For the Ultimate Sandwich – head to Sandwich !

Next week is British Sandwich Week – and what better place to tuck into the ultimate British sandwich than the town which bears its name?

The Secret Gardens of Sandwich offer delightful cream teas, with delicious home-made cakes and delicately trimmed sandwiches – a far cry from the great slabs of bread stuffed with roast beef summoned by the famous Earl of Sandwich back in 1762.

But for a day out with a difference, they certainly take some licking!

The elegant Edwardian-style tea rooms at The Secret Gardens of Sandwich sport crisp starched linen tablecloths and crockery, cake stands and silverware sourced from London’s Savoy Hotel. Obliging staff serve a range of light lunches and snacks throughout the day, but their Cream Teas – together with the new Chocolate Cream Teas – are always among customers’ favourites.

The neatly-trimmed finger sandwiches offer a choice of fillings – and you can wash them down with a selection of teas, coffees and herbal infusions or a glass of fine wine or champagne.

Situated in the Old Gatehouse, the tea rooms at The Secret Gardens, along with the newly-opened Gift Shop, are open to visitors free of charge. However, it would be a pity to miss the spectacular early displays at these Jekyll-inspired gardens, which are now coming into bloom, during a visit to this tranquil part of town.

The Secret Gardens of Sandwich contain 30 of the UK’s 33 native species of trees, as well as some rare and unusual exhibits which are now coming into bud in the Tropical Garden, The White Garden and The Yellow Garden which form just a small part of this 3.5 acre oasis of colour.

The award-winning Secret Gardens remain one of Kent’s best-kept secrets, despite a £2m restoration scheme undertaken by the current owners. A team of eight gardeners work religiously throughout the year to ensure the gardens are always at their best for visitors, who travel from all over the world to see this fine example of a Lutyens-Jekyll Manor House and garden.

British Sandwich Week runs from May 9 – 15 and celebrates this most humble of British snacks. However, with more than 11.5 billion butties consumed in Britain each year and an industry which employs more than 300,000 people, perhaps the British buttie is not so humble after all!

The Secret Gardens are open seven days a week, throughout the year.

For more information, telephone 01304 619919, and for information on the Tea Rooms, telephone 01304 612730.