Afternoon tea

Where to celebrate National Afternoon Tea Week

Tea is brewing up a storm. Yes, the charming, relaxed ritual of afternoon tea is in vogue – so much so that there is even a National Afternoon Tea Week (which runs until Sunday 17) dedicated to the much loved British tradition. Wondering where to celebrate having your cake and eating it? Haute Time has the low-down on London’s best afternoon tea venues

 

  • 1. Hotel Café Royal

    Hotel Café Royal’s Importance of Being Earnest Afternoon Tea is arguably Haute Time’s afternoon tea du jour. Executive chef, Andrew Turner, and executive pastry chef Andrew Blas’ sumptuous new tea has been created to coincide with the play’s run at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Taking inspiration from the play’s characters and history, Turner and Blas have created a unique and playful menu priced at £55 (including a glass of Veuve Clicquot), held in the iconic Oscar Wilde Bar.

    68 Regent Street, W1B

  • 2. The Palm Court at The Ritz

    Afternoon Tea at The Ritz is an institution in itself. Housed in The Palm Court and popular since the hotel first opened in 1906, it has now become the quintessential British experience. An extensive choice of 16 different types of loose leaf tea is offered, including a Ritz Royal English tea, a Lapsang Souchong Imperial, and a Darjeeling First Flush. The traditional English Tea menu includes freshly cut finger sandwiches with six types of filling, warm scones with strawberry preserve and clotted Devonshire cream followed by a delectable selection of cakes and afternoon tea pastries topping the tiered cake stand.

    150 Piccadilly, W1

  • 3. RAW at La Suite West

    Nothing is more British than taking afternoon tea in London, but if you want a healthy contemporary alternative to the Great British tradition, look to RAW. Nestled on the fringes of Hyde Park, the La Suite West hotel’s signature restaurant is serving up a Quintessentially British vegan afternoon tea vegan this summer: think designer finger sandwiches (Roasted butternut squash, Scrambled tofu and Cream of Artichoke and Truffle all feature), home-made scones served with coconut cream and fresh strawberries, followed by a selection of home-made pastries including mini Chocolate and coconut RAW cake and mini Sesame halva. The tea can be enoyed either al fresco on the private terrace or within the Anouska Hempel designed restaurant. 

    41-51 Inverness Terrace, W2

  • 4. The Rosebery at the Mandarin Oriental

    Named after Lord Rosebery, The Rosebery has made a welcome return to its roots (it was a stylish tea room back in the 1920s before being used as an event space). The  interior design – created by G&A Designs (the team behind the Booking Office Bar at St Pancras) – makes the most of the room’s Victorian origins but employs contemporary touches. Think specially commissioned one-of-a kind art works and seating in shades of forest greens and browns to bring it bang up-to-date. But it’s not just the setting that wows – so too does the food. Expect the daintiest of sandwiches (Slow roasted organic chicken and buttered corn, Smoked salmon tartar with creme fraiche and fill, all shaped in circles as opposed to conventional triangles), fluffy freshly baked sultana and plain scones served with strawberry jam and clotted cream as well as more out there accompaniments (rose jelly and lemon curd) and tip top pastries. Standouts include the Milk chocolate passion fruit tart, Green tea eclair and Raspberry and yuzu macaroon. Mmmm.

    66 Knightsbridge, SW1

  • 5. The Strand Dining Rooms

    Enjoy traditional afternoon tea with a twist in the shadow of Nelson’s column at the newly opened Strand Dining Rooms - a stone’s throw from Trafalgar Square. Guests can enjoy classic scones and sandwiches, as well as a selection of pastries and cakes such as Chocolate Orange cake, Banoffee Pie Tartlets and Lemon Drizzle and Basil cake. Wash it all down with rivers of refreshing teas or given the iconic location (The Strand Dining Rooms are located in the grandiosely named Grand Buildings) a glass of Delamotte NV Champagne.

    Grand Buildings, 1- 3 Strand, WC2

Restaurant Of The Week: The Rosebery

Don’t leave London without experiencing afternoon tea at The Rosebery

Cast aside that cappuccino. Leave that latte alone.  Forget that flat white. Tea is brewing up a storm. Yes, the charming relaxed ritual of afternoon tea is back in fashion.

For the quintessential afternoon tea experience, Haute Time recommends making for the Mandarin Oriental for our favourite Knightsbridge hotel has opened a new venue - The Rosebery – offering a chic afternoon tea service every day.

Named after Lord Rosebery, The Rosebery has made a welcome return to its roots (it was a stylish tea room back in the 1920s before being used as an event space). Theinterior design – created by G&A Designs (the team behind the Booking Office Bar at St Pancras) – makes the most of the room’s Victorian origins but employs contemporary touches. Think specially commissioned one-of-a kind art works and seating in shades of forest greens and browns to bring it bang up-to-date. The design also makes full use of the expansive space and height of the room and its abundance of natural light.

Every element in creating the afternoon tea and champagne salon has been truly bespoke, including the new Rosebery China Collection by William Edwards, glassware by John Jenkins and uniforms designed by one of Britain’s young fashion designers, Charlotte Taylor.

But it’s not just the setting that wows – so too does the food. Before afternoon tea (£45) even begins, the immaculate staff will bring out a moreish mango amuse bouche to cleanse the palette.

And then a beautiful tiered tray of treats magically arrives. Expect the daintiest of sandwiches (Slow roasted organic chicken and buttered corn, Smoked salmon tartar with creme fraiche and fill, Cotswold egg and mustard cress, Cucumber, cream cheese and pea shoots, Portland crab and crayfish fondue on brioche and Wiltshire cured ham and heritage tomatoes all shaped in circles as opposed to conventional triangles), fluffy freshly baked sultana and plain scones served with strawberry jam and clotted cream as well as more out there accompaniments (rose jelly and lemon curd) and tip top pastries. Standouts include the Milk chocolate passion fruit tart, Green tea eclair and Raspberry and yuzu macaroon. Mmmm.

Save room (we struggled to) for a further plate packed with generous slices of both banana and dundee cake, followed by a delicate dish of die to for chocolate truffles. Little ones aren’t neglected either: there’s the Rosebery mini tea for the under 12s for London’s well heeled ankle biters.

Wash it all down with a choice of Breakfast, Afternoon and Directors Reserve tea blends that have been exclusively crafted to Mandarin Oriental’s specifications, together with a selection of speciality teas, in conjunction with the East India Trading Company.

Or if you’d prefer an alcoholic tipple to tea, opt for a glass of champagne. Highlights include Ruinart rosé (£23 per flute), Bauchet Premier Cru Empreinte (£72 a bottle), Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Brut, Ambonnay (£255) and 82 Dom Pérignon Oenothèque (£1,650). After sunset, when The Rosebery transforms into a sophisticated bar, you can also get stuck into champagne cocktails and sake (Japan’s national drink is stocked extensively).

All told, afternoon tea at The Rosebery helps cement the Mandarin Oriental’s reputation as one of London’s premier gourmet destinations (Heston Blumenthal and Daniel Boulud both have outposts here) and represents a great way to while away an afternoon in palatial surroundings. Just don’t expect to eat again that day….

London's top 5 afternoon teas

Tea is brewing up a storm. Yes, the charming, relaxed ritual of afternoon tea is back in fashion. Looking to indulge in the quintessentially English tradition over the forthcoming Bank Holiday weekend? Allow Haute Living to let you in on London’s top five afternoon teas

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Prêt-à-Portea at The Berkeley

Prêt-à-Portea adds a creative twist to the classic elements of the traditional English afternoon tea with cakes and pastries inspired by the latest catwalk designs (The Berkeley’s pastry chefs visit London fashion week shows to get their inspiration for the colours and the textures of the new collections). All are served on a bespoke collection of Paul Smith fine china.

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Afternoon Tea at The Langham

The dazzling Palm Court is famed as the place where the tradition of afternoon tea was born over 140 years ago, an indulgence that lives on today as Tiffin at The Langham. All day light dining is served with timeless elegance and as the work day becomes evening time, the change of day can be celebrated with your choice of your favourite fizz from an extensive Champagne list and served in a striking bespoke coupe glass. On 10 June 2014, Palm Court is offering guests Afternoon Tea for the original price it was served in 1865, marking the hotel’s 149th birthday. For just seven pence, guests will be able to experience the Wonderland Tea, normally priced at £44.

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Not Afternoon Tea at Oxo Tower

If scones and sandwiches don’t take your fancy, book yourself into The Oxo Tower Brasserie for their deliciously different afternoon tea. The menu offers four dessert tasting plates, expertly matched with cocktails created by the bar team. Choose from Kent Orchard, Taywell Preserved, Tropical Delight and, our favourite, Nuts about Chocolate – a die to for chocolate, orange and almond fondant, peanut and milk chocolate slice, bitter chocolate and pecan tart, hazelnut macaroons and white chocolate ganache which works well when accompanied with an almond mulata (Havana Especial rum shaken with almond syrup and chocolate liqueur). The decadent desserts and drinks can be enjoyed along with the Oxo’s breathtaking riverside views.

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Mad Hatter’s Tea at The Sanderson

Haute Living’s favourite mid afternoon spread is arguably The Sanderson’s Mad Hatter’s tea. Guests are invited to “tumble down the rabbit hole” and enjoy a number of Alice inspired gastronomic adventures in the enchanting courtyard garden. Don’t miss the ‘Eat Me’ Queen of Hearts (strawberry and cream mousse) and ‘Drink Me’, a beautiful bottle packed with passion fruit jelly, coconut panna cotta and exotic foam. It sounds weird, but it works! Other treats for the taste buds include Blueberry lollipops that turn tongues from hot to cold and Hazelnut praline ice cream lollipops which explode with a single bite.

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Traditional afternoon tea at The Ritz-Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton is graciousness itself. Their excellent old style afternoon tea is served in the iconic Palm Court; expect the full panoply of silver teapots, tip top pastries, crustless sandwiches and scones served on a three tier stand. If you can’t wait for cocktail hour, take the champagne package (£54) with flutes of bubbly to accompany your fantastic freshly baked scones.

To a tea

Cast aside that cappuccino. Leave the latte alone. Tea is brewing up a storm. Yes, the charming, relaxed ritual of afternoon tea is back in fashion and in the busy, bustling world we live in today where sometimes there hardly seems time to breathe, it’s no surprise that the mid afternoon meal is proving to be such a hit. Underpinning this renaissance are the health benefits of tea, although it has always been considered something of a tonic: “If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; if you are depressed, it will cheer you; if you are excited it will calm you." So said Gladstone back in 1865.

Afternoon tea can be credited to Anna Maria, the seventh Duchess of Bedford. It was in 1840 when her Grace found herself feeling peckish by late afternoon and began to retire to her room for a cup of tea and a bite to eat. One day she decided to invite a friend to join her and before you could say “I’ll be mother”, taking afternoon tea became all the rage. Such teas were elegant affairs; upper class and society women would change into long gowns, gloves and hats with tea drunk from the best china and small amounts of food– such as sandwiches (with the crusts cut off of course), scones and cakes presented perfectly on little china plates.

For a quintessential afternoon tea experience, head to one of England’s posher hotels to indulge in the ritual of a formal tea. It can be costly and you’ll have to dress smartly, but when everything is as it should be – fresh and interesting sandwiches, rivers of refreshing teas and extravagant cakes – this is a great way to while away an afternoon. Just don’t expect any super and – for The Ritz – book well in advance.

Room with a brew: the best spots for afternoon tea

The Ritz-Carlton, Piccadilly, London, 020 7493 8181, wwwtheritzlondon.com Tea served daily at 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm
The Ritz Carlton is graciousness itself. Their excellent afternoon tea (£39 per person) is served in the lounge area; expect the full panoply of silver teapots, tip top pastries and sandwiches. If you can’t wait for cocktail hour, take the champagne package (£50) with flutes of bubbly to accompany your fantastic freshly baked scones.

Stoke Park Club, Buckinghamshire, 01753 717171,
Afternoon teas is served daily from 12-4pm Expect an old style spread in the Orangery overlooking 350 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown and Humphrey Repton designed parkland – and all for just £12.50 per person. While you’re tucking into tea, keep your eyes peeled for celebs such as Daniel Craig, Claudia Schiffer, Hugh Grant, Renee Zellwegger, Jodie Kidd and Robbie Williams – all of whom have stayed (and played) at this sumptuous country club.

The Crazy Bear, Beaconsfield, 01494 673 086, www.crazybeargroup.co.uk
Tea served Mon-Sat 3-5pm If you’ve always wanted to see inside the flamboyant chandelier-laden fantasy that is Buckinghamshire’s Crazy Bear then taking afternoon tea here is a lovely – and far more affordable – way to do it. £8.50 nets you one fruit and one plain, clotted jersey cream, strawberry jam and a choice of tea, coffee or infusions. Alternatively push the boat out and plump for the full works (£29 for two). Whichever tea you choose, you’ll be waited on hand and foot.

Less posh but pleasant

Peacocks Tea Room, Ely, 01353 661100, www.peacockstearoom.co.uk
Tea served 10.30am-5.30pm Wed-Sun Situated in the sleepy cathedral town of Ely, Peacocks does afternoon tea superbly. Country Living’s favourite tea shop, Peacocks offers an amazing range of teas from all over the world and excellent home cooking.

St Ives Tea Gardens, Hartfield, East Sussex, 01892 770589
Tea served daily 11am-6pm Don’t be deterred by the queue; tea here is a real treat. Locals and visitors alike sit in the spectacular landscaped garden set amongst beautiful English countryside, although indoor seating is available in converted stables. Plump for the traditional cream tea; a generous sized spread of warm sultana scones, thick clotted cream, the freshest of jams and a pot of tea which the owners will watch you savour with fierce pride.

The aforementioned tea rooms are just five of my favourites. Fancy sharing yours? Post a comment below!