Spring 2025 Issue

The Summer 2025 Newsletter will be sent in July.

REMEMBER: Tea rooms have requested that members arrive no early than 15 minutes before the time of the tea (or as noted in the tea description). This gives servers and the kitchen the chance to make the room as lovely and ready as possible.

Thurs., May 8, 1 p.m.

Wee Fancy Tearoom

890 Peoples Plaza

Newark, DE 19702

302-218-1561

We visited this tearoom on a bus trip in September 2023. It's just over the Delaware state line, about 1.5 hours from York, PA. It will be a nice ride in the spring. If you want to carpool, contact Donna Lerew at donnalerew@gmail.com or 717-741-2684.

The tearoom is owned by a mother-daughter team and was inspired by family who were from Yorkshire, England. In fact, they use their grandmother's scone recipe in the tearoom, which has been featured on PBS. Come early or stay late to shop in the stores.

Parking: The tearoom is located in a large shopping center, so there is plenty of parking.

Mobility: There are no steps in the tearoom.

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*Cost: $42, club members; $47, guests/non-members

Reservation deadline: April 30

*Please include tea name in memo section of your check.

Fri., May 30 and

Sat., May 31, noon

Higinbotham's Tea Room

102 Lincolnway,

New Oxford, PA 17350

717-624-1866

The Higinbotham's Bed & Breakfast Tea Room is in the quaint town of New Oxford, which is known as the antiques capital of southcentral PA. Before or after browsing nearby shops, enjoy a delicious five-course tea in the sunroom, library, or in the dining room. The food is prepared daily and all homemade. We always have a great time and tea at Higinbotham's.

Parking: On-street parking on Lincolnway/Route 30 or Bolton Street.

Mobility: There is one small step onto porch and one step into house; no steps inside house; seating begins at 11:40 a.m.

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*Cost: $36, club members; $41, guests/non-members

Reservation deadline: May 22

*Please include tea name and tea date in memo section of your check.

Thurs., June 12, noon

Manchester Tea & Tarts

Note the new location:

Marietta Community House

264 W. Market St.

Marietta, PA 17547

717-874-0518

Manchester Tea and Tarts, where we've had delicious teas, needed to relocate to another site and now serves teas in Marietta. Co-owners Michelle (from England) and Melissa (a pastry chef) serve a British tea from scones to sweets. Michelle also takes groups to England as a tour guide. Come and see their new venue and enjoy a delicious tea. Seating begins at 11:40 a.m.

Parking: In front or rear of the tea room building.

Mobility: There are two steps to enter at the front of the house and a ramp in the rear; seating begins at 11:40 a.m.

*Cost: $50, club members; $55, guests/non-members

Reservation deadline: June 4

*Please include tea name in memo section of your check.

Thurs., June 26, 11 a.m.

Tea tasting: Heron's Meadow Farm

Tea: Sykesville's Kate Pearl on Main Tea Room

Heron's Meadow Tea Farm

tour and tea tasting, 11 a.m.

1596 Daisy Rd.

Woodbine, MD 21797

410-934-0148

At 12:30 p.m., members will drive to:

Kate Pearl on Main Tea Room

7540 Main St.

Sykesville, MD 21784

410-549-7676

Heron’s Meadow Farm, in Western Howard County, is Maryland’s first tea farm as well as home to BLTeas and MudPi Studios. The Farm is host to many inspirational views, wildlife, flavorful teas, and handcrafted stoneware pottery. We will visit the farm during the harvest season, gathering at 11 a.m. for a talk by the owner about growing, harvesting, and processing tea, as well as a chance to sample teas. There will be time to shop in the store and buy tea grown on the farm. 

At around 12:30 p.m., we will depart for the Sykesville tearoom, which is a 15-20 minute drive. The Club has visited this tea room in the past but since then Kate Pearl has bought the tea room as its second location. The full tea includes:

• Soup or salad (chef's choice),
• Scone,
• Sandwiches,
• Sweets and
• Sorbet to end the tea.

If you need directions or want to carpool, contact Donna Lerew at donnalerew@gmail.com or 717-741-2684.

Parking: In front or rear of the tea room building.

Mobility: No steps into the venues. There is parking behind the tea room, on the street, and in a lot across the street (which does have stairs).

*Cost: $47, club members; $52, guests/non-members

Reservation deadline: June 18

*Please include tea name in memo section of your check.

Sat., July 19, noon

Annual Tea Luncheon

New Fairview Church

1873 New Fairview Church Rd.

York, PA 17403

717-741-2684 (Donna Lerew for info)

Calling all Royal-tea Club gardeners, please bring cut flowers in a vase or a potted plant for the centerpiece at your (and others) table.

Susanna Reppert-Brill, a fifth generation herbalist and a tea and tea party enthusiast from The Rosemary House in Mechanicsburg, PA, will give the presentation The Victorian Language of Herbs and Flowers after our meal. She and her sister, Nancy Reppert of Sweet Remembrances, are the coordinators of the PA Tea Festival and founding members of the Mid-Atlantic Tea Business Association. When not in the shop, Susanna can usually be found in the garden drinking chai, hot or more frequently iced.

The ever-popular book sale featuring gently-read books and silent auction will be back. So pack up all those books and favorite knick-knacks to bring with you.

Again, this year we will have a catered lunch that will be portion-controlled so there will be enough for all attendees.

Our meal will include:

• Chicken cordon bleu,
• Scalloped potatoes,
• Cranberry salad,
• Mixed vegetables,
• Fruit cup,
• Dessert,
• Iced tea and hot water for hot tea (feel free to bring your own tea bags and favorite tea cup), and
• Lemon, sugar, and milk.

Lunch will begin promptly at noon, but we will have helpers beginning at 11 a.m. to unload and cart books and auction items into the hall.

Remember: We will start collecting dues for 2026 at the luncheon. (The 2026 form will be included in Summer newsletter.) Dues for email delivery of the newsletter remain the same at $15. Due to increased cost of stamps and copying, the dues for printed and mailed newsletter will be $30.

Our dues are paid annually, so the 2026 dues cover the time from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026. Renew early to avoid a late fee.

Mobility: The front-door entrance is step free.

*Cost: $26, club members; $31, guests/non-members

Reservation deadline: July 10

*Please include tea name in memo section of your check.

Sun., Aug. 3, 2 p.m.

Tilly Mint's Tea Room

20 W. Chestnut St.

Souderton, PA 18964

215-723-2620

Members suggested this tearoom, which is less than two hours from York, PA, after last year's visit to The Village Tearoom in West Point, PA.

For Trish, the owner of Tilly Mint's, tea evokes a feeling of comfort and being loved, reminding her of the familiar ritual her mom would go through when she made a pot of tea. This ritual of tea making led to Trish's nickname Tilly Mints and then to the name of her tea room. 

The Club will have the Wavertree Tea which includes:

• Chilled watermelon soup,
• Sandwiches,
• Fresh fruit,
• Salad,
• Scone, and
• Dessert.

The tea room also has a nice gift shop for a little retail fun before or after the tea.

Take a lovely Sunday afternoon ride to Souderton and enjoy a delicious tea. If you need directions or want to carpool, contact Donna Lerew at donnalerew@gmail.com or 717-741-2684.

Mobility: There are no steps to the tearoom. However, there is a slight incline from the parking lot, so the owner suggests drivers drop those with walking difficulties in front of the tea room.

*Cost: $40.50, club members; $45.50, guests/non-members

Reservation deadline: July 17

*Please include tea name in memo section of your check.

Sat., Aug. 23, 1 p.m.

Hollinger House Bed & Breakfast

2336 Hollinger Rd

Lancaster, PA 17602

646-342-9776

This bed and breakfast opened in 2014, and after closing for COVID, re-opened under new ownership. The Hollinger House is a Federal-style mansion built in 1870 as a private residence. Our tea menu includes:

• Seasonal soup,
• Mandarin orange salad with homemade poppy seed dressing,
• Classic tea sandwiches, and
• Blueberry and strawberry scones with clotted cream and homemade apple butter.

Club members will be serenaded with live music during the tea. And, for those who want a mini-vacation in Lancaster, the B&B is offering a discounted stay. Contact the Hollinger House and use the code "Royaltea" to make your reservation.

Mobility: There is one step onto the porch and one into the house.

*Cost: $60, club members; $65, guests/non-members

Reservation deadline: Aug. 12

*Please include tea name in memo section of your check.

Sat., Sept. 6, 1 p.m.

East Berlin Historical Preservation Society Tea

Red Men's Hall

332 King St.

East Berlin, PA 17316

717-870-1634

The Club had a delightful tea here several years ago and we're happy to return.

The menu includes:

• Soup,
• Salad,
• Two types of scones,
• Sandwiches,
• Sweets, and,
• Of course, endless pots of tea.

East Berlin is a lovely town to visit with lots of history.  

Mobility: There are three steps into the front of the building from on-street parking. The rear entrance of the building has no steps but the parking there is very limited. Drivers can also drop people off at the back door and park on the street.

*Cost: $45, club members; $50, guests/non-members

Reservation deadline: Aug. 31

*Please include tea name in memo section of your check.

Bus Trip

Experience the Legendary Horseshoe Curve & More!

2024 Stats CORRECTION

In our Winter issue of the newsletter, we shared fun facts about the Club. But we made an error in listing where our members hail from.

We missed the two members who live in Georgia. We're so sorry for our omission.

To keep up to date between newsletters, be sure to visit our website.

Club Policies

NEW MEMBERS AND MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Membership dues for new members and for membership renewals are payable by Jan. 1 of each year.

Dues: Download the membership form here.

Membership renewals

• E-Newsletter + Annual Membership, $15
• Mailed Newsletter + Annual Membership, $25
• Late Fee: $5 must be included with any renewals for 2025. Renewal form for 2025.

New Member fee: $10, one-time only new member fee. (The charge allows the Club to purchase a magnetic name tag for individuals to wear at Club events.) Download the new member form here.

Magnetic Name Tag: $10/name tag.

CLUB NEW MEMBER AND MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL PAYMENTS

Checks made out to The Royal-tea Club that include all dues, late fees, along with new member and /or renewal applications, should be mailed to:

Donna Lerew

110 Reynolds Mill Road

York, PA 17403

TEA RESERVATIONS

• Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Emailed reservation requests must be confirmed by the Club before they are considered accepted.
• Please indicate members of your party when making reservations so we can assign seats appropriately to help keep everyone safe.
• Do not send payment until your reservation is confirmed.
• After a reservation has been made and confirmed, payment must be received by the Club within 10 days. If it is not received within that time frame, the reservation may be canceled.
• In the memo line of the check, please indicate which tea(s) and date(s) are being paid for.
• Club events are closed 10 days before the event takes place or the date specified in the newsletter.
• Reminder: Seating at tea rooms will begin 15 minutes prior to the tea time listed, unless noted differently in the Mobility section of the tea's description.

Reservations and questions should be sent to Donna Lerew at donnalerew@gmail.com or 717-741-2684.

CLUB EVENT PAYMENTS*

Checks made out to the Royal-tea Club and mailed to:

Donna Lerew

110 Reynolds Mill Road

York, PA 17403

*In the memo line, please note the tea(s) and date(s).

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND

If you are unable to attend an event you have reserved, contact Donna Lerew as soon as possible at donnalerew@gmail.com or 717-741-2684. This will allow her time to contact the next person on the waiting list and you may receive a refund. Please, do not give your seat to another person in order to be fair to those on the waiting list.

REFUNDS

Payment for tea reservations is non-refundable, unless cancelled prior to the cutoff date posted in the newsletter or if someone on the waiting list can take the reservation.

Any money from a cancellation will be a credit that can be used for future events. All unused credits will be returned after the last event in December. No refunds or credits of less than $1 will be given.

GUEST POLICY

Guest fee: $5, which is added to the cost of the tea event. If the guest decides to join the Club, the $5 fee will be applied to dues for that calendar year.