Quarry Tea House

Image of Quarry Tea House front entrance taken by Aiden Dawson

Background

The Quarry Tea House tearoom is set in the village of Hunwick which is not far from Crook, Bishop Auckland, and Willington. When you walk into the front entrance of the café, to your left is the gift shop with shelves stocked with handmade trinkets, greetings cards and gourmet food and drink. Walk through the gift shop and you’ll find yourself in the indoor terrace, which is raised up and embellished with pink and white flowers dangling from the wooden pergola. This floral scene also includes a teacup chair, coffee table, high stools looking out the window onto the main road, and a swing chair for two.

Turn right from the main entrance and you’ll have the counter in front of you where you can purchase gifts, cakes, coffees to take out etc. there are also a variety of home-made cakes on display to choose from. The refrigerated shelves are stocked with cold drinks, snacks and bottles of beer. After passing through this area, you’ll enter the next room where there are plenty of tables and chairs to sit on. Through this room is the access to the outdoor terrace. Outside you have more seats and picnic benches and at the far back just up a few steps is a row of sheltered “pods” that small groups can sit in.

Image taken by Aiden Dawson at Quarry Tea House in Hunwick, Bishop Auckland

Location

This tearoom is not far from Bishop Auckland, it won’t take you long to drive from Bishop Auckland town centre to get here. Hunwick is also a short drive from Willington and Crook. Hunwick sits on a steep hill. You’ll see the café at the top of the hill as you drive into Hunwick from Willington. It is very near to other hospitality venues including the Bishops Lodge restaurant in Toronto and the Joiners Arms which is the local pub in Hunwick. Other nearby attractions include Kynren, Low Barns Nature Reserve and Witton Castle.

The Tearoom Terrace

Inside the Quarry Tea House is a special seating area that can be reserved for parties and other special occasions. It is all on a raised platform that you step onto after passing through the gift shop, located in a separate part of the café well away from the rest of the seating areas which gives it a sense of privacy.

The terrace is a very floral scene, decorated with artificial flowers that dangle from the wooden pergola along with rustic wooden partitioning that separates the swinging wicker chair for two from the rest of the terrace. There is an L-shaped seating area of benches with a low coffee table. The little teacup-shaped seat in the corner of the terrace can seat 2-3 people. Along the back of the terrace, there are high stools to sit on looking out the window onto the main street outside, with a shelf running along so people can sit and eat/drink here too.

The Food and Drink

The tearoom’s menu includes brunch options. They have a lunch menu, a special pancake menu for their American-style pancakes and a sandwich menu that includes both hot and cold sandwiches. Their drinks menu includes hot drinks such as tea, cappuccinos and iced lattes. They also have a children’s menu.

Click here to view their menu on their website.

Deli Shop

Alongside the menu, they also serve food to take away at their deli counter. The food here includes locally-sourced goods including homemade jams/preserves, cheeses, chocolate, fudge, cakes, beer and wine. You can buy cakes and ice cream to eat in or take away.

Their deli goods are kept on refrigerated shelves opposite the deli counter and their homemade cakes and pastries are displayed in a refrigerated display counter. All food can be bought at the till to take home. Coffees and other drinks can also be bought here to take away.

Image taken by Aiden Dawson at Quarry Tea House in Hunwick, Bishop Auckland

The Gift Shop

In the gift shop you can browse through an array of handcrafted gifts including cards, hampers, ornaments, candles and gift vouchers. You can purchase items at the deli counter. There is also a variety of children’s books and games that you can also buy.

Outside Garden Terrace

When sitting outside at the Quarry Tea House, you can sit on the picnic benches or sit in one of the pods at the back of the terrace (just up a few steps). The tea huts can be booked in advance. There are plenty of sheltered spots, including the pods and parasols provided at the picnic benches.

Accessibility

Wheelchair Users

The main entrance to the tearoom does have a large step to get in and a narrow doorway, but there is alternative access just along from the main entrance at the side of the building. There is a pathway leading you around to the outdoor seating area. The pathway is all flat and inside, all the flooring is level.

Disabled Toilets

The toilets are inside the building, located near to the deli counter. There is a disabled toilet and baby-changing facilities.

Family-Friendly

This tearoom is family friendly as it caters to people of different needs and ages. There is a child-friendly menu available and highchairs provided for babies.

Inclusive Menu

As well as catering for kids, the menu also takes account of people with dietary requirements including vegan-friendly and gluten-free options. There are plenty of healthy options including salads. The drinks menu is very extensive, including hot drinks, cold drinks and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Ask a member of staff for allergy information.

Parking for The Tearoom

There are plenty of places to park within walking distance from the café, and there aren’t any parking restrictions.

Public Transport

There is a bus service that operates from Bishop Auckland and Willington. The nearest bus stop is within walking distance of the tearoom.

Conclusion

We hope you have found this listing useful. For a similar venue in the area, check out The Dairy Barn.