Date visited: Wednesday 19th July 2023
Amesbury is a small town on the edge of Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, probably best known by tourists as being just a couple of miles from Stonehenge. In consequence it sees many international visitors pass through on the way to those well-known stones.
A Date With Thyme is on the edge of Amesbury town centre. It has six tables for those wishing to take tea, with one table set with a sofa and rattan chairs for those wishing for a more relaxed meal. It is open Tuesdays to Fridays to 3 pm, and until 2 pm on Saturdays which is quite early for an establishment styling itself as a tea room. The wall around the counter is covered with comments from international visitors so far this year, and the venue clearly caters for a mix of regular locals, and tourists passing through on their way to the local sights.
The menu offered a selection of hot breakfasts and hot and cold lunches. Two cakes were on display near the counter. Unusually for a tea room, there was just a single entry on the beverages menu for tea, but several options for ‘speciality coffee’.
A chicken and bacon toastie, a slice of caramel cake, and a pot of tea came to £14.30. The caramel cake was a Victoria sandwich with small pieces of caramel in the cream, and its consistency was just right – not too moist, not too dry.
Taking tea at A Date With Thyme, albeit with limited choices, felt a welcoming and unhurried experience, with customers taking their time and most tables occupied during my mid-week lunchtime visit.
