Eating at Paycocke's

Published:: 22 August 2022

A pile of fruit scones on a wooden platter, with small pots of jam in the background — Treat yourself to a scone | © National Trust

Complete your visit to Paycocke’s with a light lunch or an afternoon tea stop in the Parlour Tea Room.

Paycocke’s Tea Room

Discover our cosy tea room, set within the Parlour Room of the house. On colder days, warm up in the indoor seating area with a hot chocolate and sweet treat. In warmer weather, the gardens are the perfect place to enjoy a light lunch or cream tea. On our menu you’ll find a selection of hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes, cream teas and snacks.

Allergen information

Most of the food and drink served is prepared on site in our kitchen, using a wide range of ingredients. As a result, we can’t guarantee that any of our food and drink products are completely allergen free.

If you have an allergy or intolerance and would like ingredient information about the food and drink served, please ask the staff, who will be happy to help.

Always check when you visit

Visited before? We sometimes change our recipes to improve quality and flavour, including the ingredients. When you visit, please speak to one of our team to check the current allergen information for your favourite dish.

Bringing a picnic

You’re always welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the gardens, bring a blanket to sit on and enjoy a lazy afternoon in the sunshine. Why not top-up your lunch with an ice-cream, home-baked cake or coffee.

Two female visitors drinking cups of tea in the outdoor seating area of the tea room at Paycocke's House and Gardens, Essex — The outdoor seating area at Paycocke's House and Gardens | © National Trust Images/David Levenson

Dogs are welcome

We know dogs are part of the family too, so if you’re visiting with your four-legged friend, dogs on leads are welcome in the gardens and our outdoor seating area, where there's a water bowl so they can quench their thirst, and we even sell tubs of Doggie Ice-Cream!

Doing our bit for the environment

We use Vegware packaging made from plants for our disposable items, which means that our takeaway cups and lids are fully compostable. We also sell reusable bamboo cups, or you can bring your own and receive a 25p discount off your next hot drink.

Thank you

Every cuppa or tasty treat you buy helps us to continue looking after places for everyone to enjoy.

A close view of the windows and the plasterwork on the exterior of Paycocke's House, Colchester, Essex

Discover more at Paycocke's House and Garden

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Visitors in the Parlour at Paycocke's House and Garden, Essex

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Booking your visit to Paycocke's House

Explore the unexpected at Paycocke’s. Entry to the house is by guided tours, led by passionate and knowledgeable volunteers, which will reveal the hidden treasures and stories of the house. To guarantee your preferred time slot you may wish to book a tour in advance. Find out how, here.