Chiddingstone Stores & Cafe

Chiddingstone Stores & Cafe The Tulip Tree is reputedly the oldest working shop in the UK. Conveniently, we’re also the village Post Office.
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Picture perfect country cafe and reputedly the UK’s oldest working shop in England, situated in a perfectly preserved Tudor high street owned by the National Trust. Dating back to 1453, today it’s still a treasure trove of carefully curated and ever-changing gifts and local products. We sell everything from jewellery, candles and toys to kitchen cupboard essentials and furniture, but our favourite bit has to be the colourful corner dedicated to fudge, chocolate and retro sweeties in old-fashioned jars. In The Tulip Tree tea rooms, which are in an old converted coach house just behind the shop, we serve a wide range of Birchall teas (the best teas around by far, we reckon), coffee (from our machine, known as Leonardo because it’s so beautiful), homemade cakes, breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas. We’re also licensed, so cider, beer and wine are on the menu too. Oh, and we’re available to hire for private events. Come in and curl up with a hot chocolate in front of the wood burner, soak up some rays in our sunny courtyard, or grab a coffee on the school run. Chiddingstone is slap bang in the middle of the rolling fields of the Weald of Kent. There’s plenty to do and see in the area: walking, cycling, the church across the road, the castle around the corner, the Chiding Stone on the edge of the village, and a generous smattering of historic houses. We’re also only a few minutes drive from Hever Castle and Penshurst Place, so drop in as part of your day trip. Food, drink, shopping and heritage all in one place – it makes us very happy and we hope you feel it too!

A customer just came in with this lovely photograph taken in 1904. They bought it in Maidstone and decided to visit.
05/09/2026

A customer just came in with this lovely photograph taken in 1904. They bought it in Maidstone and decided to visit.

Thank you for your understanding
01/09/2026

Thank you for your understanding

Please note our opening times over the Bank Holiday weekend. Thank you
27/08/2026

Please note our opening times over the Bank Holiday weekend. Thank you

26/08/2026
We’re looking for a friendly, enthusiastic Barista to join our team at Chiddingstone Café. This could be perfect if you’...
17/08/2026

We’re looking for a friendly, enthusiastic Barista to join our team at Chiddingstone Café. This could be perfect if you’re taking a gap year, studying, or simply looking for a part-time role in a beautiful village setting.

☕️ 2–4 shifts a week
📅 Weekday and weekend availability essential
🌿 Friendly, relaxed village café
👋 Great with customers and happy working as part of a small team
☕️ Barista experience preferred, but a great attitude and willingness to learn are just as important.

If you love good coffee, enjoy meeting people and would like to work somewhere with a bit of character, we’d love to hear from you!

Interested? Get in touch with us: [email protected]

02/08/2026

Today St Mary’s Church welcomed pets to a very special service. A pet blessing, a beautiful historic church and ponies trotting through the village…just another wonderful Chiddingstone moment. There’s always something going on here.

30/07/2026

Just another day in Chiddingstone, historic buildings, beautiful countryside and a whole load of bubble cars cruising through the village!
Always something happening to make you smile.

Address

3 The Village
Chiddingstone
TN87AH

Telephone

+441892356575

Website

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