The Tea Shop By The Canal, Newbury – Afternoon Tea in a beautiful setting

a rose petal background with an afternoon tea set up in the foreground

Few things feel quite as quintessentially British as afternoon tea.

A tiered stand of delicate sandwiches, warm scones, dainty cakes and a perfectly poured pot of tea has long been associated with a sense of occasion, whether enjoyed in a grand hotel, a country house or a cosy tearoom after a stroll.

It is elegant, indulgent and wonderfully nostalgic, but it also comes with one of Britain’s most hotly contested food debates: should the jam or the cream go on the scone first?

Review

by Emily Brown

- May 7, 2026

Regional Differences

In Cornwall, tradition says jam first, followed by a generous spoonful of clotted cream. In Devon, it’s cream first, then jam on top. Happily, here in Berkshire, you can make up your own mind. Whether you’re firmly team jam-first, cream-first, or simply team “another scone, please”, afternoon tea is a lovely way to slow down and make an ordinary afternoon feel special.

That’s what we got up to when we were invited to sample the afternoon tea at the charming Tea Shop by the Canal in Newbury.

This tea shop looks small from the outside but it’s cosy without feeling cramped. There’s also the option to sit outside when the sun is shining, and an upstairs area which you can also rent out for events too making it a great setting to have a quiet and calm afternoon tea!

Full Refurbishment

The Teashop opened in 2009 when owners Paul and Ivana brought the building after helping Ivana’s sister run her kiosk nearby and thought the building would be perfect place for a teashop. They fully refurbished the building and opened ‘The Tea Shop By The Canal’

The rose wall is a key feature at the teashop and it holds a very sentimental meaning as they were Ivana’s fathers favourite flowers and would always pick them from the garden to give to his wife.

We were welcomed and showed to our table which was beautifully set up with our tea cups and side plates, and an added touch of dried flower petals scattered across the table too. A menu was also displayed telling us what we would be enjoying alongside our scones.

Included in the afternoon tea is unlimited pots of loose leaf tea and you could choose to have one additional hot drink too. We also got to try their house lemonade which was a homemade raspberry flavour and it was so refreshing, perfect for the summer months.

Discover more of our favourite afternoon tea reviews, from elegant hotel to cosy countryside treats.

After enjoying our drinks for a few minutes our food arrived beautifully displayed. We enjoyed; ham and mustard, egg and smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches with crisps alongside. On the second tier was a fruit scone each with strawberry jam and clotted cream. Then on the top tier was; raspberry brownie, summer berry cupcake, shortbread and macarons. Everything was full of flavour and we walked away feeling very full!

Delicious afternoon tea, in a beautiful setting, what more can I say? You should try it!