Review: Holden Wood Antiques Tearooms, Haslingden (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Review: Holden Wood Antiques Tearooms, Haslingden

4:44pm Wednesday 1st September 2010 in Latest restaurant reviews By John Anson, Features editor

Address: Grane Road, Haslingden, Rossendale, BB4 4AT.

Phone number: 01706 211630.

Lancashire Telegraph review by John Anson from August 28, 2010.

A PANORAMIC view of a graveyard isn’t something you’d normally expect from a cafe, but then Holden Wood isn’t your typical cafe.

Formerly a church, Holden Wood has developed over the past few years into a thriving antiques centre and the attached cafe is a relatively new addition.

It is, in effect, a glass extension tastefully added on to the side of the existing church so that what was once the outside wall is now a feature stone wall inside the cafe.

On offer is a small selection of daily specials plus a nice range of home made cakes and desserts.

It’s the sort of place where you can have a full meal if you want or just a coffee and a bite.

The view is a little disconcerting at first but with the hills looming above the graveyard there’s actually something strangely appealing about it.

In all truth we hadn’t planned on having anything to eat but the home made desserts looked so tempting that we couldn’t resist.

I went for the vanilla and raspberry cheesecake while the better half chose a slice of lemon meringue pie.

With two coffees, the total was £8.50 — not bad for somewhere you have a virtually captive audience.

Sometimes with a tearoom the presentation can leave a bit to be desired. But not here.

Great care had been taken to serve up our desserts on shiny black plates, dusted with a little caster sugar.

Both dishes were good-sized portions and tasted as good as they looked.

My cheesecake had a crunchy base and a wonderfully rich topping.

The lemon meringue was light and equally tasty.

If you’re looking for somewhere to pop in for a break and a bite, then forget the spooky vista and the Holden Wood Tearooms might be right up your street.

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