"Husband took me out yesterday on Bank Holiday Monday, to this lovely little country house hotel in Great Baddow, on the outskirts of Chelmsford. The hotel itself appears to comprise of an old house with a number of new additions. There’s an independent swimming club, open to hotel guests comprising of both indoor, and outdoor pools, a restaurant, a conservatory/bar where we took tea, a restaurant, and 35 bedrooms. Parking is easy, especially if you are disabled, and in a wheelchair like me, as there are quite a number of specially marked off spaces. The main part of the hotel is accessed via 2 small steps, (though there is a portable ramp too, apparently . My clever husband ascertained that one could enter the hotel in the wheelchair via the conservatory area, and this obviated the need to climb any steps at all. We announced our presence in the conservatory area to the charming waitress on duty, who we later learned was called Stef. She couldn’t have made us more welcome, and explained the afternoon tea fully, enquiring if we had any dietary needs. Full tea is a very fair £19.50, and it comes prettily arranged on a silver tea stand, with a choice of teas which arrive in pretty individual china tea pots. My husband opted for English Breakfast, whereas I fancied Earl Grey. Hubby was quite thirsty, and Stef asked if he wanted another pot, which she brought speedily, and at no extra charge. Tea comprised of 4 generous finger sandwiches each. These were smoked salmon and cream cheese, egg and cress mayonnaise, grated cheese and pickle, and ham sandwiches. I initially enquired if we could order extra sandwiches at our own cost, (at this price, one wouldn’t expect a free sandwich top up! , and we were told this wouldn’t present any problem. As it so happened, the sandwiches were fresh and so well filled, we didn’t require any more. Of course there were also 2 freshly baked scones each, one plain, and one with fruit, butter, clotted cream, strawberry jam from Tiptree, and the top layer of the tea stand held an assortment of delicious mini cakes and macarons, expertly prepared by the Pontlands Park in house patisserie team. My favourites were the delicately spiced, perfectly moist mini carrot cakes, and the apple macarons. My husband preferred the mixed berry cakes, however. Stef kept popping over to check we were happy, and insisted we pack our leftovers in a takeaway container, as when we called for the bill, it was evident we’d been defeated by the contents of their tea stand. We will most definitely return, and, the sooner the better. It’s not the poshest afternoon tea I’ve ever had, however it was very fairly priced, freshly prepared, and of excellent quality. And, as for service, the lovely Stef couldn’t possibly have done more for us."
