Bea’s of Bloomsbury

Bea’s of Bloomsbury and Primrose Bakery are my faaaav places to get cupcakes in London. And there are a lot of chose from due to the big cupcake boom of 2011.
Beas of Bloomsbury creates cupcakes with thick buttery icing and dense cakey bottoms.
This particular chain is always packed and this is the first time I’ve actually gotten a seat in there. We ordered and paid at the till and sat at on the ground floor next to the window.
It was dark since the lights weren’t turned on above us and damp from the rain outside. It’s also quite a small space and we were right next to the kitchen so staff busied in and out by our table.
It wasn’t the best atmosphere (comparable to somewhere like costa coffee) but the cupcakes totally made up for it.

We decided to go for an alternative Christmas meal at work this year and opted for Beas afternoon tea.
The staff made it easy to book and accommodated a few different allergies (nut, gluten and vegetarian).
At £29 excluding tip it came to a pricey meal out and didn’t include any crackers, Christmas decorations etc however we all came away full, satisfied and most of us with doggy bags of leftover cake!
The afternoon tea at £25 includes 3 sandwiches, 3 brownies, a cupcake, a marshmallow, a scone with clotted cream and jam and of course a choice of tea (hot choco or coffee is also an alternative). For an extra fiver you can upgrade to ‘gold afternoon tea’ which adds a macaroon and a mini bottle of fizz (worth it in my opinion).
Sandwiches were really good — highlights being the cream cheese & walnut. There was also one with mozzarella in and one with salami but I think they mix this up q fair bit. The bread that they used was a nice salty focaccia which made it different to the normal finger sandwiches you get.
On to the scone — most of them looked good but mine was a little dry and over baked, however there was plenty of jam and clotted cream to slather on top and with tea and fizz to wash it down it was more than bearable.
There was a lotta sweet stuff — the brownies were lovely and rich however the blondie was disappointing; just sugar with no white chocolate. The marshmallows were homemade and obviously super sweet but not my thing. These came in different flavours but I got a plain one so it was a bit boring.
For the main event: each cake stand had several cupcakes of different flavours. I had a lovely chocolate and pistachio one which was moist and rich. The only odd thing was the cream on top which had a funny texture. It was also a shame you couldn’t choose the cupcake you wanted from the menu.
Finally — I went for the black vanilla tea which was delicious. Not too sweet but didn’t need milk. It went perfectly with the cakes. However don’t expect too much choice. I think there were only 8 teas available.
Overall a lovely team outing (we were nearly there for 2 hours although service was efficient). I will be back for a cup of tea and cake but not for afternoon tea — I’ve had better in London I’m afraid!

Tourist trap. Neither the tea or the baked goods are good. And its very uncomfortable sitting there. We got a table right beside the kitchen and it was super hot. Hard pass.

Booked for afternoon tea on a Saturday, once we got there it wasn’t too busy until 45 minutes in it got packed. Suddenly we were asked to leave even though they told us we had a 2 hour slot for afternoon tea because they needed the space for customers waiting outside.
We were rushed to finish what we had left and told to leave the booth to pay downstairs.
This all came down to bad booking management.

I came here for afternoon tea with a group of four, after some friends recommended it. The location is near St. Paul’s but it was a little odd that it was part of an outdoor mall. The tea house was cute on the inside and narrow with an upstairs section where we were seated. If you’re looking to have a proper or traditional afternoon tea, don’t come here. It is a more casual or café style take on afternoon tea.
That being said, the sandwiches were delicious and were served on a thick focaccia type of bread. The scone was amazing too and I loved their clotted cream! I don’t have any complaints with the tea (English breakfast) either except our waitress was never around to ask for more hot water. The desserts were what I was most disappointed in. They served us an array of cupcakes, brownies, and meringues, which were all equally unimpressive.
At 20 something £s, I did not find the experience quite worth it. Although, it is a much cheaper alternative to afternoon tea in London if you desire something more casual and filling. Just don’t come here expecting a formal tea experience.

Cozy spot for a yummy Triple Chocolate Cake and an Earl Grey break. Sit upstairs for a good people watching. Warm welcome and attentive staff.

I was disappointed, after reading reviews and wanting to go here for a while. Firstly, for a a café that proclaimed it’s won accolades for afternoon tea to be served a tea bag in a pot is very poor. quality. Also the waitress mixed up my Earl Grey tea with my friends English Breakfast, which we didn’t realise until we started drinking the tea. We didn’t try any of the cakes. I won’t be rushing back their in a hurry.

Stopped by on the spot for a last minute birthday cake for my colleague. The selection was good, considering I didn’t preorder. The prices were a bit steep, and I ended up spending 40 quid for a 16″ vanilla cheesecake topped with brownies.
Couple minor things: the topping on the brownie cheesecake is normally supposed to be a mix of their brownies, and blondies, creating variety. This cake only had the blondies, which was okay. The cake also looked like it had been through a bumpy car ride, and the sides had scraped off here and there. It’s still edible, but for 40 quid it should be damn cute. The staff was super sweet, but apparently they don’t do writing on cakes at this location. You can take your cake up to their other store for the decorating (no thanks).
4 stars because my coworkers absolutely loved the taste, and it was quite amazing for no pre-​ordered. Another plus — you can order with just 24 hours advance (not minimum of 2 – 3 days I’ve seen elsewhere (see Hummingbird Bakery)).

Lovely little shop with lots of cupcake choices. We tried several and to be honest they look great but it lacking on the taste side…
The staff is friendly and the shop almost all the ingredients to make them stunning…

Cute lil coffee shop and bakery. Lovely and huge cup cakes! They do big cakes too, but they’re reasonably expensive, so be aware if they’re your last minute option for birthday cakes to take into the office!!! (Been burnt by that before!)

I do adore Bea’s and I am a bit of a fanboy (girl) here since I got to meet the fabulous — and rather gorgeous — Bea! That story is a good one as it involves an Chocco Elite Walking tour, a bit of chocolate hobnobbing (see what I did there?!) slash networking and then being invited to sit as a last-​min judge for the International Chocolate Awards. Two. Whole. Days. Of. Chocolate… Nyommm…
I could say more but I run the risk of making you all jealous and mouth-​watery — even more so than this lovely little tea joint might.
What really stands out here is the décor and attention to detail. Really, one couldn’t ask for much more. Well, apart from stonking cake, which they also do. Yay Bea’s!

Give me something slightly savory, with a golden-​brown crust and a soft, buttery crumb. Then, spread it with sweet, fresh jam followed by a generous swipe of clotted cream. Order matters. This is the epitome of a proper British scone, and it’s just what Bea’s of Bloomsbury serves up, alongside other indulgent cakes, meringues, brownies and other butter-​laden pastries. There’s no shortage of carbs or fat here, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Bea’s is a delightful place to pop into if you’re around St. Paul’s. The selection is vast and the cupcake displays are adorable. I came on a Wednesday around lunchtime and the line was fairly long but it moved quickly. A man before me snatched up the entire loaf of bread that I wanted a piece of so instead I went with a scone and some hot chocolate. Their scones are a perfect combination of flaky and soft. The jam and clotted cream comes in tiny jars that you can take home afterwards. I probably wouldn’t order the hot chocolate again only because it tastes like the stuff you can get at any corner coffee shop. Lovely experience overall.

Arrived early for our high tea reservation and were granted a fairly immediate table (the requested table near the window upstairs. We went in March at 3 PM and the sun was blinding and hot and the shades were drawn. Lesson learned. Ha! Service was fabulous and we loved our experience. Each person gets their own tea choice and tea pot. We had green and black currant teas. The black currant was the best tea I have ever had! I am salivating at the thought right now. They kept our pots filled, upon request and lumps of sugar are on the table.
The food was very good as well. The scones, in particular, were killer. The sandwiches were all on focaccia bread and consisted of: a fresh moz and caramelized onion, cream cheese and nut mixture and prosciutto and cheese. The bread was just okay but mixtures good. There were blondies, brownies, merengue and two cupcakes (strawberry and chocolate peanut butter). Come on an empty stomach and with good company because you will be there awhile with a large amount of food.
Great experience and if we cross the pond again, we would love to go back. Close to St. Paul’s, a mall and bus and train lines as well.

Verdict: When afternoon tea not need to cost an arm and leg Bea is a lovely place to be at!
Pros:
— Fab location, looking at St P!
— Cosy and intimate settings.
— Regardless of the size, this bea is tiny, I always been lucky to get a sit and never been rushed out to free a table!
— Attentive and accommodating staff.
— Still very good (but not as good-​valued as before) fulfilling afternoon tea!
— Cupcakes: Lemon vanilla or carrot cake are to die for!
Cons:
— Pricing seems now a little out of whack: Afternoon tea price gone up almost 6£ in less than a year!
— I for one have difficulties with pulled pork let alone on an afternoon tea tray!

This location is in One New Change shopping mall over looking St Paul’s. Really great location. However, shop itself is not very comfortable. Though there are two levels, it is long and narrow and the lay out makes you feel a bit squished. As soon as you walk in, you find yourself at the end of a line. You have to order downstairs. The cup cakes here look very enticing with thick and perfect icing. I opted for a duffin which is a cross between a donut and a muffin. I have to say it was delicious! Bea’s is known for its afternoon tea and the prices are quite reasonable, starting from 19 pounds.
Most of the seatings are upstairs and at one end of which, you have a view of St Paul’s. If you can get a table there, it makes for a great experience. I definitely want to try another location for a proper afternoon tea.

Oh Bea’s. Oh Bea’s.
Oh dear Bea’s.
It seems a bit off, you sees.
I booked a midweek afternoon tea with my mother thinking Bea’s would be a nice treat. I’m sad to report I just wasn’t that impressed. At all.
First, this entire shop is in need of a good scrubbing and polish. Despite its fancy digs behind One New Change, the interior somehow seems worn, chipped, a bit grimy and frankly, in need of some polish. Fingerprints on the case, bathroom a bit divey. The good news? This can all be fixed in a few hours, Bea. I highly recommend putting some focus here, it’s desperately needed given the price point.
Because if I come in to a shop and pay £16 per person for an afternoon tea, I’d expect baseline level of «very good.» I’m not expecting a hotel caliber tea experience but I would expect things to be in good order.
The one pot of tea was fine, but nothing memorable. The sandwiches seemed liked they’d been sitting a long while (soggy), and the cupcakes were very nice, but the flavors offered to us we didn’t pick… so we ended up with something lemon (which I don’t like) and something fruity (again, wouldn’t have been my first choice). With such a great selection of cupcakes, perhaps let the tea guests select which ones they’d enjoy?
The service was nice, although it took an eon to get the check and once we did get it no one ever came back for it so I finally had to just go down and pay for it myself so we could get out of there.
Maybe an off day? Perhaps. Oh Bea’s, it was our time to shine and unfortunately the dullness of the shop and presentation just left me wanting more.

Ah, I love this little Bea’s. A solid destination to get away from the craziness of the area.
It’s small. Very small. A counter filled with delicious treats on the bottom, some tables and then another small floor of tables above. But I’ve always gotten a seat and a coffee and been able to get work done without issues. And the service here is top notch, even if you’re sitting above, they’ll still come to check on you and clear and just be friendly. Love that.
They’re maybe best known for their cupcakes but cupcakes are done. Try their cakes, that’s where the money is at. So good. So very dangerously good.
If I’m around, I always try to stop in, even just for a quick break and a quick coffee.

I was very excited to do afternoon tea in London and Bea’s was highly recommended, we’re in London after all how can you not have afternoon tea?
This place is cute, not very big, highly recommended getting reservation. The entrance has sweets and treat for take away, if you don’t want to have the full experience.
There was three of us, we recieved an assortment of sandwiches, (tuna, pulled pork, smoked cheese) scones was delightful with yummy cream and jam (this was the highlight of the afternoon) and assortments of sweets from marshmallows, brownies, cupcakes. Everything was ok, nothing extraordinary. As mentioned before the scone cream and jam was delouse, I would come back for those. We all choose a creamy earl grey which was good.
Overall, it was a good experince.

Tried different cupcakes but the mango vanilla cupcake at Bea’s is so far the best thing I’ve ever tasted! It’s the best company for a warm sunny day and a cup of coffee/​tea of your choice. The take-​always are way cheaper than eat-​in, £10 for 4 cupcakes is certainly a very good deal. The red velvet one tasted alright.
While I indulged myself for the cupcake, I can’t take my eyes off the triple chocolate cake they served near the cashier at reception. I kept thinking of getting it after my cupcake but I was too late when it came to the last piece of cake they have for today. I will return just to have a spoonful of that beauty.
The coffee tastes not bad at all. But the best thing they seem to be good at serving is the afternoon tea. I went to the upper floor and the staff told me it was specially booked for high tea only and I caught a brief look at the set of sandwiches, scones and sweet cakes they were serving. It’s for £19 per person and they looked busy on a sunday afternoon.
I love the inner area of Bea’s. Each table is furnished with a cute little bouquet of flower in a mini jam jar. Sitting here and looking outside while sipping your hot tea and devouring your cakes is the best feeling that you have to experience in London.

Wunderschöné Atmosphäre, gerade zum draußen sitzen mit Blick auf die St. Paul’s Kathedrale. Der Kaffee ist lecker. Der Karottenkuchen saftig. Die Preise sind etwas hoch, was aber für diese Lage wohl normal ist. Gerne wieder aber es gibt ja noch so viele andere Cafés in London zu entdecken!