Welcome

Welcome to Bessie’s Tea Parlour, our little touch of nostalgia in the beautiful seaside town of Broadstairs.  We are so pleased you have found us! Do pop by for some delicious tea in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.  It’s a great place to catch up with friends for a natter or perhaps celebrate a special occasion with all the loveliness of an afternoon tea served on pretty vintage china. Whatever your reason for coming to see us, we will do our very best to make each visit memorable.

Our homemade food and drinks contain local ingredients where possible. Freshly made sandwiches, savouries and a selection cakes are served throughout the day with teas blended in Kent, fresh ground coffees, delicious hot chocolate or chilled soft and alcoholic drinks at the ready.

At the Tea Parlour we host a range of community happenings and offer private tea parties for both adults and children – champagne teas, baby showers, hen parties, birthdays, you name it!

History

Since 2012, Karen has been running a little vintage caravan business ‘Bessie the Caravan’, popping up to serve afternoon teas, homemade cakes and drinks all over the UK for events, weddings and private parties.  So frequently asked if I have a permanent base for people to come and visit, I decided it was time to expand the Bessie business and open a tea parlour in the lovely seaside town of Broadstairs.

43-45 Albion Street have been in our family now for nearly 50 years and the building itself dates back to the 1800’s. Over that time, 43 has always been a restaurant and was run by our family as Aqua 43, serving fabulous fish and chips and other traditional British food. 45 has had a more varied existence, being home to a number of retail businesses over time.  However, for many years it served as the residents dining room when it was previously know as The Clifton Hotel and Restaurant and families would come and stay to enjoy the beautiful sandy bays in Broadstairs for their summer holidays. The original kitchen in the cellar has been reinstated, although Karen has fond memories of it as a groovy party room for hotel residents in the 1970’s.

In 2025, Karen made the difficult decision to take a step back, and handed over the keys and the running of the Tea Parlour to long-time staff member, Jess. Jess has loved Bessie’s since she first joined the team in 2016, and actually met Karen in a strange twist of fate on one of Bessie the Caravan’s adventures in Leeds several years before that! Jess is looking forward to carrying on Bessie’s tradition of being a cosy, welcoming place to have a delicious treat and a perfect cup of tea.