About
How do you make the perfect cup of English tea, the most mouth-watering sandwiches, the lightest, fluffiest cakes?
Harts Barn Cookery School in the Forest of Dean shares all its secrets during an indulgent three-hour Afternoon Tea Experience.
After a warm welcome and a hot drink, guests are given aprons to wear and a brief Health and Safety talk, then it’s down to work.
The very English tradition of tea-drinking stems from the colonial era when the British ran tea plantations in India and Ceylon. On this experience, guests can try teas provided by a local supplier in the Wye Valley, including ever-popular English breakfast tea, Assam tea, Earl Grey and Lady Grey.
The Chef tutor also answers important questions such as why does tea taste better out of china cups, should tea be drunk with milk or lemon, and why must milk be added after, not before, the tea?
Next, you will help create a Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Afternoon Tea, featuring cakes, scones and sandwiches using local ingredients. For example, Blakeney Fritters, a dainty, jam-filled domed biscuit, were first produced more than 100 years ago in a local town by the River Severn; Raspberry and Chocolate Macaroons; plain scones decorated with beaten cream and fruit flavoured with a local fruit gin; and sandwiches using local sourdough bread, butter, smoked salmon, cured ham and free range egg with homemade mayonnaise.
After all your hard work, you then sit down to enjoy in The Apple Barn dining venue. Don’t worry if you can’t manage to eat it all – guests can take away leftover cakes in boxes provided.
Even better news - the Kitchen Assistant on duty will do your washing up!
Harts Barn Cookery School is eight years old and in that time has won four awards, been featured on television and in national and international magazines including Food & Travel, and has been acknowledged for its ‘Cooking for All’ ethos.
The Cookery School is located on an historic site, once the Duke of Normandy’s hunting lodge, which has outstanding views across the Forest of Dean.
The venue has a beamed dining area called The Apple Barn (the site is surrounded by heritage orchards), which has a licensed bar serving local beer, cider, perry and other drinks.
The cookery school is open in all weather and if the sun is shining, visitors can enjoy a courtyard with a stunning view, fire pit, pizza oven, herb garden and seating area for outdoor dining.
The rest of the site has quirky little shops which customers can visit after their experience.
Booking
Price: £80 per person.
Duration: 3 hours. Shorter experiences are available, please contact for details.
Capacity: Minimum of 5 people and maximum of 20 people.
Opening: Experiences are run all year, Tuesday to Sunday.
Booking: Advanced Booking required. To book please contact the trade contact below.
Facilities
Language: English only. Guests will need a basic knowledge of English to fully appreciate the experience.
Parking: There are 60 spaces for cars and more available at busy times, with easy access for cars, mini buses and coaches. All parking is free.
Pick-up service: A pick-up service is not generally provided, but a local taxi, mini bus or coach service can be arranged. Also, the site is on a main bus route from Gloucester, with bus stops directly outside the site entrance.
Accessibility: Everything is accessible, and facilities include disabled parking, disabled ramp, disabled toilet facilities, lower work surfaces for wheelchairs users, plenty of seating if required, a trained first responder and disability trained tutor.
Special requirements: Guests should wear comfortable shoes, have no exposed shoulders and long hair should be tied back.
Trade contact
Yvette Farrell
yvette@hartsbarncookeryschool.co.uk
01452 831719
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