Jeanette’s Cakery

58-60 Bingley Road

Saltaire

BD18 4SD

01274 921902

www.jeanettescakery.co.uk

Opening Times

Monday – Closed

Tuesday to Saturday – 10.00am to 5.00pm

Sunday – 12.00 noon to 5.00pm

Price Comparison

Coffee - £1.80

Sandwich – £4.50

Scone – £2.25

WE’RE in search of a traditional afternoon tea today, and Dizzy Goddaughter (DG) has heard of a place in Saltaire that fits the brief. It’s easy to find, very close to Saltaire roundabout and has convenient kerbside parking.

The bell tings a welcome as I push open the door and we are immediately transported back to the forties. Jolly floral wallpaper and tablecloths, wartime posters, red and white checked café curtains and VE Day bunting all add to the cosy feel. But the pièce de résistance has to be the genuine vintage juke box in the corner gently suffusing the room with such stars as The Platters and Elvis. Peggy Sue has my toe tapping, and I have to work hard to resist the urge to dance. Embarrassed, DG draws me to a table.

“Come and sit down!” she becons, and I do as I’m bid.

Though the menu is mostly traditional English tea shop, it also includes the GI influences of the time, with American pancakes and bagels, but we stick to our resolve and order the afternoon tea. As I had hoped, it comes stacked on a classic cake stand and includes a selection of dainty finger sandwiches, cream scones, cakes and of course, a pot of good, old fashioned, loose leaf English tea. The tableware is delicate china with pretty fabric napkins.

There are some nice twists on the traditional with the inclusion of mustard mayonnaise in the ham sandwiches, and the usual cress in the egg sandwiches is replaced with rocket, far more tasty and substantial in my book. The scones are delicious, still warm from the oven, and the cakes include raspberry meringues, yummy Bakewell buns (a very tasty first for me) and a wonderful strawberry cheesecake concoction, served in a glass, so there’s no biscuit base, just the indulgent creamy filling.

“That must reduce the calories?” comments DG hopefully.

A neighbouring diner is served a steaming cup of butternut squash soup, with floury brown bread. “Delicious,” he tells me.

A waitress, in authentic post war kit, emerges from the busy back kitchen with another batch of cakes, straight from the oven, and places them on the counter. She tells me that Jeanette has recently branched out and is serving her cakes and afternoon teas at The Midland Hotel in Ilkley, currently only on Thursdays though, but watch this space!

by Angela Cunningham