Francis Tea Room

A hidden treasure of Scarborough. Formerly a war time hairdressers, it has maintained much of the original decor including private wood panelled booths where you can enjoy a fantastic afternoon tea totally detached from the modern world.

Fantastic food in an atmospheric location.

Went with a friend and loved it. The owners really friendly, the history and decor amazing. Had unlimited refills, free sweets on the tables and gorgeous teacups, saucers and teapots. Will definitely be going back to try their lunch menu.

Delicious cake tapas-an excellent idea for those of us who cannot decide! Lovely loose tea and top up of hot water. Very friendly and welcoming. And sweets on the table saying.. Eat me! What more could you want?!

Perfect, quirky little tearoom, full of character. Great range of teas and delicious food. Cheese scones are knockout! Very good, attentive but relaxed service. A real gem of a place, well worth tracking down.

Very nostalgic, gorgeous home made food, lovely couple, feel like friends. Must return soon.

The Francis Tea Rooms, South Street, Scarborough If places were people ‘The Francis’ would be Wilfred Hyde White or Maggie Smith. Or both. Unspoilt. Antique. The sort of folk you might have taken home to meet your maiden aunts on a sunny afternoon in some far off June, complete with cucumber sandwiches and discarded tennis rackets. The original Echo radio of the 1940s appeared to play timelessly by the china cabinets as we sat in the former unchanged wooden hairdressing booths of ‘M. Francis Coiffeur to the Gentry.’ This unmissable experience defines the words ‘Quintessentially English’ as surely as do Hyde White and Dame Maggie themselves. We sat and smiled. As sweetly as the jar of jellos in the original glass ice dish placed on our table under the hand written note ‘Help Yourselves.’ It’s the sort of place you can’t but smile in. Even the warmth of Sarah and Brad, the current proprietors, has a hint of another age. They are like the establishment’s collection of bone china and table linen; eccentric, original, put to good use. But the food is up to date, served with toppings of nostalgia; and all home-made so expect daily surprises. Baked camembert with sausages followed by walnut cake, Victoria sponge, scones and lashings of tea, constantly topped up, constantly smile inducing. Like Wilfred Hyde White and Dame Maggie Smith, visiting here for coffee, lunch or tea can never be forgotten. Take your smiles away with you when you leave. It’s that sort of place. D. B. Lewis December 2014

Was an old hairdressers and still have the booths. Posh tea etc

Lovely place and lovely staff!

Afternoon tea was fantastic.