33 perfect places to have

WHEN it comes to indulging in the quintessentially British treat of a scone with fresh cream and jam and tiny finger sandwiches, Wales has plenty of places where you can tuck in to lush afternoon tea. From creamy cakes and crumbly scones to savoury sandwiches whose sizes are too cute to handle, you are spoilt for choice for where to take your loved one for a foodie treat this spring.

From tearooms and hotels to delis and cafes, we’ve searched high and low for just some of Wales’ most beautiful, idyllic or even quirky settings in which to have an afternoon tea in style, as well as those which have the best tea, the finest baked bread and the most intricate sweet treats that will have you drooling just thinking about it.

These 33 afternoon teas (in no particular order) should encourage you not to wait for a special occasion to treat yourself to one...

PETTIGREW TEA ROOMS

■ Where? In the Victorian gatehouse at the entrance to Bute Park in central Cardiff – right next to the castle. Can you get a more magnificent setting? ■ What do you get? There’s a choice of menu at Pettigrew so you can enjoy a bespoke afternoon tea that you know you’ll really enjoy. You choose your sandwich fillings when you arrive and you can request your warm speciality scone with or without fruit as it arrives with Welsh butter, clotted cream and strawberry jam.

Cakes are chosen from the cake cabinet. The tea room uses locally-sourced produce and it’s all home-baked. They cater for vegetarians, vegans and those on a gluten or dairy-free diet. And if you don’t get through it all, you can take home whatever’s left. You can also add some fizz to your afternoon tea for an additional £5.50.

■ Price: £22 for one, £40 for two.

PALÉ HALL

■ Where? The historic country home near Bala that has been transformed into a luxury five-star destination hotel with fine dining. Steeped in rich history – Queen Victoria once stayed there – and standing on the edge of Snowdonia National Park, the Grade Ii-listed Palé Hall has been redeveloped by its new owners.

■ What do you get? Quality tea, scones with jam and cream, plus a stacked platter of cakes and sandwiches, served with vintage china, in the exceptional setting of a grand country house. Served between 3pm and 4.30pm, it’s a pretty delicious – and swanky – way to spend the afternoon.

There isn’t just one option for afternoon tea, either. There is the full afternoon tea – served with the previously mentioned selection – which can be upgraded to a Champagne afternoon tea. Or you can opt for just a cream tea, Welsh tea or a cakes and pastries selection.

■ Price: £30 per person for the full afternoon tea.

THE ANGEL HOTEL

■ Where? A grand hotel right in the heart of Abergavenny, just down the street from the town’s bustling market.

■ What do you get? Choose between afternoon tea, which involves sandwiches, scones, fresh cakes and pastries and your choice of teas, infusions or coffee, or high tea, to which you can add a selection of warm savoury pastries. The hotel is one of the very view holders of a Tea Guild Award of Excellence outside London. ■ Price: £46 per person for the high tea.

CELTIC MANOR, NEWPORT

■ Where? The hotel overlooks the M4 at Junction 24 to the east of Newport and traditional afternoon tea is served either in the main hotel’s Olive Tree Garden Room – which also offers a children’s afternoon tea – or the original Manor House, just down the hill from the main complex.

■ What do you get? There’s a variety of choices when it comes to which afternoon tea to indulge in at the Celtic Manor.

Its Rib afternoon tea involves a delicious medley of American and heritage-inspired savoury delights, mouthwatering handmade sweet treats and freshly-baked savoury herb scones. Meanwhile, its winter warmer afternoon tea includes an array of seasonal sweet treats – which feature a baked winter berry and vanilla scone – as well as finger sandwiches.

Afternoon tea is also available at its sister hotels the Parkgate in Cardiff and Ty Milford.

■ Price: £28 Monday to Friday, £34 on Saturdays.

LANELAY HALL, TALBOT GREEN

■ Where? Luxury, Instagrammable spa hotel in Pontyclun that is picture-perfect.

■ What do you get? At a luxury spa like this, it’s no surprise that the afternoon tea on offer is also one that exudes luxury. What you get with the beautiful hotel’s luxury afternoon tea is a selection of finger sandwiches, fresh warm scones and seasonal sweet treats in the surroundings of the beautiful Georgian tea room. Celebrating a special occasion? Upgrade with a sparkling glass of prosecco.

Please be aware that afternoon tea should be booked 24 hours in advance due to high demand and dietary requirements must be noted. The chefs try to cater for all allergens with a plantbased and gluten-free version available upon request.

■ Price: £27 per person. For sparkling, £32.

BODYSGALLEN HALL, LLANDUDNO

■ Where? In 200 acres of parkland just off the A470 about two miles south of Llandudno.

■ What do you get? Served in the glorious wood-panelled hall, library or dining room or on the terrace on warm, sunny days, the traditional tea includes a selection of finger sandwiches, freshly-baked scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, cakes and pastries and a choice of freshly-brewed teas.

You can opt for a Welsh afternoon tea, which has items like Caerphilly cheese in sarnies and Bara Brith, or a Champagne afternoon tea.

■ Price: £30.

COBBLES KITCHEN & DELI

■ Where? Just a short drive from Ogmoreby-sea beach, Cobbles can be found in an old stone Grade Ii-listed building on Ogmore Road. ■ What do you get? This is no ordinary afternoon tea. Oh no, this is bottomless afternoon tea – with copious amounts of tea, coffee or soft drinks. With Reuben, egg mayo, brie, fig and sundried tomato, chicken, avo and chorizo open sandwiches on offer, you will also be treated with a lemon curd and blackberry scone with clotted cream and a selection of homemade cakes and patisseries.

This bottomless afternoon tea comes presented on a sharing board for a minimum of two people.

This sharing board is available weekends between midday and 4pm.

■ Price: From £28. If you want a bottomless prosecco, mimosa, Aperol spritz or gin fizz spread, it’s £40 per person.

CHATEAU RHIANFA

■ Where? Looking across at Bangor from its position on the banks of the Menai Strait, just along A545 from the town of Menai Bridge.

■ What do you get? You can choose from a selection of aromatic teas before tucking into dainty finger sandwiches, freshly-baked scones with gooey clotted cream and jam and homemade cake. There are also indulgent pastries and deep-filled tarts to sink your teeth into – what a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.

LLECHWEN HALL, PONTYPRIDD

■ Where? Llechwen Hall is a beautiful country house hotel with stunning views, being situated high above the Cynon Valley. You can enjoy your afternoon sweet treat on the sun terrace overlooking the countryside or in the Orangery Restaurant with its bi-folding doors opening on to the lawn.

■ What do you get? Its seasonal and delightfully fresh homemade afternoon teas are served on a contemporary Welsh slate stand and celebrate local Welsh produce. This is Llechwen’s own take on the traditional afternoon tea.

Sandwich fillings include home-baked ham, cucumber and cream cheese, cheese and chutney and there’s a steak and ale mini-pie to nom on. For sweet eaters, there’s raspberry ripple sponge, egg custard slice and candied lemon, chocolate cookie crumb eclair alongside the classic scone and Welshcake.

There’s a luxurious choice of loose-leaf teas, and the servers even explain how to brew the perfect cup of tea.

■ Price: From £15 per person.

PENBONT HOUSE, ELAN VALLEY

■ Where? Penbont House is located in Rhayader in the heart of the picturesque Elan Valley Estate and is right by the Pen y Garreg Dam.

■ What do you get? Their afternoon tea consists of freshly-prepared sandwiches, a choice of teas and coffees from the menu and a delicious selection of cakes and scones. They also offer a

THE GROVE, NARBETH

■ Where? A luxury country house hotel in Pembrokeshire with beautiful views of the Preseli Hills and beyond.

■ What do you get? If tea is your thing, you really need to come here as the afternoon tea menu offers multiple varieties of loose-leaf tea and infusions, namely Jing. Or if you’re more of a coffee connoisseur, try out Grove’s blended coffee.

It also has delightful sandwiches, fruit tarts, scones and clotted creams, cakes and desserts, which you can enjoy in front of the roaring fire in one of their luxurious lounges or, weather permitting, on the sunny terrace, gazing out at the view.

■ Price: From £36.

HOLM HOUSE, PENARTH

■ Where? A hotel with stunning view over the Bristol Channel from its position at the head of Penarth’s exclusive Marine Parade. It also has a spa to help you make a day of it.

■ What do you get? The traditional afternoon tea includes a pot of tea or coffee, a selection of savoury treats including a smoked salmon and crème fraiche sandwich and, for those with a penchant for sweets, a selection of mini-desserts and freshly-baked cakes. These will be accompanied with homemade fruit scones with clotted cream and jam.

If you want to add a smidge of pizzazz to the tea, opt for a sparkling or Champagne afternoon tea.

■ Price: From £18.50.

indulgence and enjoy the breathtaking views of north Wales’ countryside.

In this swanky afternoon tea – for which booking is essential – you’ll enjoy a selection of homemade sandwiches, plus pastries, which have previously included white chocolate and pistachio eclairs, carrot cake, fresh fruit tartlets and passion fruit and raspberry cupcake whips. Available seven days a week between 1pm and 4pm.

Price: From £19.50.

THE WILDINGS HOTEL, LLANDUDNO

■ Where? A newly-refurbished seafront hotel (previously known as St Tudno Hotel) in the middle of Llandudno’s famous promenade.

At Tudno’s Restaurant within the hotel, the afternoon tea includes finger sandwiches whose fillings include smoked salmon and crushed avocado, homemade scones with jam and cream and an assortment of sweet treats that includes bara brith. You can even add a glass of prosecco to start and strawberries and cream to finish for an exta £7.50.

■ Price: £17.50.

HENSOL CASTLE, VALE OF GLAMORGAN

■ Where? Situated just three minutes off Junction 34 of the M4 and 15 minutes from Cardiff city centre, the afternoon tea is served inside Hensol Castle Atrium.

Enjoy an afternoon tea in the luxurious surroundings of a historic castle that serves up a selection of finger sandwiches, traditional favourites like bara brith, homemade scones – and an option for a chocolate orange scone – and Welsh cakes.

Sweet treats are a little special too, with salted caramel profiteroles, tiramisu, hot cocoa cups, macarons and lemon and raspberry pavlova. Imagine that with a hot drink (from Hensol’s range of speciality teas) – what bliss. Hensol also has a special vegan and gluten-free menu so those with dietary requirements do not have to worry about missing out!

Upgrade to a Champagne afternoon tea for a treat. If you’re a fan of Hensol Castle’s gin, you’ll also be in for a treat here as you can also upgrade to a Welsh gin afternoon tea for an extra cost.

■ Price: From £25 per person.

WOLFSCASTLE COUNTRY HOTEL

■ Where? The former 1600 cottage was redesigned in 1880 into a seven-bedroom vicarage and now stands proudly between Haverfordwest and Fishguard as a historic luxury venue.

Their afternoon tea – named the Stirling Afternoon Tea – offers a selection of sandwiches, traditional and fruit scones, with jam and cream of course, and a selection of sweet and savoury delicacies.

Expect items like a “chocolate garden pot”, hazelnut profiterole, fresh fruit tart and carrot cake for those with a sweet tooth. Savoury options include a pork and sausage lattice, Scotch egg and a chicken and pesto sandwich.

■ Price: £29.50.