“Most tea rooms in America today are not traditional,” says Sid Scott, the owner of the Blue Willow Tea Room. “But here, we do everything in exactly the English fashion.”

Visitors to the Blue Willow can partake of all levels of tea service, from half-crème tea, consisting of a pot of tea with scones, jam, and Devonshire cream, to a full afternoon tea, which features scones, jam, fruit curd, a soup du jour, canapés, and tea sandwiches.

All teas served at Blue Willow are made by the master tea blenders at Harney & Sons and their pound cakes, jams, and curds are made by Rowena’s, a renowned Virginia bakery. All the soups and sandwiches served are homemade, and much of the produce is acquired locally.

Sid also owns and manages an antique shop called Penniston’s Alley, which is actually connected to Blue Willow. Visitors can take a break from browsing the fine objets d’art at Penniston’s and relax with a pot of fine tea, a cup of coffee, or a lovely brunch. The Blue Willow name comes from the exquisite pattern on all their serving china, which was originally sold at Penniston’s. “This tea room has been fifteen years in the making,” Sid says. “I think it really filled a need here in Petersburg. I think we’re really unique.”

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Of course, like any good pub, Brickhouse has a wide selection of English beers and ales. “It is not meant to feel like a pub which has been plucked from a town in the British countryside and dropped in Petersburg. Rather, we like to think that if Petersburg, Virginia were part of Britain this is what its pub would be like,” Drew remarks proudly.  This jolly pub setting can also be reserved for private parties and events.

Drew, who began working in the restaurant business at age fifteen, says that he and Johanna always wanted to open their own restaurant, which they have now expanded to include a catering service. They also feel very connected to the community, and in that spirit Brickhouse hosts all kinds of fun event nights, from “Quiz Nights” the first Monday of every month to “Thirsty Thursdays”. “It’s really the patrons and the atmosphere that they bring to Petersburg’s local pub,” Drew says. “That’s what makes it such a special place.”

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