Afternoon Tea – the current volume

Afternoon tea has become such a phenomenon. 10 years ago I’d have laughed in anybody’s face if they’d have offered me some tea and cake for £60. Yet suddenly I can’t get enough of it. Let’s face it – it’s now so much more than tea and cake. It’s the whole gloriously British experience encapsulated under the roof of a classy five star hotel.

I thought I’d take the time to give a run down of places I’ve been lucky to have afternoon tea (so far). As it’s my current obsession, this will no doubt be a growing list! Warning: endless pictures of delicious cakes incoming.

Let’s start with the big one. The original. The one everyone aspires to be. Where it all began. The Ritz, London. My mum fondly refers to this experience as the day where she almost threw up because she was so happy, so overindulged and so full of cake.

I’m going to cast my mind back to a warm Spring day in London where I could get away with wearing a paisley tea dress and a pair of ankle boots to swan into the Ritz in.

What a joyous building this is – a London great. A british institution. Classy and iconic in every way. This is the sort of bucket list experience that is so good that you can’t help but tell anybody in ear shot that you’ve been.

Cliche? Perhaps. But so necessary. And so damn good!

Starting price: £55 per person
Booking tip: Book early. Way early. I’m talking months. Maybe even years.

Perfect atmosphere. Perfect tea menu. Plus the opportunity to have everything refilled as much as you like (including the sandwiches and cakes). Then just when you think you’ve reached a sort of cake euphoria – the immaculately dressed and professional staff wheel out the speciality cakes of the day on a tray. If you get offered the orange cake. Do not refuse. This will be a liftetime regret otherwise.

Also, don’t even think about leaving without visiting the powder room. Exquisite!

 

Now for the understated one. The one you keep hearing the magazines mention. The hidden gem. I am lucky enough that Lime Wood, which sits in the New Forest, is approx a 45 min drive for me.

A glorious country estate which oozes understated chic. Think hunter wellies and soft pastel coloured walls.

Starting price: from £28 per person

Booking tip: Try and combine it with a stay. You won’t be disappointed. Plus they have some amazing last minute deals on their website which include access to the Herb House Spa.

What I love about this is that afternoon tea here is served in the courtyard. The hub of the hotel which at the same time is so peaceful. This is the place where you’ll go for afternoon tea and still find yourself sat in the courtyard taking in the atmosphere 5 hours later.

As it was my friend’s birthday and I informed the hotel of this when I booked the table, they gave us two free glasses of champagne! An amazing touch.

The tea totally reflects the theme of the hotel too. Loved the little welly boot biscuit!

 

The Plaza is undoubtedly the most famous hotel in New York having been in endless films and TV shows. The first time I visited New York I only got a glimpse of the Plaza as I walked by, but I knew if I ever went back it would be top of my list to make sure I actually got to go inside!

An American afternoon tea you say – could it be as good as an English one? Easy to answer to that is no. But the setting was fantastic and the cakes superb.

If you’re desperate to go to the Plaza, then I would advise it for ticking off your bucket list, but sadly I am pretty confident in saying we could have got a better afternoon tea in another New York hotel.

Price: from £65-70 per person depending on the exchange rate

Booking tip: View this as a bucket list exercise and enjoy the surroundings. If you’re going purely for the tea and cake, I think you may be a little disappointed

I’m lucky that the beautifully sophisticated Chewton Glen is only a 15 minute drive for me. Last year the hotel was awarded the Best UK Holiday Hotel by Conde Nast and also won Dining Experience of the Year earlier in 2017. On that basis my expectations were rather high!

Having visited the hotel regularly in the past few years, I knew we were in for a good afternoon.

Mint green shutters and perfectly manicured lawns add to the traditional yet glamourous English Country house feel.

Price: from £29.50 per person

Booking tip: the hotel has a secret path to the beach – if you’re feeling rather on the full side after all that cake, ask for directions and walk off the sugar!

What I loved about this was that we were presented with a tea box which let’s you actually smell the range of teas on offer before making a choice. As we visited just recently the theme had been adapted for Mother’s Day, which was nice.

Blown away moment: at the end of the afternoon we were given a token Chewton Glen box which is a little replica of the hotel with some tea leaves in! Top marks.

I seem to be forever scouring instagram for afternoon tea picks. Three London greats that have been on my hit list for a while:

Sketch, Mayfair – the one with the pink room and the toilets that everybody talks about. I need to get here immediately.

Sanderson, Marylebone – when I stayed here last year I got a glimpse of the Mad Hatter’s Alice in Wonderland themed tea – looks amazing!

The Lanesborough, Hyde Park – recently refurbished, grand and opulent with duck egg blue walls – what’s not to love?

Happy Brewing!

Sophie x