Opening Dates and Times

Our tea room is now open from Saturday 30th March 2024 (the Saturday of Easter weekend) and will then be open until the end of September.

Do come and join us for the BEST cake in Oxfordshire, all lovingly home baked by volunteers and served with a smile.
Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holidays 2.30pm – 5pm
Starting back in the Summer **Wednesday and Thursdays 3pm-5pm

I’m sorry – it’s not possible to book tables in advance but there’s plenty of space outside in the courtyard and in the Abbey cloister garden.

Following the Abbey’s centuries-old tradition of welcome and hospitality, the unique Tea Room reaches out to the people of our own community, to our many visitors and to many people living further afield. Up to 20 people can sit in the Tea Room itself, at two communal tables, and in fine weather many more can sit in the Guest House garden at picnic tables or on the lawns in the Cloister Garden. You may expect a warm welcome from the volunteer army of helpers and be delighted with the delicious range of home-made cakes and a good cup of tea. Dogs and children are very welcome!

We aim to always have at least one gluten free and also a vegan cake.  However, our cakes cannot be guaranteed free of allergens as they are baked in home kitchen.  Do ask our helpers for advice if you have concerns.

Recently profiled in the Financial Times Weekend Section and featuring in Hattie Ellis’ book “Eating England”, in the last 40 years the Tea Room has been visited by thousands of people from nearby and from as far away as California and Australia, many coming back year after year and introducing their children and even grandchildren. Do take a look at our lovely reviews on Trip Advisor.

It is run entirely by volunteers, nearly 50 bakers and 50 servers, from Dorchester and neighbouring villages, who give unstintingly of their time, whether it be as cake makers, teapot ladies, washers-up or servers. All profits (over £200k since it opened) are paid into the Abbey’s General Fund and the distributed to charitable causes world-wide, and to the maintenance of the Guest House and Abbey.  Look in detail at how the Abbey gives to charity here.

If you feel inspired to volunteer to bake cakes or serve in the Tea Room then look here to find out how!