My husband Geoff was looking for places to play golf for his work’s golf society and came across Skylark Golf & Country Club at Whiteley, which used to be named Quindell. As you enter the estate – which is not far from Whiteley village – you pass a few very big houses, all quite grand with grounds kept neat and tidy, on the right are some golfing greens and lots of trees. We haven’t been there for years and it’s all grown quite lush and green.
Geoff decided that we’d visit for Afternoon Tea as he’d seen some good write-ups on TripAdvisor. I reserved a table for us both rather late the evening before for 2.30pm. I wasn’t sure what time they started the afternoon teas but I know that some places like to get lunch out of the way first and don’t start until 3pm, for instance when we visited the Brookfield Hotel in Emsworth. But my inbox the next morning confirmed that they would be expecting us.
We had a warm and friendly welcome and shown to our seat which was by the window overlooking the 12th and the last hole (which I had requested). Once we were seated we were asked what we would like to drink, I ordered a prosecco and Geoff went straight for the tea which was loose-leaf Portsmouth Tea in a very nice glass teapot.
We were asked if there were any fillings which we didn’t like for the sandwiches. I said ‘no cheese please’ as Geoff doesn’t like it, unlike myself but I didn’t want to get stuck with loads of cheese sandwiches. ‘Anything else is fine’ says he. Unfortunately we received tuna & mayo’ (which Geoff doesn’t like), eggo & mayo’ (which Geoff doesn’t like) and chicken & tomato (which thankfully he does like). They all came in fours, apart from the only ones Geoff actually liked of which there were only three…d’oh! So, if you’re fussy (like Geoff) then I recommend that you either give them a call beforehand to discuss what fillings you do/don’t like or mention it when you arrive.
So, of course I ended up eating all of the sandwiches apart from the three chicken & tomato ones. Well, we couldn’t waste them now could we? 😉 They came with white and brown bread with the crusts removed and were very fresh indeed. Very tasty.
The stand was very different from the quintessential English Afternoon Tea stands, this had two long slates, one above the other.
The scones, of which we had one fruit and one plain each, were a good size, not too small and not too large. These were also very fresh and served with blackcurrant and strawberry jam and of course, clotted cream. We were asked if we needed any more jam or cream but we had enough.
The little cakes all looked delicious and we saved those until last. By looking at them I ranked them, the Mille-feuille with a smooth chocolate centre, topped with Chantilly cream and a lovely melt-in-the-mouth chocolate filigree would be my least favourite, so I would eat that first. The banana cheesecake with a slice of caramelised sugar crusted banana on top second and saving the best until last would be the rhubarb panna cotta on an orange sponge.
I was almost right, indeed my first choice was correct but the other two were wrong.
All were delicious though, and all very light and not heavy or dense whatsoever. The waitress was surprised that we had managed to eat it all as lots of people apparently don’t. What does that say about us I wonder!
All of this was in the Club Bar where we also saw some rather nice burgers, sandwiches etc., taken to other tables but there’s also the Sports Bar where they have a smaller menu with mainly light bites such as a bowl of nachos. Skylark are not open in the evenings apart from private functions but they do have a Sunday lunch menu and rather nice sounding menus for both breakfast and weekday lunches.
The interior is fresh and new but a rather bland grey with black tables and we both agreed that it would have been nice to have seen a bit of colour somewhere. Music played whilst we were there but not so loud that it was intrusive.
Afternoon tea is £15 each which includes as much tea as you want, we had two pots and a glass of Bisol Jeio prosecco – and very nice too – at £7.
Geoff will be returning next month to Skylark to play golf with his golf society and to enjoy a meal afterwards.
Ambience 8
Value 9
Quality 9
Service 9
Return ability yes!
Living life, loving cake
A x