Top 5: New Afternoon Teas in LondonBy Angelica Malin
If you care, it’s National Afternoon Tea Week. We don’t need an excuse to chow down on freshly baked scones – every week is suitable for finger sarnies and a glass of bubbles. If you’re on the hunt for a new afternoon tea in the city, we’ve handpicked the best we’re totally loving at the moment:
1. For an Ice Cream Tea: The Dorchester
The Lowdown: No new afternoon tea list worth its scones would miss out The Dorchester. The iconic London hotel is an institution when it comes to clotted cream and cuppas. This year, however, the team have sprinkled their culinary magic on the traditional spread in favour of something far more modern. The Ice Cream Champagne Afternoon Tea features a whole host of sweet treats, and there’s also a social media competition where you can be in with a chance of winning the Ice Cream Champagne Afternoon Tea experience for two simply by sharing your own ice cream moments with #thedorchester #DCmoments.
Eat and Drink: Alongside finger sandwiches, scones and cakes, The Dorchester‘s Ice Cream Champagne Afternoon Tea boasts this year’s newest ice cream flavours: black berry mojito sorbet, clotted cream and cherry, and honeycomb and strawberry basil sorbet, all served in home-made cones. Best washed down with a glass of Laurent-Perrier champagne.
Price: £65 per adult and £35 per child
Where: 53 Park Ln, London W1K 1QA
2. For a Suitable For All Ages Tea: The Ampersand Hotel
The Lowdown: Running until September this year, The Ampersand Hotel have gone back to school with their latest afternoon tea. Not just for children, the new Jurass-tically updated afternoon tea will bring out the big kid in everyone with their new Science Afternoon Tea. Bunsen burners and goggles are not required.
Eat and Drink: Inspired by the hotel’s South Kensington neighbour, The Science Museum, the afternoon tea includes a selection of themed treats including a chicken Caesar salad in a parmesan basket, and the Milky Way macaroon. Budding scientists can also dissect a blood orange and passion fruit jelly on a petri dish or dust for a collection of almond dinosaur fossils.
Price: £32.50 per person, or £45.50 with a glass of Moët Ice Impérial Champagne.
Where: 10 Harrington Rd, London SW7 3ER
3. For a Classic Tea: The Savoy
The Lowdown: The Savoy have been serving afternoon tea in the Thames Foyer for over 125 years, and these guys certainly know a thing or two about cucumber sandwiches and jam. They’ve given their classic afternoon tea a 2016 makeover – but don’t fear pals, there’s still plenty of scones and tea by the bucket load.
Eat and Drink: Created by The Savoy’s Executive Pastry Chef, Ludwig Hely, the Afternoon Tea menu offers the traditional Afternoon and High Tea favourites, including a range of teas served with finger sandwiches, homemade scones with clotted cream and jam. Hely’s menu also offers a range of delicate and imaginative pastries and signature cakes including the macaroon interpretation with lightened vanilla custard, fresh strawberries sandwiched in an almond macaroon, and the Savoy eclair filled with mango-passion fruit cremeux and milk chocolate whipped ganache.
Price: £50 per person
Where: Strand, London WC2R 0EU
4. For a Big Kids Tea: Conrad London St. James
The Lowdown: Conrad London St. James have done it again with their incredible sweet-filled afternoon tea. You can have the best of both world with their new Conrad Candy Shop Afternoon Tea – feast on their classic savoury selection and relive your childhood days with their miniature delights of retro sweets.
Eat and Drink: The new Conrad Candy Shop afternoon tea offers a selection of pretty pastel pastries and decadent savouries, including candied beetroot and goats cheese tart, strawberry and cream panna cotta with a bright bubblegum macaron, and smooth chocolate and peppermint cheesecake. This is complimented by fresh finger sandwiches including smoked salmon, lemon dill and crème fraiche to whet your appetite. These treats are presented on a fun-filled box of hundreds and thousands, making this the ultimate candy-inspired experience.
Price: £54 per person with free flowing Champagne, £47.50 with one glass of champagne or £39 per person without champagne.
Where: 22-28 Broadway, London SW1H 0BH
5. For a Summery Tea: The Wellesley
The Lowdown: Inspired by the summery London weather, The Wellesley have stuck to tradition with their new afternoon tea. The Sweet Summer Afternoon Tea is served in the hotel’s ornate 1920’s Art Deco-inspired Jazz Lounge, and will be served throughout the summer months.
Eat and Drink: Designed by pastry chef Cristiano Paolini, the new tea offering reveals classic English flavours with a contemporary twist. Delicate rose provides the flavour of a rose water macaroon, full-bodied cherry is whipped into light mousse filling a chocolate cone, and custard and meringue are combined into a playful flower- shaped lollipop. Other delights include a fruit tartelene, fresh strawberries and red velvet roulade decorated with beautiful edible flowers. Savoury favourites comprise traditional finger sandwiches of cucumber and cream cheese, roast beef with rocket and parmesan, and pan brioche with smoked salmon and cream cheese with a classically Italian focaccia.
Price: £50 with a glass of Brut Champagne, or £55 with a glass of Rose Champagne.
