DINGLE Farm has been named one of the best teashops in the UK.

The Appleton tea room was ranked 15th in the top 20 places in the country for a cake and a cuppa by The Sunday Times.

Journalist Louise Johncox paid a visit to Dingle Farm around two months ago and interviewed owner Louise Giles as part of cream tea tour of the UK before giving her verdict.

She writes cookery books and her parents ran Peter’s in Weybridge for more than 40 years while her grandparents and great-grandparents also ran teashops.

"It meant everything to us," said Louise, who runs Dingle Farm with her niece Jane Bilton.

"It felt like we’d made the big list because Betty’s of Harrogate is probably the best known tea room in the UK and they were just in front of us at number 14.

"We’ve had lots of people coming in waving the magazine and since then we’ve had people coming from further afield.

"Normally we take in visitors from probably 10 or 15 miles but since the article we've found people coming from Chester, Manchester and Lancashire."

Louise reckons Dingle Farm is best known for its homemade soup and traditional potato cakes. The teashop opened three years ago and also specialises in gluten-free options.

She added: "The other thing we always try and do is use local suppliers so our cakes are baked by Beth at Picture Frame Puds in Appleton and we only sell Daresbury Dairy ice cream."

But Louise also thinks that the Dingle Lane business's location is just as important.

She said: "We’ve got a lovely tea room garden and we overlook the country so we could be in the middle of anywhere.

"But in actual fact we’re within 10 minutes walking distance from Appleton, Stockton Heath and Grappenhall. People also walk from Thelwall and Stretton.

"It gives them a destination as families come here when they go for a walk on a Sunday or go for a bike ride. "People use it as a bribe for the kids and say they can have an ice cream when they get there.

"We’re also very dog walker friendly. We have a large outdoor section and we encourage people to meet up with their friends here with their dogs.

"We have views over the gardens and fields and the trees. That is probably one of the biggest draws.

"A lot of people say it’s the kind of place you find when you are on holiday but it’s right on your doorstep."

Dingle Farm also has an art studio, gift and craft shop and beauty salon.

DAVID MORGAN