30-03-2025
Village regains community space after much-loved cafe reopens
A MUCH-LOVED café has re-opened its doors in a York village, giving its residents a community space again.
Harmony Tea Room in Stillingfleet has reopened to the public after initially closing its doors in August 2022.
The tearoom is part of Harmony House – a B&B run by Adele York, which provides retreats and sanctuary for those looking to 'get away' for a while – and reopened its doors in the Garden Room on March 13.
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It is open three days a week – Thursday, Friday, and Saturday – and entirely staffed by a team of ten local volunteers, who were keen to create a new community space after the village was left without anywhere to gather after the initial closing.
Adele said: 'It's the village community that's running the tearoom. They work really well together and it's so nice that people are willing to come in and give their time to us.
Some of the cakes on offer (Image: Provided) 'It's just really important to get something open and available for our community.'
With food cooked by local volunteers, Harmony Tea Room seats 14 people inside with a further 16 seats on the terrace.
It currently offers a 'simple rustic menu with homemade food' with including goods, rustic rolls, soups, sausage plaits, and chutneys made by volunteers. There are cakes and slices are made by local baker and volunteer Mandy Daniel.
Volunteers making coffee (Image: Provided) Drinks are also sourced locally with coffee from Yorkshire based roastery, CLO and an selection of speciality loose leaf and matcha teas sourced from Bird and Blend which change with the seasons.
In addition to the regular offerings, Harmony Tea Room hopes to offer some new experiences with afternoon cream teas on offer and bottomless brunches available – something which has brought in visitors from nearby villages.
The bottomless brunch menu includes breakfast sandwiches, eggs benedict, a vegan avocado dish, Pimm's, mimosa, and beers, in addition to non-alcoholic alternatives.
Homemade soup (Image: Provided) Adele added: 'It's just got such a nice feel. It's informal, relaxed, and a really good place to just come in for a natter – people have been chatting to each other over the tables.
'We've also had repeat customers – a walking group poked their head in and are now returning as a 14-person booking.'
Harmony House is open from Thursday to Saturday from 10:30am to 3pm.
