Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Much ado about muffins
by scones with Devonshire clotted cream and preserves, cakes and pastries. Leave enough time for a stroll in the spectacular grounds. buyagift.co.uk
5 BELFAST £25 for two
Patisserie Valerie opened in London’s Soho in 1926 and there are now two in central Belfast. Try their gelato, and truffles and marzipan figures. This goodvalue tea has savoury sandwiches such as smoked salmon and cream cheese, egg mayonnaise and cress, and chicken, pesto and sunblazed tomatoes, plus a mini vegetable quiche. Your sweet tooth will be happy with a mini Victoria sandwich, chocolate eclair, carrot and walnut cake, and scones with jam and clotted cream.
patisserie-valerie.co.uk
6 MANCHESTER From £23pp Manchester’s Hilton Cloud 23 is the hotel’s smart cocktail and champagne bar – styling itself as the “home of exceptional” – on the 23rd floor of the landmark Beetham Tower on Deansgate. It’s renowned for being one of the top afternoon teas in the city, but even though you’re in a famous football destination, please don’t wear your replica shirt. Cloud 23’s Traditional Afternoon Tea has sandwiches and wraps, with handmade cakes and tarts to satisfy your sweet tooth. There are also warm scones ready to be loaded up with strawberry jam and Dorset clotted cream, and a choice of speciality teas.
Add £10pp for champagne.
cloud23bar.com
7 BATH From £25pp Get a taste of Jane Austen’s world at The Pump Room. You almost expect Mr Darcy to appear from behind one of the marble columns. The Pride and Prejudice author would spend many an afternoon enjoying tea, cakes and a side helping of Regency gossip in Bath’s most elegant hall. The traditional Pump Room tea has traditional sandwiches, plus poached salmon and crispbreads, cheddar scones with tomato and chive cream cheese, and scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam – plus tarts and chocolate and coffee opera cake. Upgrade to tea with Searcys Selected Cuvee champagne for £9pp extra.
8 LONDON From £56pp It’s more like ‘‘high tea’’ in the capital. Head to the 1,016ft Shard skyscraper at London Bridge – the tallest building in the UK – for something
romanbaths.co.uk
a bit different. The super-cool Shangri-La hotel’s Ting restaurant on the 35th floor has amazing views and an Asianinspired afternoon tea, with rendang brioche bun, sugar-cured Angus striploin, beetroot-cured salmon, sesame and yuzu on dark rye, mango rice paper roll and crab tart followed by scones with clotted cream, goose-berry and elderflower jam, Vietnamese coffee choux, pandan gateaux, mango macaroon and pink guava mousse. Add £8per person extra for Veuve Clicquot champagne.
9 SNOWDONIA From £19.75pp Nestled in glorious Snowdonia National Park, you’ll find the award-winning Penmaenuchaf Hall Hotel country property. Indulge in afternoon tea before a leisurely stroll through the landscaped grounds. The tea comes with a selection of cucumber, Welsh cheddar and homebaked honey roast ham sandwiches, scones with jam and whipped cream,
cakes, and tea or coffee. penhall.co.uk/restaurant
10 DERBYSHIRE From £35pp Chatsworth, near Bakewell, is one of the country’s most lavish stately homes, so you’ll want to dress a bit more “upstairs” than “downstairs”. Head to the Flying Childers restaurant to indulge in a tea served on signature Wedgwood. Start with gin and tonic salmon, Coronation chicken, ham and chutney, egg mayo and cress sandwiches with vegetable quiche, goat’s cheese and red onion tart. Finish with scones, cream and jam, lime and rhubarb shortbread cheesecake, a macaroon, Earl Grey panna cotta and Black Forest gateau. Splash out an extra tenner for Laurent-Perrier Rosé champagne.