The wonders of technology are allowing me to draft a review for the Holden Tea Room just as my gigantic coffee pot has yielded its fourth, read, FOURTH cup of delicious coffee. However these wonders of technology take something of a back seat in this beautiful, delightful pop-up tearoom. Each lovely and friendly member of staff is dressed head-to-toe (okay, maybe not head and toe - some lovely quirky haircuts and glasses obvs. This IS Manchester after all) in 1930s tearoom staff finery. A proper working gramophone takes pride of place, providing the kind of soundtrack that makes the Northern Quarter's retro vintage cafés sound like they've got Now 56 blaring out, and I'm currently seated on a plush leather sofa in front of an aviary. With real tweeting birdies.
But there are cheeky nods to the present day too. My choice of cake (officially the best cake choice I've ever made in my life - not even joking) was a delicious slab of Americana amidst all this quintessentially English tradition... a peanut butter and jam cake. Listen here, I spent part of my time devouring it, part trying to figure out how the hell I could replicate it. I'm reckoning it's standard Vicky sponge, but it would appear that a layer of crunchy PB has been baked into the base. The topping is a jam icing, similar to the one Jamie Oliver got us all to make one Red Nose Day where he smushed up strawberries with icing sugar... but even better than that, somehow. Does this frosting have butter in it? I don't know! But I need this cake in my life again.
So why am I so desperate to replicate it? Because I'm already in mourning. This place is only open until Friday 10th Feb 2012 and I am utterly devastated. I want to try everything on the menu. I've not even started on the vast selection of teas available. There are more cakes than you can shake a hungry fork at. And about that coffee. When did you last get - let me just check - FIVE cups for £1.50? Out of your own coffeemaker at home perhaps? I want to start a petition to keep this place going, permanently. As in, it always needs to be final year art degree money-raising project time. The only thing that sucks about all Manchester's amazing pop-ups? That they're not forever! I don't want to be *that girl* holding somebody's ankles begging them not to go, but if Holden Tea Room had legs, well, hand me my best grabbing gloves please. Seriously, no pride. Stay. Don't leave us. We love you. read more