Steal an afternoon to enjoy tea and fellowship at Book and Bee in Hendersonville, North Carolina
Travel means business for Lesley and Greg Shipley, who, since 2008, have operated their student travel agency out of the two-story building they purchased in Hendersonville, North Carolina. It was their own travels to Europe that introduced them to the practice of taking afternoon tea. “When we were in the UK, we would always stop to have tea,” Lesley recalls. “I love the ritual . . . and have always wanted to have a tearoom.”
After years of steeping that dream, Lesley opened Book and Bee in the upper half of the building in early 2021. Her daughter, Victoria Cummins, manages the cafe and tearoom, while Greg still runs the travel agency downstairs.
Just a few miles outside downtown Hendersonville, Book and Bee occupies a charming warren of themed rooms, whose decor is inspired by English landscapes and Victoria’s love of reading. Oversized pink flowers and green foliage (à la Alice in Wonderland) sprawl across the walls of the front Garden Room. Adjoining it on the right is the spacious Stratford Room, with its fireplace and writer’s theme. On the other side of the Garden Room reside two smaller nooks: the Jubilee Room, with its murals of London and odes to the late Queen Elizabeth II; and the Eagle & Child, a masculine space resembling the London pub frequented by friends J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis—Victoria’s favorite authors.
The cafe serves brunch and lunch, and a formal tea service in the afternoon. By adopting the daily tea ritual established by Catherine of Braganza during the reign of her husband, Charles II (1660-1685), the modern mother-and-daughter duo wants their establishment to be a place where folks unplug and enjoy fellowship. “You never see anybody on their cell phone in here,” claims Lesley. “We want Book and Bee to offer a reprieve from the stresses of life.”
Delicate china pots and cups, which Lesley and her daughter have collected from their travels and visits to antique shops, are placed on the table during tea service. Guests choose from a menu of 14 different teas that Victoria christened with whimsical names such as The Highlander (Scottish breakfast tea), The Silly Old Bear (cinnamon black tea), and The Hobbit (maple blueberry honeybush tea). Each guest also receives a tiered plate arranged with a generous assortment of finger sandwiches and sweets such as scones, miniature strawberry layer cake, and lemon bars.
Thanks to the love and attention to detail the owners have poured into this place, Book and Bee has become a destination for those wanting to take time out from their busy lives to sip tea and savor good conversation.
Tea for Two at Book and Bee
Feel free to dress in your favorite finery and fancy hat for the tea service at Book and Bee. Formal English tea is offered Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30am–1:30pm and reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance (note that they book up quickly for holidays and special occasions like Mother’s Day). The price for afternoon tea service is $41 per person (tax and tip included). If you wish to share a tray, there is an extra splitting charge of $20.50.
Book and Bee, 795 Mountain Rd., Hendersonville, NC, 828.845.4242, thebookandbee.com
Photography by Andrew Huang.
