Tea Bliss - Basically British (Warren)

[Rich Lang]

Nobody does tea like the Brits, and around here, nobody does tea like Basically British, brought to us by the Brit Fab Goldberg. Fab, like the incredible space she has created, has character. For years, it was a ritual on rainy winter days for my wife and I to make the trek out to Bristol, where she was located in a storefront, to steam away the malaise with a warm pot from Fab's tea stash. One day we got there and it was a hair salon. We were crushed. Then a few months later an email hit my inbox from a friend saying "a place called Basically British has opened in Warren. Looks interesting." We raced over. Interesting? Hardly. Mind blowing is the term that comes to mind.

First of all, the tea experience continues to be the real deal - homemade scones, small jars of imported English clotted cream, jam, tea cozies to keep your pot warm, and multi-tiered trays of tea sandwiches. That may be expected of any self respecting British tea house, perhaps, but at Basically British it is just part of the experience. The space is what is so incredibly unique. Fab took over the boiler room of a mill complex (don't miss seeing the before and after pics) and turned it into a tea parlor and antique shop with the kind of vibe that makes you want to curl up with a book and hang for hours. Comfy arm chairs, great music, towering brick walls, a great tea selection, a simple (but impressively tasty) menu if you want to visit for lunch, and a little shop area for some British staples.

If you haven't been, go. It will put a smile on your face and in your belly. It is a unique treat and we are very lucky to have Fab's creation in our back yard.

http://basicallybritishtearoom.com/

[Andrea Sloan]

I'm very excited to hear about Basically British. I spent a lot of time in tea rooms on my recent trip to Ireland-often my cup was followed by a Guinness-so this is perfect! I hope they have loose tea/tea bags for sale as I can't seem to find a really robust tea these days. I'm on a years long search, in fact. Maybe my quest will end here...

[Alz]

And don't forget they have wine and Guinness for those of us who may want something a little stronger than tea! Great place!