The Tulip Tree Tea Room

The Tulip Tree is an up-marketish tea room in the National Trust village of Chiddingstone. It has a pleasant courtyard as well as indoor seating, but don’t be tempted to ride in Bike Shed style.

They offer an extensive menu of breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea – the latter a pricy £24.95. Full English comes in a £11.50, quiche of the day £8.50. Tea is £2.50 and cappuccino £3.20.

All in all not such bad value for top-quality food and drinks and don’t forget you’re paying for the surroundings.

Staff welcomed us as motorcyclists in a perfectly friendly way and due to its location and ambience though you may find well-loved classic or modern retro parked outside it’s not really a biker hangout. Good though if you’re having an afternoon bimble in the Kent countryside. Beware though of arriving at pick-up time during the school term, when every inch of parking space is taken by parents’ 4x4s.

Kay Cole