Secret Garden Restaurant | Mersham Le-Hatch Business Village | Hythe Road | Ashford | Kent | TN25 5HN |

Tel: 01233 501586

****Joe Ellis’ Tea Room Guide English Tea Room****

Joe’s Review….

Depending on which magazine advertisement or review you read, the Secret Garden is either a restaurant or tea room and like The Old Brown Tea Pot we can safely say it is both and falls well within the definition of an English Tea Room, so much so it made me think of the song
    by Jimmie Rodgers

Again, I have to say, just like Miss Mollett’s High Class Tea Room in Appledore, the Secret Garden is really a special place to enjoy lunch, dinner, afternoon cream teas and wedding parties are also catered for. The food is exceptional and the service is extremely high and on the same par as Eastwell Manor which I would guess would be their main competitor. What also makes the Secret Garden special is that they have wonderful gardens and you can have your meal on outside seating, covered which is so lovely, you do not want to leave. The outside seating is more superior than Eastwell Manor and I know that this will surprise many people.

I had homemade soup and a sandwich served on a roof slate, yes, roof slate. It was fantastic and I had two pots of tea and could hardly teach in Ashford a few of hours later I was so full!

When I was eating cakes over a year ago, the Secret Garden was by far the best place for fresh cakes, clearly on display and covered in glass covers. The décor, seating, layout, atmosphere and general feel to the place is really quite exceptional. Anyone that knows me well, will say that I have an unusual affinity to Eastwell Manor, apart from marrying Sandra there many years ago now, I have known Eastwell Manor and remember it when I was at infants schools and when it was a private residence. Now I am showing my age! But, the Secret Garden food and atmosphere is on the same par as Eastwell Manor and is a wonderful place and with a little addition to the main building would make a lovely place to get married. I wonder whether the owner has thought of this?

The pricing is a little high and I think much higher than Eastwell Manor and I eat at Eastwell Manor most weeks. However, I am also of the view that ‘you pay what you get’ and the cost is really quite irrelevant when you consider, location, food, service, atmosphere…...etc!

STATUS

Clearly, I have to Highly Recommend the Secret Garden and would strongly advise people to visit and spend sometime there and enjoy traditional English living to the full.

The owner of the Secret Garden really does deserve recognition for a superb place to enjoy.

RE-VISIT

I revisited the Secret Garden Restaurant on Wednesday 18 August 2010...absolutely superb and a delight to take lunch there, this time with two elderly friends.