10 Very British Ways to Celebrate Afternoon Tea Week
Afternoon Tea Week needs little introduction. A British staple for over 150 years, the act of having tea, sandwiches and cake late afternoon is as popular today as ever – here at The Handbook we hear of a new afternoon tea pretty much every week if not every day. 2016 is the sixth year of Afternoon Tea Week (8-14th August) so get involved – we’ve rounded up the classics, the brand new and the little-bit-exotic, so if you’ve tried a few already there are plenty more to tick off your list.
The Savoy
The Traditional One
There are few places more iconic than The Savoy for afternoon tea. With gentle background chatter and the civilised sound of teacups being placed back onto saucers, if it’s a traditional afternoon tea experience you’re after, this is the one for you. The hotel’s Thames Foyer is the impressive setting for the tea which consists of finger sandwiches, scones and creative pastries including a macaroon interpretation and Savoy eclair – you can’t go wrong with the classics.
Where: The Savoy, Strand, London, United Kingdom
Website: www.fairmont.com
The Wellesley
British Summer on a Plate
We’ve had a pretty wet summer but it’s not over yet. Cling on to August with The Wellesley’s sweet summer afternoon tea – it’s floral and fruity, think rose water macaroons, cherry and chocolate mousse and custard and meringue lollipop in the shape of a flower. Equally as important as the food is the tea; here you can choose from 30 blends including the house Wellesley blend, midsummer mango and organic chamomile flowers. Served in the hotel’s Jazz Lounge, if you visit between 2-6.30pm you’ll catch the live pianist. If you miss out on afternoon tea week, the limited edition spread is available until the end of September.
Where: 11 Knightsbridge, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LY
Website: www.thewellesley.co.uk
Good Ship Benefit
Magic Tea and Make Up
Add a bit of magic to your tea by climbing on board the Good Ship Benefit. Served Monday to Saturday, the illusionary afternoon tea takes place in the ‘brow room’ of the docked ship so you can have a groomed brows with your glass of bubbles – as well as it being afternoon tea week it is also Benefit’s ‘Year of the Brow’ so that’s double the celebrating. It’s called an illusionary tea for a reason – nothing is quite what it seems; savoury lollipops, orange and pink scones and ‘secret’ sandwiches served with equally intriguing cocktails. Seeing is believing.
Where: Victoria Embankment, Embankment, WC2N 5DJ
Website: www.goodshipbenefit.com
Town House Restaurant & K Bar
Tea Tasting and a Choice of Afternoon Tea Menus
We all enjoy drinking a cup of tea but do you really taste it? The Kensington are doing something slightly different for Afternoon Tea Week – a tea tasting. Hosted with the Rare Tea Company, the tasting takes place at 3pm on Thursday 11th August and kicks off with – no not a cup of tea but a glass of Perrier-Jouët Champagne. Tea sommelier Max Eisenhammer will then lead guests through the world’s best teas before you sit down to one of two afternoon teas in the Drawing Room; healthy (gluten-free choices) or classic.
Where: 109- 113 Queen's Gate, London SW7 5LP, United Kingdom
Website: www.townhousekensington.com
Dalloway Terrace
Picnic Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea takes place in summer for a reason, so go one step further and indulge in Dalloway Terrace’s picnic afternoon tea, complete with handmade Foxford picnic blanket. Open your wicker basket to reveal buttermilk scones, mascarpone and saffron cheesecake and sandwiches on their signature Guinness bread. The brains behind the tea is the restaurant’s pastry chef, Mariatu Kargbo, who has previously worked at The Dorchester, The Lanesborough an The Berkeley. High tea, high standards.
Where: 16-22 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3NN, United Kingdom
Website: www.dallowayterrace.com
Polo Bar
Tea-For-Two For £10
If you fancy a change from the formalities of pinkie fingers and starched linen napkins, check out Polo Bar’s offerings. The 24-hour cafe is celebrating with tea-for-two for just £10. With your pot of English breakfast tea you will get the works; scones, jam, clotted cream and sandwiches. And because Polo Bar never sleeps, if you want scones at 6am you absolutely can.
Where: 176 Bishopsgate, City of London, EC2M 4NQ
Website: www.polo24hourbar.co.uk
K West
Boozy Midnight Afternoon Tea
If London is a city that never sleeps then why is afternoon tea only available in the afternoon? K West are shaking things up and not only serving their afternoon tea from 10pm-midnight Sunday to Thursday but also trading the tea with Pimm’s jelly cups and tea-infused cocktails. In ode to musical royalty who have stayed at the venue in the past, the Glam Rock afternoon tea is served on vintage record covers with neon teapots.
Where: Richmond Way, Shepherd's Bush, W14 0AX
Website: www.k-west.co.uk
Little Nan's
Retro High Tea with a Twist
We’ve told you about Little Nan’s before, the kitsch cocktail bar in Dalston but Nan now has three sites – a tropical den in Peckham and one in Grade 1 listed Sutton House, Hackney. High tea is a regular feature for all three sites so it’s no surprise they’re getting involved with Afternoon Tea Week. Think vintage teapots filled with cocktails, Pat Butcher shrines, unlimited popcorn and 90s hits blasting from the speakers and you’ve got yourself an afternoon tea with a twist. Saturday 2.30-4.30pm at Little Nan’s Rio Bar, Dalston and Little Nan’s Tropical Den, Peckham and Sunday 2-4pm at Sutton House, Hackney.
Where: Various
Website: www.littlenans.co.uk
Courthouse Hotel
Exotic Afternoon Tea
Spice up your tea time with an afternoon tea inspired by the ancient Silk Route. Exotic flavours are injected into familiar classics – think strawberry and saffron yogurt, coconut financier and vegetable gyoza with soya ginger dipping sauce. The tea takes place in Courthouse Hotel’s Silk restaurant and the room that gives the hotel it’s name – the old court room of the former Marlborough Street Magistrates Court.
Where: 19-21 Great Marlborough Street, Soho, W1F 7HL
Website: www.courthouse-hotel.com
May Fair Kitchen
Mediterranean Flavours
Perhaps the most summery option for afternoon tea, May Fair Kitchen is putting their signature Mediterranean stamp on proceedings with bruschetta in place of sandwiches, Amaretto or Sicilian lemon to inject some zing into scones and churros, tiramisu, flourless chocolate and orange cake and a white peach and oregano panna cotta for the ‘something sweet’. The ‘El Dolce Semplice’ afternoon tea is available daily from 2.30-4.30pm – why not enjoy with a glass of sangria or a signature The Amalfi cocktail to really give that holiday feeling.
Where: May Fair Kitchen, Stratton Street, Mayfair, W1J 8LT
Website: www.mayfairkitchen.co.uk
Want more? Check out our other guides to the best afternoon teas, gentlemen’s afternoon teas and unusual afternoon teas.
