Having been run by Mary Grieve for over 30 years, the Cottage Tearoom entered a new era, during the 1950s. Increased car ownership brought visitors from further afield along the busy Largo Road and the tearoom thrived. This small advert dates from 1961. The tearoom was open all day. A speciality was the home-baking and if you were a regular customer, special rates were on offer!
After a couple of changes of hands, the McColls took on the business in the mid-1960s and would become long-term owners. The McColl family also had a dairy business in Buckhaven. The advert below dates from 1968, when attention was drawn to the home-made marmalade. Home-baking continued to be a key element of the tea room's formula and Mrs McColl is remembered for baking batches of scones and placing them in the window - still steaming - to draw in the customers.
High Teas were another consistent part of the tea room's menu throughout its latter years. Customers would have their choice of main course (steak pie, fish and chips, lasagne, etc) served with bread and butter and a pot of tea, and followed with a cake stand full of scones, pancakes and other home baking. Weekends were busy but the most hectic day of the year was Mothers' Day, when the traditional food on offer proved to be extremely popular! I also recall many a golfer popping in for a coffee and bacon roll on their way to or from a game. When the Open Golf was being hosted at St Andrews, the odd competitor might come in and leave a generous tip! If you have memories of the Cottage Tearoom which you would like to share - please add a comment.
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