Here is a variety of delightful options to celebrate Afternoon Tea Week, ranging from classic fare to novel interpretations of the much-loved tradition.
The Goring, Belgravia The Goring celebrates this much-loved English tradition with a delicious Afternoon Tea service. Enjoy pastries, scones and sandwiches served with the finest blended and first-flush teas from around the world, topped off with a glass of Bollinger Champagne, if you wish. The Goring has been perfecting the art of Afternoon Tea since it opened its doors over a century ago. It’s the holder of The British Tea Guild Council’s Top London Afternoon Tea Award and The Award of Excellence.
Available Sunday-Friday, 4pm-4.30pm and Saturday’s from 1pm-4pm. From £50pp. www.thegoring.com/food-drink/afternoon-tea
The Stafford London
The Stafford London have launched a chic new afternoon tea, inspired by the luxury boutiques, delis and shops of St James’s that surround the five-star hotel. Executive Pastry Chef Magdalena Kubańska has worked closely alongside six local stores including Lock & Co and Floris, to create a visually stunning and delicious afternoon tea, accompanied by a selection of teas supplied by Camellia’s Tea House. A full cocktail list and selection of Champagne is also be available for those looking to really celebrate in style.
Available daily 12pm-7pm, from £45pp. www.thestaffordlondon.com
Roast, Borough Market
To celebrate summer, Roast in Borough Market have launched a quintessentially British afternoon tea. What better way to enjoy the season’s obligatory strawberries and Pimm’s, than in the form of cake! Summery classics include Strawberry & Pimm’s layer cake, and Strawberry Eton Mess as well as an array of delicate finger sandwiches, scones and a selection of baked goods, all washed down with fruit-packed Pimm’s and a selection of delicious teas. They are running a competition during afternoon tea week too! Each day a table will be picked at random to enjoy their tea for free!
Available Monday to Saturday, 12pm–6pm. Priced at £25pp or £30pp with a glass of Pimm’s (Champagne also available upon request). www.roast-restaurant.com
Photo Credit: Jean Cazals L'oscar Hotel, Holborn
L’oscar hotel’s Café L’oscar have launched a Saint & Sinner Afternoon Tea, which offers traditional sweet and savory bites with a contemporary twist. To start, guests can enjoy Religieuse buns followed by sandwiches filled with the likes of Deviled chicken and Poached salmon. For the sweet treats, delicacies include Adam and Eve’s pudding and Devil’s food cake followed by traditional scones with cream and jam. Guests can choose whether to become a saint or sinner with their crucial drink choice. Saints are offered an extensive tea selection bringing the price of the tea to £38. Sinners, however, are offered indulgent tea-based cocktails, including the Charon au champagne with Rooibos tea infused Ketel one, blood orange, bringing the price to £60 including three cocktails.
Available daily from 3-5pm. £38pp or £60pp including three indulgent tea-based cocktails. £2 from each tea goes towards local charity Rhythms of Life. www.loscar.com
Petersham Nurseries, Covent Garden
Afternoon Tea at the Petersham Restaurant in Petersham Nurseries Covent Garden showcases the finest produce and quality ingredients, evoking seasonal Italian flavours. The menu changes on a regular basis depending on produce on offer but includes a delectable selection of sweet and savoury dishes such as the Vesuvio tomato and basil bruschetta and Coconut and Alphonso mango macaroon.
Available Thurs-Sun, 3pm-4.30pm. £45pp or £50pp with a Petersham Bellini. Alternatively, try the Petersham Nurseries Afternoon Tea Hamper and enjoy tea at home! Priced at £70. www.petershamnurseries.com/covent-garden
The Sanderson, Fitzrovia
The Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea at Sanderson is the ideal treat to have this Afternoon Tea Week. Guests can savour enchanting sweet delights including Queen of Hearts rose and strawberry Jammy Dodger and a glass of Alice’s Exotic Fruits “Drink Me” potion. Sandwiches feature Smoked salmon scotch quail’s egg with caviar and cream cheese and Cornish crab brioche roll with spiced avocado and coriander. The tea also includes a refreshing glass of Veuve Clicquot.
Available daily 12.30pm-4pm, £58pp. www.sandersonlondon.com
And some more offerings, including a boozy evening afternoon tea, a Michelin-starred tea trolley and afternoon teas beyond London…
Pollen Street Social, Mayfair
Head to Jason Atherton’s Michelin-starred Pollen Street Social this Afternoon Tea Week for a tea drinking experience. Guests will be treated to bespoke tea making from the restaurant’s specially designed tea trolley, allowing all diners to find a blend perfectly suited to their tastes. Straight from the tea trolley, guests can choose combinations of fresh herbs which will be cut and infused at their table. Ideal for a relaxing post-dining experience at the restaurant’s stylish dessert bar or as part of Pollen Street Social’s fine dining afternoon tea.
www.pollenstreetsocial.com
St Martins Lane, Covent Garden
This Afternoon Tea Week, The Den at St Martins Lane in Covent Garden will be serving their Sundown Afternoon Tea, which features a boozy twist with refreshing tea infused cocktails. Try savoury bites such as Focaccia with garlic, rosemary and prosciutto, and beautiful sweet treats including Bakewell tart with raspberry rose mousse, topped with a fresh raspberry and edible flowers. Cocktails include the Once Upon A Time cocktail and Meet Me In The Middle cocktail, containing koko kanu rum, apple, peppermint tea and ginger syrup.
Available daily 7pm-9pm, £35pp. www.morganshotelgroup.com/originals/originals-st-martins-lane-london/eat-drink/sundown-cocktail-tea
The Mariners, Cornwall
Indulge in a Cornish afternoon tea this summer at Paul Ainsworth’s pub in Rock, The Mariners, for a true taste of the region. Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer a savoury treat, The Mariners has a special selection for everyone looking to enjoy Afternoon Tea Week. Try ‘The Cornish Way’ afternoon tea with homemade original or fruit scones, sweet local Boddingtons jam followed, in true Cornish style, by lashings of Cornish clotted cream. If local cheese is more your style, try ‘The Mariners Way’ with homemade cheese scones, house style piccalilli and Davidstow Cornish Cheddar, accompanied by a selection of Jing Tea.
Available daily, 10am-12pm. www.paul-ainsworth.co.uk/the-mariners
Boringdon Hall, Devon
Indulge in a quintessentially British Traditional Afternoon Tea at Boringdon Hall, served on the signature three tiers in the dramatic surrounds of Boringdon’s Great Hall. Savour afternoon tea classics such as plain and fruit scones and homemade strawberry preserve and clotted cream, followed by delicious treats including pistachio and raspberry macaroon, hazelnut tiffin with praline crémeux, gateaux opera and St Clement’s tart.
Available daily 1pm-4pm. £27pp, with option to include a glass of Champagne. www.boringdonhall.co.uk
Enjoy a unique twist on the traditional afternoon tea with Boringdon Hall’s Special Edition Toy Story theme, which includes a range of sweet treats and delicacies such as a “Buzz” or “Woody” biscuit, “Luxo” ball, “Green Alien” macaroon and “Etch” chocolate gateaux opera, as well as plain and fruit scones and homemade strawberry preserve and clotted cream. In addition, guests can also indulge in an array of savoury nibbles.
The Toy Story Afternoon Tea is exclusively available daily, from 1-4pm throughout August. £27 for adults and £9.50 for children. www.boringdonhall.co.uk
Lympstone Manor
There is nowhere more special than the luxury country house hotel to enjoy the full Devon afternoon tea experience. Indulge in freshly made sandwiches, scones just out of the oven to be spread with thick Devon clotted cream, local jams and preserves as well as a selection of cakes and French patisseries.
Available daily from 3pm. Priced at £48pp, or £61pp for the indulgent Champagne afternoon tea which includes a glass of bubbles. www.lympstonemanor.co.uk
Blast into space at The Ampersand Hotel
Inspired by the neighboring Natural History and Science Museums, the hotel’s Science Afternoon Tea was crowned ‘Best Themed Afternoon Tea’ at the Afternoon Tea Awards 2018. Alongside a delicious selection of blinis, brioches and warm scones, guests can enjoy expertly-crafted pastries including a dark chocolate & passion fruit planet mousse, dust for mini dinosaur biscuit ‘fossils’ hidden beneath chocolate soil and be transported with redcurrant & lychee macaroons and chocolate spacemen. The hotel’s afternoon tea caters for all needs and occasions, serving up gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan versions, and a Kid's Sci-Fi Tea menu offering a special selection of children's favorites served on brightly color rocket stands alongside it’s classic menu. If you fancy a tipsy alternative, the Teapot Tails menu sees afternoon tea favorites served alongside a cocktail flight.
Science Afternoon Tea is served from 12.30 – 9pm, Monday – Saturday and Sunday 12.30 - 7pm. It is £39.50 per person or £49.50 with a glass of Charles Heidsieck Champagne. ampersandhotel.com
Afternoon Tea Week at Palé Hall, Wales
The most luxurious country house hotel in Wales is inviting guests to celebrate the quintessentially British tradition with Head Pastry Chef Adam Cleal and Sam Widnall, semi-finalists of this year’s Bake Off: The Professionals. The duo’s reinvented bakewell tart and red velvet cake will be exclusively available for one week only. In addition, the hotel is offering delicious sweet treats such as cakes and scones with jam and cream, as well as a stacked platter of fresh sandwiches served on vintage china.
Palé Hall’s limited-edition afternoon tea experience is served daily from 3-5pm and costs £35 per person with a glass of champagne. palehall.co.uk
