Norfolk Valentine's afternoon tea launched at Heydon Village Tea Room

Flavours might range from traditional Victoria sponge and coffee and walnut to more unusual combinations such as courgette, lime and pistachio, or sweet potato and orange. 

One cake you’ll always find on the afternoon tea menu is a recipe belonging to the woman who inspired Cindy Halls to open a tea room – her nan, Myrtle’s, fruitcake. 

“My nan had always wanted a tea room, and my love of baking comes from baking with her and my mum when I was younger,” she says. 

“We would bake a lot of sponge cakes – and my nan used to make something called maids of honour. I used to love licking the bowl before the mixture went into the oven. I do that now with my little boy, and that’s his favourite part as well.” 

When Cindy was turning that dream into a reality - swapping a 16-year-career as a dental nurse to run her own vintage-inspired business – the very moment she stepped inside the premises perched on the green in the picture-postcard pretty village of Heydon, she knew that she’d found the perfect location.  

“It was already a tea room and as soon as I walked in, it actually smelled like my nan’s kitchen and I didn’t really need to go any further,” she says. 

“My nan sadly passed away before I got the tea room, but I know she would be incredibly chuffed and proud.” 

Cindy picked up the keys 11 years ago – and the business has gone on to win awards, including being named Norfolk magazine’s best afternoon tea at the 2017 Food and Drink Awards.  

She runs it with her partner, Karl, and they have a team of up to 15 front of house and kitchen staff. 

It’s a charming place. Stepping through the door is like taking a step back in time – there's a cake table laden with a tempting array of bakes displayed on traditional-style glass stands and vintage curios dotted about.   

“I’d started a collection of mis-matched vintage tea cups and saucers over the years, hoping that one day I’d get a tea room with the thought that I’d use those to serve with, but when we got the tea room there were so many shelves and little cubby holes that needed filling up I used all of that crockery to decorate the place,” says Cindy.  

And there’s a gorgeous garden - if you want to sit outside during the colder months, you can cosy up at one of the covered tables under a colourful crocheted blanket. 

They make as much of the food as they can on the premises – the baking day generally starts bright and early at around 5am – and includes their own teacakes, cakes and scones and the bread which accompanies their hearty home-made soup. 

Other lunch options include chilli and curry. 

Cindy loves experimenting with different flavour combinations – in the autumn the tea room’s Instagram feed featured a chestnut sponge, made with local chestnuts, layered with cinnamon buttercream and homemade pear and apple jam.  

She also ensures that people following special diets are well catered for – reviewers rave about the gluten-free and vegan afternoon teas on TripAdvisor. They also do a vegan hot chocolate (they have four alternative milks available, at no extra charge) and recent seasonal specials have included a vegan parsnip and apple cake. 

“We’ve kept the menu quite traditional, but we have got quirky bits,” says Cindy.  

“Yesterday we had lemon and coconut Bakewell!” 

And they bake an impressive six different varieties of scone - plus gluten-free and vegan options. 

“We do traditional fruit, plain and cheese and we do a gorgeous lavender one, which we serve with home-made lemon curd with clotted cream. We also do fig and apricot and a blueberry and rosemary scone,” says Cindy. 

Of course, the award-winning afternoon tea is one of the star attractions here. 

Following on from their Christmas afternoon tea, they've just launched their spring tea, which, as Valentine’s Day is approaching, has a bit of a loved-up feel. 

“Savoury-wise, there’s a selection of, I won’t say finger sandwiches, because we’re actually doing them in heart shapes,” says Cindy.  

“Then there’s a little sausage roll, there’s a home-made bagel with potted Stilton and grapes, and a cheddar and rosemary shortbread heart. And the little cakes we’re doing are a lemon and rose sponge, and nan’s fruitcake, which always has to feature – it's generally on our cake table and always on our afternoon tea.  

“Then we’re doing a rhubarb and raspberry Bakewell, and I’m going to do some little lovebug shortbreads and a passion fruit posset. Obviously there will be a choice of scone and tea or coffee. It’s quite a feast!”    

Times are undoubtedly tough with small businesses in particular feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis.  

Recently Cindy posted a poignant video on social media of her flicking through an almost empty diary of bookings. 

And this is at a time when their energy bills and the cost of ingredients has rocketed. 

It’s a stark reminder of the importance of supporting the local, independent businesses which make Norfolk such a great place to live – and are such a big draw for the daytrippers and holidaymakers who contribute to the local economy.  

Nestled in north Norfolk, not far from Reepham, Heydon is one of the county’s prettiest villages. It has a vibrant mix of independent businesses, including the Earle Arms pub, Wallflower and Wallace Florist, Moochi Modo interiors store, the Beauty Barn and, one of the newest additions, the fashion boutique Ziba. 

Cindy tries to support local suppliers as much as possible.  

“We use a supplier in North Walsham for our tea and coffee, it’s all organic and fair trade,” she says. 

“We use Eaves Hill Farm in Reepham for meat and we‘ve just started to use the fruit and veg supplier Fresh Approach. We also use Graves Butcher, Breckland Orchard drinks, the Seafood Larder in Briston and Sandringham apple juice.  

“We have little fresh flower posies on the tables - they all come from a little independent florist in Reepham, Flower Folk, it’s just another little touch that we like to have. I think it’s important to support other little independents as much as we can,” she says.  

To find out more about Heydon Village Tea Room visit heydonvillageteashop.co.uk or follow them on Instagram @heydontearoom