Quick info
About The Old Tea Rooms
Birthdays get marked with singing and a complimentary cake at The Old Tea Rooms, a tea room and cafe on Red Lion Street in Norwich. The kitchen serves breakfast, lunch and cream teas, with breakfast items available all day and coffee alongside the food menu. Staff bring orders to the table. Booking ahead is recommended, though large groups have been seated at short notice. Dogs come in with their owners and are given biscuits or treats. Outdoor seats suit anyone who prefers to eat in the open air, and high chairs make room for families with young children. The tea rooms open daytime only, Monday to Saturday, with Thursdays and Sundays closed.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs · Kids' menu
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention accommodating large groups, dog biscuits for dogs, all-day breakfast items and free birthday cake.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention accommodating large groups, dog biscuits for dogs, all-day breakfast items and free birthday cake.
Customer Review Summary
The warmth of the staff dominates, with reviewers repeatedly describing service that is friendly, attentive and quick, including two separate parties of eleven who arrived without warning and say they were accommodated without fuss. Close behind sits the all day breakfast, which one visitor calls exceptional quality alongside very good coffee, while another singles out one of the nicest cream teas they have had. Several describe the food as simple, comforting and made perfectly, and more than one notes prices they found very reasonable. Dog owners raise the same point independently, mentioning that their dogs were welcomed inside and handed biscuits. The setting draws words like charming, comfortable, clean and relaxing, and several reviewers say outright that they would highly recommend it and would return. One group recounts staff overhearing that someone with them was celebrating a birthday, then arriving moments later singing and handing out free cake.
Customer Review Summary
The warmth of the staff dominates, with reviewers repeatedly describing service that is friendly, attentive and quick, including two separate parties of eleven who arrived without warning and say they were accommodated without fuss. Close behind sits the all day breakfast, which one visitor calls exceptional quality alongside very good coffee, while another singles out one of the nicest cream teas they have had. Several describe the food as simple, comforting and made perfectly, and more than one notes prices they found very reasonable. Dog owners raise the same point independently, mentioning that their dogs were welcomed inside and handed biscuits. The setting draws words like charming, comfortable, clean and relaxing, and several reviewers say outright that they would highly recommend it and would return. One group recounts staff overhearing that someone with them was celebrating a birthday, then arriving moments later singing and handing out free cake.
Featured reviews
- Ashley S
“Lovely place, I was visiting as I may move to Aylsham and the staff were so lovely. They are dog friendly and they even gave my dog a treat, she loved it there too!”
- Mark Bray
“I would highly recommend this Tea Room. Dogs allowed, with biscuits given. Quick service, pleasant atmosphere and lovely staff. Nice food.”
- Stacy Collins
“Chanced our luck as a group of 11 after a long, cold walk and they were very accommodating! Service was super friendly and attentive. Food was quick and delicious - we sampled plenty between us and nobody had a bad word to say. They overheard us mention it was someone's birthday in the group and moments later they were singing and giving out free surprise cake. Very lovely end to the afternoon and we will be back!”
- lynda cashmore
“We had the best experience, amazing service delicious food and friendly staff thank you for a beautiful birthday treat.”
- Eleanor
“Last minute big group, no problem, friendly service, great simple food made perfectly. You would be silly not to visit if u were in town 👍”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Closed
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
- Closed
Highlights
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Takeaway
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Good for kids
- Casual
- On-site services
- Coffee
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
- Dining options· 6
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Facilities· 1
- Toilet
- Highlights· 2
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Pet-friendly· 2
- Dogs allowed inside
- Dogs allowed outside
- Offerings· 1
- Small plates
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Atmosphere· 2
- Cosy
- Historic
- Family-friendly· 2
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
Location
Cafes near The Old Tea Rooms
- All Things Nice4.81434.1 mi£15–30Vegetarian optionsDeliveryWi-Fi
cakes and pastries, breakfast baps and filled rolls, bakewell tarts and norfolk pasties
- Un Cafe4.63398.7 mi away£1–15Outdoor seatingVegetarian optionsReservations
hot chocolate melts, bakewell blondies, jacket potatoes with chilli
- The Airway's Diner4.63509 mi away£1–15Outdoor seating
traditional breakfast, easy parking, cheeseburger with salad
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Old Tea RoomsOutdoor seating · Reservations | 4.6233 | — | £15–30 | accommodating large groups, dog biscuits for dogs, all-day breakfast items |
| All Things NiceVegetarian options · Delivery · Wi-Fi | 4.8143 | 4.1 mi | £15–30 | cakes and pastries, breakfast baps and filled rolls, bakewell tarts and norfolk pasties |
| Un CafeOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Reservations | 4.6339 | 8.7 mi away | £1–15 | hot chocolate melts, bakewell blondies, jacket potatoes with chilli |
| The Airway's DinerOutdoor seating | 4.6350 | 9 mi away | £1–15 | traditional breakfast, easy parking, cheeseburger with salad |
The 3 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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