Jammy

Scones with jam already in the top of them at KC Peaches in Dublin.

Oven Fresh

Scones fresh on display with back up cooling on the oven shelf behind - smart design at Levy Restaurants operation at Hatfield House.

Clotted Cream & Nutella ... in a Scone

Double Chocolate Chip Scones with clotted cream and Nutella at Pandora's Kitchen cafe in Norwich.

Scone Stars

The Jarrold Department Store in Norwich has always set high standards with their 'legendary' scones - by showing they are always fresh and selling yesterday's scones bagged up for take-away at a reduced price at the cafe till.  Bravo Jarrolds.

You wouldn't believe the number of caterers selling stale scones at full price.   Shame on those that don't bake a simple scone seven days a week and make the false economy of keeping those left over to the following day and passing them off as 'fresh'.

Drop a Scone

Drop scones - sour cherry and dark chocolate / apricot, blueberry and ginger -  plus peanut butter cookies at the Guardian's pop up cafe #guardiancoffee in Boxpark, Shoreditch.

Very Well Bread

 Cowes, Isle of Wight's Well Bread cafe has influences of the Town Mill and Royal William Bakeries - terrific.

Deluxe?

The handwritten label says: Deluxe Cream Tea Ham & Cucumber £6.95.  The chilled scone and cling film says something else.  See more at http://pinterest.com/turpinsmale/cafe-howlers/

Balthazar Beauties

 Quiche

 Salads

Cakes and perfect looking scones

75% Sales Increase

Haskins Garden Centre, Southampton invested £2.3 million in a new 460-seat cafe a year ago and sales have increased by 75%.  Catering sales account for almost one quarter of total garden centre turnover.

Treacle Toffee Apple Muffins.

 Apricot Scones

Lemon Meringue Muffins

Tea & Treats

Presentation of scones and till impulse items at Portsmouth Dockyard's cafe by caterer Ampersand

Modern Heritage

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh has a smart, modern cafe operated by Heritage Portfolio.

Screen based menus and quality cutlery

Quality, modern glassware

And the scones are featured in an attractive modern bowl

Pride of Plymouth

I am a huge fan of the Town Mill Bakery in Lyme Regis and they now have an off shoot - the Royal William Bakery - in the Royal William Yard, Plymouth.  Fabulous freshly-baked items in unpretentious surroundings.

How it works plus the wooden 'plates'

Bakery equipment and production is all on show

Bench seating is planks mounted on steel girders

Napkins=paper roll; butter in a big bowl; home-made peanut butter

Cream Tea

Guest Spot

 Alan Miller at the Beach Cafe, Wells-next-the-Sea has sent in his great scone, preserve and cream display

Six Sorts of Scones

1. Cheddar, Sage & Onion Scone
2. Blue Cheese, Walnut & Sultana Scone
3. Plain
4. Cherry & Dark Chocolate
5. Sultana
6. Strawberry & White Chocolate

Gail's is good, nay excellent.

Jam or Cream on Top?

The Devon County Show saw the 'world's largest scone' being made - 8 ft wide, topped with strawberries and serving 1,000 people.  A publicity stunt as the county tries to get protected status for its 'Devon Cream Tea'. 

Difference between a Devon and Cornish cream tea?  I had no idea.  In Devon it is cream and then jam on top; in Cornwall it is jam and then cream.

My thought - just ensure the scone is fresh in the first place.  Easily said but so often not the case.  Hurray for those that guarantee scones baked off every day and never, ever sell one of yesterday's left-overs.

Fresh Scones and Tree Stumps

The sign on entering Highgrove (the Gloucestershire home of HRH The Prince of Wales) says: Beware!  You are now entering an old fashioned establishment. 

The gardens are quirky, fun and show the amazing artistic potential of tree stumps.

The catering by William's Kitchen at Calcot (Manor Hotel) was simple but good - tea and scones.  The owners, Richard & Cathy Ball, guaranteed me £100 that their scones will always be freshly baked and you can't argue with that.  They came up trumps with creme patissiere for a guest who couldn't eat cream.  Lovely china but not sure tea bags are old fashioned or up to the overall quality of the experience.