one of the top ten spots in Canada for afternoon tea

by Alain Bossé

Daydreams are a pleasant escape from reality but in most cases we quickly come back to our own world and resume whatever mundane task caused us to drift off in the first place. This was not the case for Adrian and Eleanor Bradbury, owners of Birkinshaw’s Tearoom. Both were immersed in successful careers when they decided to turn their daydreams into their reality.

Adrian was an avid home baker and was inspired by many journeys to France. After a career in hospitality, he opted to follow his passion and immerse himself in studying the pastry arts, and had the privilege of learning from renowned French baker Richard Bertinet. Meanwhile Eleanor had a keen interest in the finer, more romantic way of life and felt a connection to the traditions of the past.

One of her favourite memories from childhood was being allowed to help prepare Sunday tea, a job she soon took charge of. Her love of the comfort afforded by such things as scones, cakes and pastries and family supper stayed with her and a career in international marketing was set aside for Cordon Bleu training.

The couple decided to combine their passions for creating great food and open a tea room in Amherst, in late 2017. The tea room is named after Adrian’s grandfather, Cyril Birkinshaw, who served as butler to several households back in Britain.

When I think about tearooms I picture women dragging reluctant husbands across the threshold for scones and clotted cream and adorable wee pastries. Of course, Birkinshaw’s menu has all the delights that one would expect for an afternoon tea, but also plenty to offer to male guests or others wanting a heartier meal; such as curries, steak, fish creole, and even the occasional Mexican dish!

The offering that really caught my eye was the Freak Shake. Each one is custom “built” with as many toppings and garnishes as they can cram into and on top of a full-sized milkshake glass—it’s truly a meal in itself, perhaps best shared with two or more.

Along with the tea room, the Bradburys also offer a full range of catering, plus their space is available for hire for private celebrations. They were recently named one of the top ten spots in Canada for afternoon tea by Chatelaine magazine—the only locale east of Montreal to be honoured.