The Agnes High Tea Pavilion at B Farm by Murray’s is a whimsical space dedicated to celebrations. It’s the perfect setting for high tea with friends or family, filled with charm, warmth and a generosity of spirit.
Located midway between Newcastle and Nelson Bay, afternoon tea at Agnes High Tea Pavilion at B Farm by Murray’s is a decadent affair well worth the detour when visiting Port Stephens.
B Farm by Murray’s has been home to Murray’s Craft Brewing Co since 2006 and the farm has evolved over time to become a sprawling entertainment venue encompassing a cellar door, restaurant, beer garden and the charming Agnes High Tea Pavilion where we take tea.
The pavilion is named in honour of the owner Murray’s grandmother Agnes and guests are welcomed with house made cordial on arrival, another nod to dear Agnes. The room takes inspiration from Agnes’ homeland, evoking the colours of the vast Scottish countryside, soft mint green hues and foliage are featured within a glass walled rustic conservatory; overall the pavilion gives off Grounds of Alexandria vibes.
Open 7 days a week, you’re invited to take tea anytime. Ambitiously, Agnes High Tea Pavilion offers three separate menus available across the day, from breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, changing seasonally as well as special event menus such as Easter and Mother’s Day. Arrive on Monday & Tuesday or walk in without a booking and you won’t leave disappointed with a delicious Devonshire tea on offer.
On our visit, we’ve landed in time to enjoy a special event Easter High Tea Menu. It’s indicative of their current menu, minus the Easter flourishes.
The room is set with fine bone China, sterling silver teapots, bespoke bamboo tableware and Kintsugi flatware. Kintsugi is the traditional art of repairing broken, chipped and cracked pottery using lacquer and gold. It’s a unique way of blending east and west in the tearoom pavilion and shows beauty in the imperfections.
We’re welcomed with generous goblets of Murray’s Estate Sparkling wine and then the scones and high tea stand arrive laden with goodies. We start with the savoury items, a crunchy four-cheese arancini, sweet corn tartlet, a delicate smoked salmon crepe dotted with dill and an egg and lettuce sandwich on housemade milk bread.
A standout was Agnes signature homemade scones served with housemade strawberry and basil jam with clotted cream. The jam is made from seasonal ingredients from the farm and the scones are medium in size and the perfect balance of crunchy outside and fluffy inside.
We finish with the sweet selection of petite lemon meringue tarts, popular biscoff cheesecake topped with seasonal fruit, delectable carrot cake and chocolate mudcake.
All the delicacies are made in house and on our visit, we had the pleasure of meeting Chef Lovely Santos who is responsible for the High Tea selection as well as product lines sold in the cellar door including jams and cordials. Originally from the Philippines, Lovely has worked at prestigious luxury resorts including One & Only Wolgan Valley and Spicers Retreats before joining Murrays in 2022. Drawing inspiration from classic English high teas but adding a modern twist, Lovely has been a creative force in the kitchen, showing determination and a passion to deliver an outstanding high tea experience for guests.
With prior notice, Agnes’ chefs will happily cater to dietary requirements such as offering vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options to create a memorable high tea. In addition, as a family friendly venue a Mini Tea is offered for accompanying children aged 3-10 years.
Tea and coffee is included in your Agnes High Tea experience offering a selection of teas from The Rabbit Hole, Australian native tea as well as coffee by boutique roaster The Little Marionette.
Overall the whole experience is one of generosity and you get a sense that Agnes High Tea has been made with love. The ever-changing menu has you wanting to come back for more.
Sample High Tea menu:
- Buttermilk scones with jam and cream
- Lemon Meringue Tart
- Panna Cotta
- Macaron
- Red Velvet Cake
- Chocolate Cake
Savoury:
- Smoked Salmon and Cucumber Finger sandwiches
- Tartlet
- Croque Monsieur
All packages include still or sparking water, boutique range of B Farm Cordials, Plus or minus non-alcoholic wines, Rabbit Hole Tea and The Little Marionette coffee.
High Tea NSW – find more experiences
in our High Tea Venue Directory
