#beatonstearooms: D is for... Dessert

We're well known for our quality home-baked Cakes....a particular favourite being our signature carrot cake. Anyone who's tasted this delight will no doubt agree!

However, I want to let you in on a secret...Beatons desserts are also to die for!

Have you tried the chocolate decadence sundae? Vanilla and chocolate ice cream with crumbled Belgian chocolate brownie, lashings of rich Italian chocolate sauce, whipped cream and topped off with Maltesers. 

Or the deliciously fresh Tip Top Fruit sundae? A generous mixture of quality strawberry and vanilla ice cream, with juicy summer berries topped of with almonds and whipped cream. 

Both absolutely indulgent and not for the faint hearted...

Or feeling the need for something warming, perhaps the Beatons Truly Scrumptious Crumble will warm your cockles whilst tickling your taste buds. A  generous portion served hot with your choice of custard, ice cream or cream, will the daily crumble be Apple, Rhubarb or Summer berry?! All equally scrummy, freshly baked and perfect whatever the season.

Next time you are indulging in a Beatons treat, make sure you leave a little room for pud!

To book in in for lunch, just give your local Beatons a call.

Find your nearest Beatons will full location details here - you can always book a table to be sure of a seat!

#Tisbury: Cecil Beaton at Home - Book Launch

Beatons in Tisbury were honoured to be the first Tearoom to be a part of the high profile book launch - one has already been held in London's National Portrait Gallery, others in New York and Chicago- for the latest book on Cecil Beaton.

Cecil Beaton (1904 1980): photographer, costume designer, set designer, playwright, creator of fashion fabrics, and designer of sophisticated and extravagant interiors.

Cecil Beaton has been named as ‘one of the 20th century’s most outrageous, and outrageously talented, design legends.’

Cecil Beaton at Home, written by local author Andrew Ginger, focuses on two homes that Cecil Beaton loved and spent many years at.

Ashcombe House, near the Wiltshire village of Tollard Royal, and Reddish House, located in Broad Chalke, another village in beautiful Wiltshire.

We also discover some of the splendours at London's Pelham Place and Beatons’ New York hotel suites.

We see that Beatons country homes were not only havens to escape and seek inspiration for his photography and other artistic pursuits.

But also, and maybe more so, they were designed to provide a theatrical, fanciful yet always beautiful surrounding for Beaton to entertain his equally artistic companions.

Against his often-extravagant interiors, Beatons private life unfolds his unique talent for self-promotion, desire for theatricality, and uncertain pursuit of love.

As Cecil Beaton himself puts it;

'One can't get on at all if one doesn't have a little glamour about ones home'

This lavishly illustrated visual biography brings together original photographs, artworks, and possessions from his interiors to present an intimate picture of Beaton s extraordinary life. 

Beatons Tisbury was packed with Cecil Beaton and home interiors fans as local resident and Beaudesert owner Andrew Ginger spoke about his magnificent book, 'Cecil Beaton at Home: An Interior Life'  just published by Rizzoli.

Beatons Blandford Forum will host a further book signing - date to be announced soon. This brilliant book is available to buy in both Tearooms.

#tea: the antidote to winter chills and made for poultry!

What is it?

Mulled Winter Spice

Mulled Winter Spice Tea is your perfect tea to revive and restore no matter how inclement the British weather!

Black tea and the scent of the clove,
Warming and tempting sit by the stove,
Enjoy this restorative spicy black tea,
Which blows away winter perfectly!

This flavoured black tea comes from the mountains of Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Its festive tones come from the cinnamon and cloves, subtly blended to give a warming robust tea to revive and restore.

A perfect choice for cold winter days, perhaps unsurprisingly, we've discovered it goes well with poultry! It's also a great accompaniment to Afternoon Tea, and our Lemon polenta cake. We invite you to enjoy a pot and let it infuse you with inspiration for finding a good book to hibernate with.

Author of the Month David Szalay: All that Man is.

Author of the Month

David Szalay: All that Man is.

Split in to nine stories about nine men. Each of them in very different circumstances from very different backgrounds, but all with the same basic needs.
Each of them striving to understand just what it means to be alive, to make correct choices, to make the best of what they have.

We are given an insight in to the innermost feelings of these men, from as young as 17 right up to 73 years age, baring all that man is, all that he feels and all that he longs for.
Brutally honest regarding men's weaknesses and desires, this book is powerfully written and certainly makes you think about what really matters in life.
Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for this year, you will find this book amongst our carefully curated book selection.

#tea: our No 1 recommendation for health and harmony

What is it?

Herbal harmony

This is a caffeine free, cleansing, herbal infusion with the innumerable health benefits of nettle which include reducing hypertension, inflammation and alleviating asthma symptoms. Liquorice is good for bronchial disorders. As for cardamom? It's used as a breath freshener in India and is known to be great for 'the system'!

A trio of herbs are filling our kettle

Liquorice for chests and that panacea, nettle

Cardamom too - astringent and clean

A harmonious blend - see what we mean?!

What to have it with?
The sweetness of the liquorice and cardamom, balanced with the astringency of the nettle makes this a perfect match for our home-baked cakes. Try it out with our signature carrot cake - which if you haven't tried before - is an absolute must! It's a great digestive after enjoying a light lunch too.

#beatonstearooms Autumn 2016 What's On

Deepest Dorset Book Success in Blandford!

 

On Sunday the 9th October we were delighted to be able to host the book launch of locally written book Deepest Dorset. 

Fully funded by a charitable foundation, the book is being sold to raise funds for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, Weldmar Hospicecare Trust, Dorset Community Foundation and the RNLI .

This event was a huge success,  so popular in fact that we were turning people away at the door on the evening, tickets had sold out and we physically didn't have the space! Sincere apologies if this happened to you.

 

Chester’s Musical Evening

On 30th Sept, a delicious three course meal was enjoyed while Dr. Susan Weir played music from Vilvaldi,  The Four Seasons.

Such a hugely popular evening for the Tearooms in Chester, that they have now organised another Musical evening for the 14th of December, which has sold out already! So tickets are now on sale for the 18th of December for the same, make sure you get in quickly!

These are just a few of the comments from our lovely customers on the evening:

‘A lovely evening, good food, lovely company.’

‘A great evening that exceeds expectations. Please establish a regular programme.’

‘A novel idea, splendidly delivered. A cultural and culinary feast.’

‘I think this venue is fantastic. We enjoyed this evening so much

Really enjoyable. More please!’

#beatonsbod: Alex - our House Cat at Blandford

Beatons Bod:  Alex

What's your role and what do you like best about your job?

My name's Alex and I am a waitress at Beatons in Blandford. I find the most enjoyable aspect of working here is getting to know customers and being friendly and chatty with the regulars. I think this is the best aspect of my job because I am able to learn so much about the local area from born and bred people!

What's you’re favorite drink or edible from our menu?

My classic drink is either the Authentic Chai or a gingerbread soy latte. Very Christmassy! My favourite edible is a teacake with the tart blackcurrant jam., a perfect match.

And how about your favourite book from our shelves?

I love all the art books we have in recently like the Drawing is Magic book or how to be a wallflower. Not only are they pretty books to visually enjoy but also inspire adults and children to get arty and crafty!

Which of the ways we like to go about things at Beatons means most to you and why?

I think the most important aspect of Beatons is the goal to make each individual customer feel special before they leave. Also the fact that all the food and drinks are made to a very high standard and each staff members works their hardest to impress and delight our customers.

If you were an animal, bird or creeping creature what would you be and why?

I would love to be a house cat, so I can be Queen of the House. (haha!)

What - outside work - makes your skin tingle? It could be a dream, activity (printable!) or piece of music!

I am a big fan of yoga and longboarding at the beach. Rain or shine, however I especially love it when it's stormy.

!