Hobsons Patisserie

This place is adorable and the treats in the window definitely get you in the door. The display case inside is just as spectacular. I had a tart that was good, but surprisingly dry. My friend eating with me had a similar experience. My tea was also good, but just good. My overall feel about this place was that everything looks better than it tastes. It all tasted just okay. Not memorable really.
It was quite crowded inside, but we were able to find a decent spot to sit. I think the overall set up of this place is strange, and it could use some remodelling. The counter is ill-​placed in terms of where the seating is and the general flow of traffic in the establishment.

Wow! Heaven on earth.
My aunt took my 4 yr old daughter, 1 tear old son and husband here while I was in town visiting from the states as we told her we wanted some good tea. As we walked up, my jaw dropped. The tea treats and other foods– sandwiches, soups, quiches, etc. were all so beautiful.
I ordered an amazing sandwich and my daughter got the most amazing scone. The scone was huge, beautiful, and absolutely to die for. Seriously. It was truly stunning.
The service was great as well. We ordered at the counter and since we had small children and our hands full, they carried our drinks (tea and coffee) to our table upstairs for us. Seats range from traditional tables and chairs to cozy sofas.
There is plenty of seating. Downstairs, upstairs, and outside… It’s seemed busy but we found plenty if seats upstairs.
We walked by later on in the day and the were off loading day old cakes, etc for 1 pound. I’m tempted to go back tomorrow and buy some for our own tea party when more family arrives into town.

Three long, excruciating years ago I studied abroad in England. Now, I’m sitting in my New Orleans bedroom wondering what to eat for dinner.
«One of those giant scones from that place near Shakespeare’s house would be divine,» I thought.
I had a million scones in England that summer– this ONE scone stands out… three years later.
Please go eat a scone here… and pity me while you do.

OMG GIANT SCONE. Like seriously. GIANT, share with the one you love and wax shakepearean words because it’s amazing. OR don’t share but you will probably die from carby sugar overdose which really isn’t a bad way to go.
Hobsons is a traditional english tea room and it’s fully packed with tourists. You’d expect the food to be mediocre but actually the scones were to die for, the clotted cream was so so good. They do do an afternoon for two which includes two scones and a pot of tea but I was absolutely detemined, as was my travel companion to have the giant scone because when can you ever really? They also do chabennel and walker hot chocolate with TONNEs of mini marshmallows, and it’s rich. (nothing compared to french or italian hot chocolate which is decadent– UK seems to only have the watery kind…)

This place is amazing! We were lured in by the window display of lovely cakes and giant scones and once inside, it didn’t disappoint. We first went on Friday afternoon and managed to get a table for the 5 of us immediately. The choice of cakes is so vast that it will be nearly impossible for you to pick one and they also do a really good range of teas and coffees. Everything was so lovely that the next day when we were looking for a coffee stop, we just headed straight here. On a Saturday lunchtime, it was much busier — we wandered around looking for a table but couldn’t get anything. As we were headed toward the door, some people got up and left and we nabbed their table quickly. At that point, we realised we were hungrier than we had thought (we’d walked miles!) so we ordered lunch. You have to order at the counter and when it’s busy there’s quite a long queue so it can take a while to place your order, although they are very efficient with one person taking your order, a couple of people making drinks and one person working the till. You take your drinks and cakes immediately and if you’ve ordered sandwiches or hot food, they give you a number and bring it out to you. We ordered sandwiches and some of their amazing sounding pies for lunch (beef, stilton, prosciutto, chestnut and port pie, anybody?) and although it took a while to order as it was so busy, the food came out really quickly. Everything was gorgeous, really tasty, homemade and nicely presented. This place is really fantastic and well worth searching out if you’re in Stratford.