Delightful old-world tea rooms a tourist attraction

THE Blue Bicycle Tea Rooms in Newport is owned and run by the Chambers family, who first established a grocery and vintners business in the town in 1865, writes Tom Gillespie.

Frank and Phil Chambers run the business today and oversee a menu that favours seasonal and local ingredients, many of which are supplied by food producers from the local Gourmet Greenway food trail.

The Blue Bicycle Tea Rooms opened in 2011, located in the charming 17th century, stone-fronted, historical De Bille house in the centre of Newport.

In 1782 a Danish frigate, 'Bornholm', which had left Copenhagen for the Danish West Indies, was blown by a storm into Melcombe Bay.

The fever-stricken crew were hospitalised in a building in Melcombe. The captain, Mathias de Bille, was befriended by local merchant John McLoughlin and it was in John's house on Main Street, Newport, that the captain died.

In the late 17th century the Danish Royal family financed the building of De Bille house on Main Street, which is now the residence of Phil and Frank Chambers, where they operate The Blue Bicycle Tea Rooms and Frank Chambers Auctioneers.

The tearoom is conveniently located close to the Great Western Greenway and the Wild Atlantic Way, and is a popular resting place for visitors and locals alike who enjoy its freshly baked and locally sourced produce.

The daily fare includes gourmet salads and sandwiches served on homemade breads, incorporating artisan ingredients, homemade soups, in-house salad dressings and pestos, and freshly baked scones, cakes and tarts, including the signature Blue Bicycle Princess Grace Orange Cake, served with orange and cardamom syrup and fresh cream.

Afternoon teas are also served on vintage bone china and visitors have the option of dining inside the tea rooms, with its old-world ambiance, or outside in the Victorian garden.

The Blue Bicycle Tea Rooms is a proud member of the Gourmet Greenway, Mayo’s finest food trail.

Georgina Campbell, 
Ireland’s leading food and hospitality guide, said of The Blue Bicycle Tea Rooms: 
“The Great Western Greenway brings a lot of people to Newport, and many visitors who are looking for a bite to eat while they’re passing 
through the town head straight here, to Phil Chambers’ delightful old-world tea rooms.”

The Blue Bicycle Tea Rooms are located at Main Street, Newport, and can be contacted on (098) 41145.