Cafes, Food and Drink

Hartley's Beach Shop & Tea Room

Beach Road, St Bees, Cumbria CA27 0ES

Tel: 01946 820175 Fax: 01946 820456

website: www.hartleys-ice-cream.co.uk

Set in an unbeatable location overlooking the foreshore at St Bees, Hartleys Beach Shop & Tea Room is one of the most popular places in the region for enjoying a snack. It's a long, single-storey building which has been around for 20 odd years and its reputation ensures locals, tourists, walkers and holidaymakers alike all swarm like bees to a honeypot. As the premises are situated more or less at the beginning of the famous coast to coast walk across the Penines, and of course much-needed refreshment for those at the end of the walk. The sunny yellow colour scheme brightens up even the most overcast of days and the warm welcome received by the Richardsons only add to the atmosphere.

The tea room is open daily from 9 to 5, with hot food served until 4 o'clock. The food choice runs from made-to-order sandwiches with generous fillings like tuna savoury, corned beef & onions and chicken mayo, to soup, beans on toast and home-made cakes, teacakes and scones. Very few summer visitors leave without trying one or more of the delicious ice creams, which are made by the firm established by the Hartley family in 1931 in Egremont, where they are still made. The ice creams come in more than 60 flavours, with some diabetic varieties and also eight flavours of sorbets. They are sold to the public and to the retail and catering trades in tubs from 125ml to 10 litres, and freezer packs are a speciality. They are made fresh every day in the Church Street creamery in Egremont, and new lines include semi-freddo desserts - a perfect way to end a meal. The actual ice-cream store is situated on Church Street in Egremont and is open between 11 am and 5 pm from January to March and until 7 pm in the busier summer months. To drink, guests can choose from cold soft drinks, milkshakes, tea and a variety of coffees.

The business was taken over in 1981 by the Richardson family, who run the beach shop with friendly, hardworking staff. The tea room has seats for 48 inside, and when the weather is kind, tables and chairs are set outside.

Hartleys at St Bees also has a gift shop and mini-mart selling walking and camping essentials.

Click here to leave your feedback on this establishment - featured in The Hidden Places of the Lake District and Cumbria