Text by Katherine Ellis • Photography Courtesy of Josephine’s
In the center of Nottingham, England, thespians, tourists, tea afficionados, and more flock to a quaint local tearoom, directly across from the stunning Theatre Royal, to enjoy a deliciously and appropriately warm scone by the signal of a ringing bell. This is Josephine’s—a magical place where afternoon-tea dreams come true. It’s a delightful locale flowing with scrumptious fare, hot tea, vintage music, and pleasurable conversation.
Josephine’s is the brilliant creation of husband-and-wife duo Steve and Joanne Neale. The business name is a creative combination of their names. The couple have been together for 11 years and thoroughly enjoy working on projects with one another. “Shortly after we met, she was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Steve reveals. “She had her own business at the time and so did I. After recovering from the cancer, we decided to do something a bit more social . . . a tearoom. We found one in the middle of Nottingham centre.” Interestingly, Steve loves tea and sips it quite often, while Joanne isn’t as much of a devotee. However, they both very much appreciate the traditional, old-style English restaurants that tend to be lacking in Nottingham, so the idea of a tearoom seemed logical and enticing. In October 2018, the business opened across from the theatre, and it has been a smashing success ever since.
The charming tearoom, adorned with elegant wallpaper, red carpet, touches of warm wood, dazzling chandeliers, and cascading greenery, invites locals and visitors alike into a wonderfully different style of old-world charm. It’s marvelously intimate, yet memorable, with a stag mascot, lovingly called Joseph, out front dressed in a tuxedo to welcome guests into the establishment. Stepping into Josephine’s and experiencing its wonder is quite unlike indulging in afternoon tea at a high-end hotel. “The feedback we’ve had from people who have had afternoon tea all over (Ritz, Dorchester, etc.), is ours is so different in every aspect, from the ambiance to the presentation to the service,” Steve states. “We don’t try trendy quirks. We try to keep it traditional and try to ramp up the quality of everything around it.”
For £36.95 per person, guests will be afforded with a premium tea experience like no other. The first order of business is choosing which tea to try from the menu. Most of the blends are their own, with all teas hailing from a tea merchant in Scotland. Traditional Earl Grey, English Breakfast blended with safflower petals to allow a deep red hue, Assams with rich full flavor, and herbal infusions, like Chantilly Cream and peppermint, tend to be the most popular. Next, a lovely amuse-bouche and celebratory Pomegranate Fizz bubbly arrive. This properly sets the scene for merriment to follow.
To the amazement of guests, a tremendous, overflowing tiered stand is brought to the table. It is filled to the brim with tea goodies galore and a remarkable bouquet of fresh fruit and flowers for decoration. Four finger sandwiches, which might include chicken salad, tuna, and crayfish tails, look quite tempting on the bottom tier of the stand while an amalgamation of petite French pastries (think diminutive cakes and perfect macarons) artistically adorn the top tier. It’s a true feast for the eyes as well as the palate. The items change seasonally or “whenever we get bored,” Steve chuckles. “If we get the feeling our staff or customers are bored, we change it.”
And last, but certainly not least, between the savory and sweets courses, is perhaps the most anticipated element of Josephine’s cuisine: the scones. On the middle tier of the very full stand lies a card with a picture of a bell that states, “Heaven is a warm scone. Let us know when you are ready for yours.” Whenever guests find themselves fancying a warm scone straight from the oven, they can ring the bell on the table to alert their server that they are indeed ready for that fluffy bake. This clever way to incorporate warm scones into the afternoon-tea production makes it exceedingly fun for guests. “We’ve always known that scones are nicer when they are warm,” Steve remarks. “At various afternoon tea places by the time you get to the scones, they are fairly cold and not as nice. We thought there ought to be a way to serve them warm. It gives customers a bit of a novelty factor. They ring the bell and get the warm scones.”
In only six years, with an 18-month hiatus for COVID-19 restrictions, the tearoom has served an astonishing 15,000-and-counting afternoon teas since opening. “We describe it as a luxury afternoon tea,” Steve says. “The whole experience is one of coming into a nice place, nice ambiance, and served by staff that isn’t looking to get you in and out as fast as possible. Everything needs to be a little bit nicer than what you would expect in other places.”
Whether it’s the prime location, the tiny bell that beckons warm scones, the stag named Joseph, or the teatime experience itself, people keep coming back to Josephine’s for its unique offerings.
Josephine’s serves afternoon tea daily: Mondays from 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Although walk-ins are welcome, reservations are highly recommended, especially for those with dietary restrictions. Find out more information at josephinesnottingham.co.uk or by ringing +44 115 9474147.
