The Tea Shop at Watts Gallery, Compton

Published on: 3 Dec, 2012
Updated on: 3 Dec, 2012

Tea Shop at Watts Gallery

On a cold and frosty morning, following a dog walk that skirted the Loseley Estate, my friend and I had deserved our steaming mugs of coffee. That we were both tempted to order a Watts Works says even more about the temperature outside.

Make mine a large one: americano and cappuccino served in historic pottery.

We were not disappointed. The mugs were large and the coffee smooth and hot. My friend’s cappuccino had a full head of creamy froth. The mugs themselves were a talking point, as they are derived from a mould originally created at the Watts Gallery pottery studio.

The Watts Works is a speciality: an all-day breakfast twist on a Welsh rarebit, it includes a sausage, bacon, tomato and mushrooms balanced on a cheesy-mustard rarebit base. Mine fitted the occasion perfectly, although my friend thought her sausage a tad hard.

Our fellow diners were split between post-walkers and pre-art viewers, although our waitress commented that everyone had chosen large hot drinks today. The atmosphere is relaxed with plenty of chatter; it’s great place for small groups to gather around the country-style wooden tables.

As Christmas is approaching, the vaulted, rustic studio-conversion is decorated with lights, glitter and greenery.  The holly and ivy table decorations were particularly smart. The other decorations include cottage teapots and art work (for sale, on this day photographs). The cement floor is practical with so many walkers using the tea shop.

What they say about themselves

The Tea Shop at Watts Gallery provides fresh, English, seasonal food sourced as locally as possible, made on the premises and served by friendly staff. There is a daily selection of freshly-baked homemade cakes and scones and we make all of our own jams and chutneys. We serve superb coffee, freshly-ground for each cup and a variety of speciality teas.

Watts Gallery Welsh rarebit is on the menu, as is home-made seasonal soup, freshly-made sandwiches, salads and ploughmans. Please check our blackboards for daily specials.

The Tea Shop is licensed and offers a fine selection of wines, local beers, ales and ciders.

The building that currently houses the tea shop was built as a showroom for the Compton Pottery, established on this site in 1901 by Mary Watts. The crockery used in the tea shop was created exclusively for Watts Gallery by Grayshott Pottery using Ruskin Red glaze and is available from our shop. Grayshott Pottery inherited the moulds from the original Compton Potters.

Restore yourself and the artwork at the same time.

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