Pickard’s Tea Room

I appreciate the charm of tea in eclectic cups and saucers. I’m a mug person, but I appreciate the charm.
However, more than this, I appreciate a seductive chunk of cake calling to me from a window, «take me», like a Dog Rescue puppy in its kennel. And this cake is pretty much throwing itself up against the bars. Sticky toffee and peach. «Yes,» I tell it, «I will take you home and give you what you deserve. I will even put you on a plate.»
Sitting in the window of Pickard’s tearoom, the cake looks irresistible: there is icing in it, on it, and down it. No stingy drizzling for these guys. Before I know it, my stomach has taken control of my legs and I am paying £2.20 for a huge hunk of the stuff. I ask for it at the counter, and the girl tells me I can take it myself: that way, I can choose the best looking bit, and anyway, she never knows which is which because the cakes are changing all the time. I like the sound of that: I have been disappointed to many times in shops where the one at the front looks amazing, and from behind it, they hand me some under-​fruited, under-​iced, under-​sized ugly sister. And cakes changing all the time? Well that’s just urging me to gawp at the selection every time I pass.
I resist the temptation to swallow my slice in situ, because I have plans for it. Half on a plate, half with custard, because this cake is heavy in my hand, telling me it can pass for a pudding too.
There is, of course, given all this build-​up, the chance that I will be disappointed (something along the lines of the best-​looking ones always being boring), but this cake lives up to expectations. A moist stomach-​full (nothing beats cake that you really know you’ve eaten) of fruit, caramelised sugar, and generous buttercream (with flavour, none of your sickly insipidness), topped off with tangy icing. It is literally packed with peaches, and the variety of textures and flavours means that obviously, I have to eat the whole monster at once, just to make sure I get all of them.
Pickard’s isn’t perfect: I’ve had the sandwiches in the past, and found them underwhelming (hence the slightly low star rating compared to this cake rave). However, the décor is charming, the service is friendly, and the cake… oh my word, the cake… so if passing Pickard’s, do drop in and indulge your sweet tooth. It will thank you for it.

I haven’t tried any of the food here although the tea was nice and the shop has a nice quirky feel to it. There is a big variety of sandwiches in baguettes, and quite a few cakes, as well as a big selection of loose leaf tea, all at really decent prices. Conveniently located right opposite Parky steps, there’s no excuse to pay a visit ;)