival and the food is still as delicious as it always is. Stepping into Frieda’s is like coming home, that is something that we never want to change.
Don’t forget that here at Frieda’s we have all the perfect winter warmers; gorgeous hot chocolates, a variety of teas and coffees and we always have fresh soup here. We are the perfect stopping point for your day, whether that is avoiding the office on your lunch break or a place to rest your legs after hiking around town we have the space for you.
Also students please don’t forget we are here for you too.
