Happy days all round as Garden Tea Room leaves shadows

Apr 9 2009 by Adrian Caffery, Birmingham Mail

BargainBite

THE GARDEN TEA ROOM

CANNON HILL PARK, RUSSELL ROAD, EDGBASTON

SOMETIMES, life presents you with opportunities that you have to grab with both hands.

Accept the challenge, and there’s everything to gain – even at the height of the worst recession for years. Pass it by and the chance will never come again.

So it is at The Garden Tea Room in Cannon Hill Park, where 2009 might be called the land of opportunity, milk and honey. Or rather egg and bacon sandwiches.

For years, this light and airy facility has been in the shadow of the MAC. But, with the weather improving and the Midlands Arts Centre not due to reopen till at least October following a £13.5million rebuild, now is the time for the GTR to shine like never before.

Happily, our recent visit coincided with a glorious spring day. The leaves were unfolding from their buds and the restocked flowerbeds were positively glowing in the golden afternoon sun.

Inside the packed Garden Tea Room, more space has been created by removing a display cabinet and the red -and-white check table covers contrasted nicely with the yellow flowers outside. Bravo!

Holly and Madison shared an adult portion of cheese on toast – one slice each positively drowning in the golden stuff – while son Louie enjoyed a bacon sandwich.

Collette had a cheese toastie, while I pushed the boat out with a trucker-sized egg, bacon and beans double-decker sandwich, which was a little messy to eat without a knife and fork.

After a morning in the great outdoors, all of us really enjoyed our food which was very basic but of perfectly acceptable quality.

Our bill was rounded off with three children’s drinks, an excellent pot of tea for two and service with smiles. Happy days all round.

GRAHAM YOUNG