If St.Ives could stop feeding money into the River Tea Rooms it would spruce itself up and become what it really needs to be. It could be a beauty.
Sitting next to the River Ouse and with a lovely view of fields across to the Hemingfords, it can be a great spot to relax outside in the sun during the summer months if you're lucky enough to get a table. During the colder times you have the same view of the river but the tables are all generally facing the browning Dolphin Hotel across the way, and that's still if you're lucky enough to get a table. Don't be fooled, the popularity predominantly comes from being the only place that's not a chain or pub disguised as a coffee hangout.
The atmosphere is pretty old lady stereotypical; wipeable tablecloths with garish flowery or cupcake prints, basic wooden chairs, and displays of china and cake stands. Service from behind the counter is friendly whereas those on the floor are much more flustered, dashing food from the 'kitchen' to the tables with no system other than to shout the orders and hope someone somewhere raises their hand. Even the usual garden centre system of wooden spoons with numbers on would take this up a star rating - I am not fond of hearing spontaneous shouts of "jacket potatoes" or "teacakes" during my morning cuppa. The crockery was pretty chipped and there was a strange pot of pepper packets on the table.
I only went for a cup of tea, which was fine, but the cake always look temptingly handmade - much more exciting and attractive than the Costa offerings on Marketing Street.
Up the cute and cozy with a dash of vintage and it could be more attractive to the younger generation. But maybe that's what they're trying to avoid? After all, it is St.Ives. read more