TOP 10Afternoon teas
There’s nothing wrong with a powerful cup of builder’s, but a proper afternoon tea is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Can we tempt you with these?
1 EDINBURGH From
€43pp Palm Court, in the elegant Balmoral Hotel on Princes Street, is an institution in the Scottish capital. You start with chef ’s amuse bouche, then move on to a selection of classic and modern sandwiches and savouries followed by homemade scones fresh from the oven, served with clotted cream and preserves. It’s all accompanied by a choice of delicate loose leaf teas or coffee – and a harpist provides the perfect background. roccofortehotels.com
2 MERSEYSIDE From
€20pp Enjoy a ‘‘sparkling’’ afternoon tea at Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa, near Southport. It puts a more modern spin on the traditional offering in its L37 restaurant with a selection of seasonal open sandwiches and savoury wraps, followed by miniature gateaux and pastries. Choose from a range of teas and coffees to accompany your treats, and wash it all down with the included glass of chilled Prosecco. virginexperiencedays.co.uk
3 LONDON From €55pp
(child €40pp) Tumble down the rabbit hole and enter your very own Wonderland at the Sanderson Hotel, near Oxford Street, with its whimsical Mad Hatters afternoon tea. Menus are hidden inside vintage books, teapots are adorned with kings and queens, and sandwich plates are decorated with zebras, birdcages and clocks. Savour some classic cucumber sandwiches, white crab eclairs and King of Hearts parmesan goat cheese croquemonsieur, along with homemade scones and Alice-inspired treats – including magic marshmallow mushrooms and ‘drink me’ fruit potions. End with Tweedledee’s lemon curd financier and a Mad March Hare pocket-watch macaroon. There’s no excuse to be late for this important date! morganshotelgroup.com 4 SHERWOOD FOREST From €23pp Victorian stately home Thoresby Hall, near Ollerton, Notts, is an adultsonly Warner Leisure spa hotel on the edge of Sherwood Forest. It has a range of breaks and regular live music. The afternoon tea offers a variety of princess-cut sandwiches made with farmhouse white, granary, wholemeal and all-butter brioche breads and filled with a traditional mix. It’s followed
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 €28 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
€26pp 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 €12pp for champagne. cloud23bar.com
7 BATH From €28pp
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 €10pp extra. romanbaths.co.uk
8 LONDON From €64pp
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
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 €9 per person extra for Veuve Clicquot champagne. ting-shangri-la.com
9
SNOWDONIA From
€23pp 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 €40pp 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. chatsworth.org