Afternoon Tea Week

Our five favourite places to enjoy this quintessentially British tradition

This quaint, but non-negotiable element of British life is being marked from 12th to 18th of August with an official Afternoon Tea Week. Here are the five places selected by I-M Magazine to celebrate this blissful, undying ritual.

THE LANESBOROUGH x NETFLIX’S BRIDGERTON-INSPIRED AFTERNOON TEA

To coincide with the third series of Bridgerton, The Lanesborough in London is laying on a splendiferous tea inspired by Netflix’s hugely popular period drama.

Created by the hotel’s Head Pastry Chef, Pierre Morvan-Benezet, the dishes include four signature thematic highlights. The Social Butterfly is a handmade jewelled pistachio and mandarin mousse. Colin’s Travels offers a dark chocolate sponge with caramel, enveloped in – nice touch, this – a travel trunk.


Meanwhile, The Book of Eloise isa cheesecake vanilla mousse with whipped vanilla Chantilly. Finally, The Lady Whistledown is a delicious grapefruit and raspberry mousse. All this can be washed down with a Friend to Lovers margarita, inspired by Lady Whistledown’s character. If all that doesn’t get you into the spirit of Bridgerton, nothing will.

The Lanesborough’s Bridgerton Afternoon Tea starts from £85 per person; at £95pp with The Friends to Lovers cocktail or the alcohol-free alternative, Blooming Wallflower; £98pp with a glass of Champagne; or £50 per child up to 12 years. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available. Book it HERE.


THE BEAUMONT MAYFAIR AFTERNOON TEA WITH AN AMERICAN TWIST

Step into the transformed elegance of Gatsby’s Room at The Beaumont Mayfair, recently refurbished by architect and designer Thierry Despont. This elegant and comfortable room is inspired by the building’s 1926 origins, featuring walnut-framed sofas, mahogany tub chairs, and an impressive collection of art.


Reflecting The Beaumont’s transatlantic heritage, Afternoon Tea here blends the finest English traditions with a subtle American twist. Guests can delight in a selection of homemade finger sandwiches – the devilled cackle-bean farm egg is out of this world – and sweet treats such as coconut and Mexican vanilla mousse, among other equally indulgent surprises, complemented by freshly baked scones.

To add a touch of glamour, a glass of NV Thiénot Brut from the extensive Champagne and sparkling wine list can be enjoyed. The teas are from artisan producers, such as JING Teas. From the organic Darjeeling 2nd Flush, grown in the Himalayan foothills, to the high-altitude Red Dragon from Yunnan Province, China, the teas are rich with distinctive flavours shaped by their origins and the craftsmanship behind them.

The Beaumont Mayfair serves Afternoon Tea in Gatsby’s Room between 12.00 pm and 5.30 pm Monday to Sunday from £70 per adult (£85 with a glass of NV Thiénot Brut) and £30 per child. Vegan, gluten-free and Children’s menus are available. Make your reservation HERE.


A CENTURY OF TEATIME TRADITION AT GLENEAGLES 

The Glendevon restaurant at Gleneagles in Scotland is putting on a tea to remember. Its Centenary Afternoon Tea transports guests through 100 years of culinary history at the iconic hotel.


Diners can relish menus which take inspiration from the roaring ‘20s, recipes from the famous 1989 Taste of Gleneagles cookbook, and the Scottish dishes the late Queen Elizabeth II sampled during her visits to the estate.

Do not leave without trying the classic Gleneagles terrine with caviar, the smoked lobster sandwich, and Gleneagles’ unique take on the world-renowned Tunnock’s tea cake. Each guest will also be given a Centenary Tea Tin containing the hotel’s special Centenary Blend as a souvenir of their visit. 

Afternoon tea starts from £65pp and is served from Friday to Monday each week. Book it HERE.


THE COLLEGES OF CAMBRIDGE AFTERNOON TEA AT PARKER’S TAVERN, UNIVERSITY ARMS  

Per square mile, Cambridge has gifted the world with more timeless literature than perhaps any other city on the planet. The University Arms’ Colleges of Cambridge afternoon tea pays tribute to the city’s unmatched academic legacy.

In this wonderful building, once the city’s first coaching inn, guests can unwind amongst the hotel’s bookshelves as they are served in elegant tea.


This features traditional British sandwiches filled with cucumber and dill cream cheese, beef and horseradish and egg mayo and watercress. A touch of modernity is provided by the smoked salmon tacos and rich red onion chutney quiche. Sweetness is provided by wondrous warm scones. There is a wide selection of teas and coffees on offer but if you prefer something stronger, you can opt for a glass of one of England’s most exciting wine producers, Saffron Grange.

A tea-to-go option is also available, allowing guests to collect their freshly made delights and take them into the sunshine, to enjoy on neighbouring Parker’s Piece or by the tranquil

The Colleges of Cambridge afternoon tea will be available at Parker’s Tavern every day from 12 pm – 5 pm. Prices start from £39 per person and £19.50 per child and free-from alternatives are available. You can make your reservation HERE.


NAUTICALLY INSPIRED AFTERNOON SEA AT HARBOUR HOTEL SOUTHAMPTON

The afternoon tea at The Jetty restaurant at the Harbour Hotel in Southampton has a marine theme. Crafted by chef Alex Aitken, the menu is inspired by its maritime setting, maximising the use of local produce.


Guests at the hotel, whose unique design reflects a gargantuan super yacht, can take in splendid views of Southampton Harbour while being served a selection of nautically based dishes.

Served with either Veuve Clicquot champagne or local teas (or maybe both, why not?), highlights include imaginative twists on traditional classics, such as haddock and crab quiche, seaweed and parmesan scones, salmon sausage rolls, and salted cod & XO doughnuts.

By the end of their tea, guests may well be singing “I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside.”

HOW: Afternoon Sea for £37.50 per person, with a £50 supplementary fee for Jetty Pods. https://www.harbourhotels.co.uk/

Author: James Rampton

Opening image: Bridgerton Afternoon Tea at The Lanesborough

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