“Polly put the kettle on, Polly put the kettle on, Polly put the kettle on, We’ll all have tea...” If you want to enjoy the atmosphere of the real English tea room, you don’t have to go to Great Britain. In Sendai, there is a unique cafe called “Polly Put The Kettle On” that offers a great experience of traditional English Afternoon tea.
A posh red bicycle and a big teapot on a signboard - you won’t probably miss these items when looking for a place to relax and have a cup of tea. The name of the cafe is inspiring, too. “I wanted to use something that is strongly associated with English culture, but not too overused. This line is from a nursery rhyme that every English would recognize,” says the owner.
The concept of this tea room was born when the owner returned from London, where he had spent 12 years studying and working in fashion industry and cafes, and decided to create something that would unite both fashion and cafe culture, as well as his great passion - antique. That’s how “Polly Put The Kettle On” was born.
The interior is made based on an image of a country tea room from 1950s. “My English friends say that it’s just like visiting grandma’s house”, the owner adds. A lot of love and care is put in the design.
Statuettes and souvenirs scattered around the room, old photos and posters on the walls, everything seems on it’s place, creating a lovely and nostalgic atmosphere, so suitable for an afternoon tea.
And, of course, tea is the item you cannot miss! Served in an antique teapot with a carefully selected antique cup, it tastes just like it has to! Delicious scones, adorable cakes and sandwiches are made according to traditional recipes and using some ingredients that are extremely hard to find in Japan - like marmite.
The owner’s recommendation is Afternoon tea set (1200 yen for one person, the set on the photo is for two), that includes sandwiches, scones (clotted cream is + 200 yen) and daily sweets.
Having a cup of tea with a scone, while listening to Classic FM or some other English radio station is so romantic! You can purchase a souvenir like tiny handmade leather boots or a tote bag with cafe’s logo, too. Some rare edible items are for sale, too.
The owner is always happy to see foreigners and if you don’t speak Japanese - don’t worry, because his English is perfect!
The cafe is open from 10 AM to 7 PM on Monday and Tuesday, from 10 AM to 10 PM on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and from 12 PM to 19 PM on Sunday, but it is better to check twitter (twitter.com/pollytearoom). Or make a phone call: 022-702-4122
Address: 1-4-37, Kimachidori, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi
Official website: pollyputthekettleon.mhcorp.jp