The UK’s sixth Afternoon Tea Week starts on Monday 8 August 2016, running until Sunday 14 August – a whole week dedicated to celebrating the Great British institution of Afternoon Tea, introduced by Queen Victoria during the 1840s. From traditional teas to quirky creations and family friendly fun, The Resident picks out London’s best afternoon teas
AFTERNOON TEA WEEK SPECIALS
Royal Afternoon Tea at The Arch London
Be treated like royalty at The Arch London as the five-star hotel has devised a perfectly patriotic Royal Afternoon Tea. The stately spread features a procession of dishes worthy of the Royal seal of approval. Classic British savoury delights include Chicken liver parfait with spiced fig chutney; and Rare roast beef, watercress and crispy shallots. Sweet treats include quintessentially British desserts such as Eaton mess, Victoria sponge, Battenberg, and Strawberry tart. Royal Afternoon Tea, priced at £25 per person or £33 with a glass of Tattinger Brut Reserve, is available from 8-14 August 2016 from 12noon-7pm. It can be enjoyed in the hotel’s stunning Martini Library, stylish Hunter 486 restaurant or chic Salon de Champagne lounge.
thearchlondon.com
Royal Afternoon Tea, The Arch
Balans Soho Society, G & Tea cocktails, Soho
Balans Soho Society Restaurant on Old Compton Street has twisted Afternoon Tea into G & Tea (with in-house tea-infused gins), all in the pursuit of pleasure and in order to administer some Soho spirit to Afternoon Tea Week. Bringing together the nation’s love of Afternoon Tea with unadulterated gin appreciation, those roguish Balans Soho Society rascals have developed an indulgent new twist on tradition by infusing their favourite gins with the delicate flavours of various teas. For further indulgence, each delectable G & Tea cocktail is garnished with a delicious mini afternoon treat, be it a traditional teacake, a chocolate brownie with fresh raspberry or classic cucumber sandwich. Priced at £12 each, the limited edition cocktails are only available at Balans Soho Society Restaurant on Old Compton Street each day between 2pm-6pm during Afternoon Tea Week.
Balans Soho Society, 60 – 62 Old Compton Street W1D 4UG; 020 7439 2183; balans.co.uk
Mr Fogg’s Tavern is serving up special G & Tea cocktails for Afternoon Tea Week
Cabbages & Roses Afternoon Tea at Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill
The Montagu restaurant at the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill is hosting a special Cabbages & Roses Afternoon Tea for Afternoon Tea Week. Overlooking the tranquil Portman Square Gardens, The Montagu is the perfect setting for this Cabbages & Roses Afternoon Tea Week Event. The Montagu’s brand new tea is inspired by the famous Rose Garden at Winston Churchill’s family home of Chartwell, served up with a Bramble Royale cocktail or a glass of rose champagne. You can also indulge in luxurious mini treatments from Elemis and take home goodie bags including treats from Elemis, Newby Teas, Cabbages & Roses and Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill. Thursday 11 August, 3.30pm. £38 per person.
To book call The Montagu on 020 7299 2037, email montagu.hrlondon@hyatt.com or see hyatt.com. Quote ‘Afternoon Tea Week Event’ when booking.
Cabbages & Roses Afternoon Tea
Flower Arranging Afternoon Tea at Harrods
Harrods is offering a flower arrangement session from Moyses Stevens before guests can indulge in their sumptuous Afternoon Tea. The flower arranging session will take place in the Conservatory, a light-filled mezzanine that exudes elegance located on the border of Harrods’ prestigious Georgian Restaurant. Tickets are £80 per person. Sessions are available to book on 11, 12 and 13 August.
To book see afternoontea.co.uk
Harrods is a British institution
The Ritz London’s Epicurean Tea Tasting
The Ritz London introduces a new Epicurean Tea Tasting – a journey of discovery of some of the finest and rarest teas from across the world. Curated by certified Tea Master Giando Scanu, guests will taste six rare and spectacular teas, each expertly paired with a selection of finely cut finger sandwiches and open rolls, warm savoury dishes, freshly baked scones and beautiful French patisseries by Executive Chef John Williams. During the interactive three-hour journey, The Ritz London’s resident Tea Master will talk about the rich and captivating history of tea, as well as the health qualities and composition of tea. As part of the experience, each tea is presented in a silver tea caddy and is prepared tableside in an antique Ritz silver pot, complete with warming burner. 13 August. Tickets £95 per person.
To book tickets email events@theritzlondon.com
Afternoon Tea with champagne
Le Restaurant de PAUL
From treating a friend or taking a half-day to indulge in a bit of ‘me’ time, try out Le Restaurant de PAUL’s afternoon tea, served daily from 2.30pm-5.30pm. Designed for sharing, savour dainty artisan sandwiches, mini macarons, a selection of cakes and sweet brioches with jam and whipped cream served alongside two hot drinks for just £25. Turn it into a real celebration with a glass of Cremant Brut each for just £5 extra or a glass of Champagne for an additional £10. Guests who book online will be treated to a box of mini macaroons to celebrate Afternoon Tea Week.
paul-uk.com
PAUL Restaurant’s afternoon tea
Handel & Hendrix House Afternoon Tea
Handel House and Mews of Mayfair have teamed up to offer a unique Afternoon Tea event complete with a guided tour of the historic house, a live music recital. Jimi Hendrix and the German composer George Friedric Handel both lived in the same building on Brook Street in Mayfair – their former homes at number 23 and 25 have undergone extensive restoration, allowing members of the public to view the building that has housed two musical greats at times when they were creating pieces that changed the landscape of music. Ticket are £65 and include entry to Handel House, a guided tour from the director, a 30 minute private harpsichord recital and the Handel & Hendrix Afternoon Tea served with a glass of Pommery Champagne. Friday 12 August, 4pm.
To book email events@afternoontea.co.uk. See handelhendrix.org
THE TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEA
The Savoy, Covent Garden
The Savoy hosts one of London’s top traditional afternoon teas. Served within The Thames Foyer, a magnificent glass domed atrium, afternoon tea at The Savoy is an enduring custom where guests can choose from a range of teas served with finger sandwiches, homemade scones with clotted cream & jam and a mouth-watering selection of seasonal cakes and pastries created by Executive Pastry Chef, Ludwig Hely. The menu starts at £50 per person and offers the traditional afternoon and high Tea favourites, including macaroons and the Savoy Eclair. Last month, The Savoy launched The Salon Couture High-Tea with Suzie Turner. Taking place in the beautiful Thames Foyer on the first Wednesday of every month, The Salon Couture High-Tea allows guests to indulge in afternoon tea whilst being immersed in the glamour of a 50s fashion show. £58 per person with a welcome cocktail.
fairmont.com/savoy-london
The Savoy’s Thames Foyer Tea
The Bingham, Richmond
Afternoon tea lovers adore the Bingham’s quintessentially British high tea with delicate sandwiches, scones, cakes and patisseries served with a special selection of 11 loose leaf teas from British tea advocate, Canton. Diners can also treat themselves to glass of champagne with their afternoon tea. From 13 June until 31 August 2016, The Bingham is serving an alfresco Rose Afternoon Tea to celebrate everything that’s rosy in the riverside garden.The Bingham, Richmond’s riverside destination restaurant, bar and boutique hotel is a chic independent, family run getaway for those looking for a slice of the countryside in London.
61-63 Petersham Road, Richmond TW10 6UT; thebingham.co.uk
The Bingham now serves a rose afternoon tea
Royal Afternoon Tea at The Marriott Hotel, Park Lane, Lanes of London
In continued celebration of Her Majesty’s 90th birthday, Mayfair restaurant and bar, Lanes of London’s perfectly patriotic Royal Afternoon Tea is inspired by some of the monarch’s favourite dishes and ingredients. Royal Afternoon Tea includes: White peach Melba macaroons to represent the white peaches grown in the greenhouses of Windsor Castle that Queen Elizabeth has a particular fondness for; her favourite tea Earl Grey will feature within a dessert; and classic interpretations of the Victoria sponge cake and Coronation chicken sandwich first created in honour of the Queen’s 1953 coronation. Priced at £39 per person and complemented with a glass of champagne (from £45 per person) or Her Majesty’s favourite cocktail, a Gin and Dubonnet Cocktail (priced at £8) traditionally enjoyed by the Queen before lunch, Afternoon Tea is available daily until September, from midday until 5pm.
140 Park Lane, Mayfair W1K 7AA; afternoontea.co.uk
Lanes of London’s Royal Tea
Sketch Rich Tea, Mayfair
Mayfair institution sketch and Champagne house Veuve Clicquot have just launched an innovative and unusual twist on the traditional Champagne afternoon tea – a tea-strained Champagne to complement the delicious homemade afternoon tea, which includes delicious finger sandwiches, fresh pastries and traditional scones with clotted cream, fig and strawberry jam.
9 Conduit Street, Mayfair W1S 2XG; 020 7659 4500; sketch.london
Sketch’s Afternoon Tea
The Flower Tea by Alexis Gauthier
An award-winning chef has created an inspired new style of afternoon tea for 11 Cadogan Gardens. The Flower Tea by Alexis Gauthier retains the essential elements of savoury, scones and sweet, but brings a lightness and finesse in execution missing in other heavier, more sugary offerings. Gauthier was one of the first wave of chefs to popularise plant- and flower-led menus.
11 Cadogan Gardens SW3 2RJ; 020 7730 6383; flowerafternoontea.co.uk
The Flower Tea by Alexis Gauthier
THE HEALTHY AFTERNOON TEA
La Suite West’s Vegan Afternoon Tea, Hyde Park
Idyllically located by Hyde Park, minimalist boutique hotel La Suite West is home to a vegetarian restaurant called Raw, offering healthy food with vegan friendly, dairy free and raw dishes and chic alcohol-free mocktails – as well as a vegan afternoon tea. Complete with a combination of designer finger sandwiches (including scrambled tofu, mustard cress, Portobello mushroom pate, cashew nut butter and lemon & thyme tahini) and homemade scones served with coconut cream and fresh strawberries, plus raw chocolate cakes, orange cheesecake with a sticky coconut-flake base, and passion fruit mousse. You can also choose from Fresh Roasted Italian Coffee or a selection of loose leaf teas including Mint Tonic, Darjeeling 2nd Flush, Chamomile Flowers, Earl Grey Lemune Super Boost Tea, Jade Sword Green Tea and more. £27 per person including a glass of non-alcoholic fizz.
To view the menu click here. To book call 020 7313 8484 or click here
La Suite West’s vegan afternoon tea
Firmdale Hotel’s Afternoon Tea
Sugar free, gluten free and vegan afternoon tea is now available on request at all Firmdale Hotels in London – Covent Garden Hotel, Dorset Square Hotel, Haymarket Hotel, The Soho Hotel, Ham Yard Hotel, Charlotte Street Hotel, Number Sixteen and Knightsbridge Hotel. The chef’s have created a range of items to suit most dietary requirements – just let them know on arrival. Opt for your afternoon tea at Number Sixteen, a relaxed and stylish boutique hotel in South Kensington that serves Afternoon Tea all day long in the Orangery or the lush green and serene private garden.
firmdalehotels.com/afternoon-tea
Firmdale Hotels now offer a variety of healthy afternoon tea to suit your dietary requirements
THE QUIRKY AFTERNOON TEA
101 Dalmatians Afternoon Tea at The Sheraton Grand, Piccadilly
Everyone’s favourite childhood film, 101 Dalmatians, celebrated its 55th anniversary in July 2016, and The Sheraton Grand has conjured up an afternoon tea to celebrate. The Art Deco hotel is located opposite Green Park on Piccadilly, where much of the film was set, hence the Pongo and Perdy-inspired Afternoon Tea with Perdy’s paw recreated as a delectable lemon mousse and Oreo biscuit, Pongo’s bowl as blueberry cake with violet cream, and the spirit of Cruella de Vil is captured in the dotty chocolate sponge and raspberry jelly. Dalmatian inspired savoury treats include a polka dot macaroon made of confit salmon, crème fraiche and dill, as well as smoked trout mousse with English mustard and pickled red onion hotdog. Finally, free range egg mayonnaise and watercress sandwiches and short rib and bone marrow hot pot round up the dishes.
Sheraton Grand London, Park Lane, Piccadilly W1J 7BX; sheratonparklane.com
Enjoy a 101 Dalmatians afternoon tea and relive your childhood
Gelato Afternoon Tea, Snowflake Cafe, Selfridges
Back away from the cucumber sandwiches and embrace the UK’s first gelato afternoon tea – available exclusively at the new Snowflake Gelato cafe at Selfridges. Beautifully presented on a classic afternoon tea stand, you’ll find bite-size treats all made from gelato including mini macaron gelato sandwiches, gelato cannolo’s, mini gelato cones enrobed with chocolate, a slice of gelato cake and sponge sandwiches, all for £15 per person. Winners of 25 Great Taste Gold Star awards and champions of high quality Gelato, Snowflake will offer a number of eat-in options alongside the gelato afternoon tea, including breakfast, served from 9.30am until midday, with fluffy American-style pancakes, waffles and the Breakfast Gelato Shake, made with Kefir gelato and topped with granola and summer berries and optional extra protein shots.
selfridges.com
The new Snowflake Gelato Afternoon Tea at Selfridges
ARTea Afternoon Tea at Lancaster London
Lancaster London has devised an Afternoon ‘ARTea’ for those who know their Monet from their Picasso. The eclectic ARTea menu will be edible, as will the canvasses within the afternoon tea, while waiters will serve guests in whimsical painting aprons. Dishes will be delivered to tables in painters boxes full of delectable delights like finger sandwiches, pastries and freshly baked scones, all of which will be served on painting slates alongside jam & clotted cream concealed in 30ml paint tubes. The innovative afternoon tea will be served to guests in The Lounge, where the work of emerging and local artists grace Lancaster London’s walls in celebration of the hotel’s affinity with London’s thriving art scene. From £35 per person.
lancasterlondon.com
ARTea Afternoon Tea at Lancaster London
Glam Rock Afternoon Tea at K West Hotel & Spa
Traditional Afternoon Tea has been given a glam-rock makeover at K West Hotel & Spa in Shepherd’s Bush. Guests can swap traditional hot drinks for tea-infused cocktails, and even enjoy the treat late at night like a true rock star from 10pm until midnight. Formerly the BBC Building Kensington House in the 60s, an endless list of Rock ‘n’ Roll royalty has stayed at K West – Bob Marley and the Wailers, Bowie, The Kinks and Roxy Music to name a few. The Glam Rock Afternoon Tea pays tribute to the hotel’s music heritage, served on vintage record covers, with electric blue and pink teapots and teacups, adding some glam to the rock. £24.50.
k-west.co.uk
Glam Rock Afternoon Tea at K West Hotel & Spa
All-American Afternoon Tea at Christopher’s Covent Garden
Breaking with the British teatime tradition, Christopher’s All-American Afternoon Tea (£12) celebrates the finest flavours in baked form. Available daily from 3pm and 5pm in the stunning ground floor art-deco martini bar, choose from Freshly-baked Buttermilk Scones with Maple Syrup Clotted Cream, Cherry Jam and Home-made Nutella, or Chocolate Brioche French Toast (Milk or Dark) with Vanilla Ice Cream. Both are served with a choice of tea or tisane, or you can choose from a selection of tea-based cocktails like the Earl Grey Mar-tea-ni (Earl Grey infused Bombay Sapphire Gin, Earl Grey Syrup, Lemon Juice & Orange Bitters), Matchamaker (Bombay Sapphire Gin, Matcha Green Tea Syrup, Lemon Juice & Mint) or a Whisk Me a Mile Away (Jim Beam Honey Bourbon Whiskey & Camomile Tea) – all £10.
christophersgrill.com
Christopher’s
Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning Bus
This year M&S will once again be official headline partner of Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, which takes place on Friday 30 September. And in anticipation of the event, and riding on the coat tails of Afternoon Tea Week, Macmillan Cancer Support and M&S will be taking their World’s Biggest Coffee Morning bus through the streets of London on Monday 15 August. Get involved by having a cup of tea and a slice of cake; the general public will be able to join in the fun free of charge, by coming aboard at Victoria Embankment at 2.30pm. M&S will be selling a number of exclusive homeware items throughout September to raise vital funds to help people affected by cancer and will donate 10% of sales from their classic cakes to Macmillan
See coffee.macmillan.org.uk or text SEPT to 70550
Macmillan’s Afternoon Tea Bus
A Scandi take on Afternoon Tea – ‘Fika’ at The Harcourt
Since opening in spring 2016, The Harcourt has become London’s top destination for “fika” – Scandinavian afternoon tea. A Swedish tradition much like the British afternoon tea and a term used for a relaxed coffee and a chat with friends, is taken in an exquisitely renovated Grade II listed Marylebone Georgian Townhouse. Dishes include The Harcourt’s already folkloric Reindeer Scotch Egg, alongside more traditional fika, such as Pickled Herring on Rye, Cinnamon Buns and Dark Chocolate Mousse with liquorice and salted caramel. Enjoy with aromatic teas and coffee or a Scandi-inspired cocktail such as The Freudian Slip (Akavit, Lychee, Elderflower, Lemon, Prosecco). Available daily between 3pm and 6pm, The Harcourt’s fika spread is served on handmade Melody Rose bespoke bone china tableware.
theupcoming.co.uk
THE BOOZY AFTERNOON TEA
Aperi-tea at Piccolino, Mayfair
Combining the classic British afternoon tea and the Italian aperitivo hour, Cocchi (award winning aromatised wines and vermouth from the Piedmont region) has created the ‘Aperi-Tea’, hosted by Piccolino alfresco restaurant in the heart of Mayfair’s paved Heddon Street. The Aperi-Tea consists of refreshing tea-laced Cocchi spritzes including fresh jasmine tea with peach and Earl Grey tea with rhubarb, served in ice-filled wine glasses on the outside terrace. A selection of ‘terra e montagna’ antipasti is served alongside the spritz featuring fennel salami, Parma ham, Bresaola, Sardinian pecorino, truffle honey, arancini, Gorgonzola with fruits and pickles. Additional dishes of fried calamari, tuna carpaccio and bruschetta can be ordered, finishing with the classic Affogato (Amaretto, espresso and vanilla ice cream), Tiramisu or cioccolatini (Frangelico-laced chocolate truffles). The Aperi-Tea is available at Piccolino, Heddon Street from Sunday to Thursday, 3-6pm, until September.
21 Heddon Street, Mayfair W1B 4BG; 020 7287 4029; individualrestaurants.com
‘Aperi-Tea’ hosted by Piccolino
Mr Fogg’s Residence’s Tipsy Tea, Mayfair
Acclaimed Mayfair bar Mr Fogg’s serves a Victorian-themed afternoon Tipsy Tea with a delicate array of dainty sandwiches, cakes, pastries and petiits-fours. Beautifully presented on traditional three-tiered stands and served on embossed fine bone china, delights include cucumber, coronation chicken, moked salmon, and cheese and ham sandwiches, Victoria sponge, lemon drizzle cake, meringue tarts, macaroons, marzipan and glacé fruits. An innovative range of tea-infused cocktails served in teapots offer a novel twist on this quintessentially English pasttime, including the 1840 (a blend of Earl Grey-infused Tanqueray No. TEN Gin, Cointreau, crème de pêche and orange marmalade) and the Anna Maria Russell (Tatratea liqueur, sloe gin, lemon bitters, and topped with Ruinart Champagne).
15 Bruton Lane, London W1J 6JD; mr-foggs.com
Mr Fogg’s Residence is serving up a Tipsy Tea
Cahoots’ Sqiffy Picnic, Soho
Head for the underground sensation Cahoots to enjoy a splendid Squiffy Picnic, complete with wicker picnic hampers filled to the brim with delightfully British cuisine and cocktails circa 1946. Upon arrival, the stationmaster will greet guests with a refreshing Sipsmith Summer Cup Cocktail before heading down the apples and pears. Guests can sift through the fancy dress box before sitting at their picnic tables laden with a tartan blanket, flowers and a dedicated hamper menu that pays homage to food and cocktail favourites from post-war Britain. Choose from three different hampers packed with scrumptious fare and delightful tipples for the ideal picnic experience.
13 Kingly Street, Soho W1B 5PG; cahoots-london.com
Cahoots’ Squiffy Picnic
The Little Yellow Door’s Notting Hill Tea Party
This summer pop-up that wont close its doors is launching its very first cocktail tea party in the heart of Notting Hill. London’s most loved flat mates at The Little Yellow Door will be throwing their yellow door open on Saturday afternoons to host a Notting Hill Cocktail Tea Party. Expect alcohol infused pots of tea, finger sandwiches and a variety of traditionally British board games to choose from. Guests will be welcomed through the door by a bohemian host, before sipping on alcoholic teapots which include Tea with Mussolini, a Bacardi Blanca rum infused chamomile tea with pomegranate and blueberries, while tucking into a selection of finger sandwiches and cakes including Chocolate brownies with malt cream.
68 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3HT; thelittleyellowdoor.co.uk
The Little Yellow Door
THE FAMILY FRIENDLY AFTERNOON TEA
Gallery Mess, Origamitea, Saatchi Gallery
Grab the kids and head down to Gallery Mess for their innovative Origamitea. Designed to entertain and encourage creativity alongside the classic afternoon tea tradition, Origamitea gives children the chance to make their own origami creatures. Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea offering of British sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream, macaroons and delicate cakes. Prices start from £15.50.
Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York HQ, Kings Road SW3 4RY; rhubarb.co.uk
Gallery Mess’ Origamitea
Roald Dahl Afternoon Tea, Aqua Shard
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s birth, Aqua Shard, on Level 31 of The Shard, has launched a creative afternoon tea full of sweet and savoury treats inspired by Dahl’s great works. Mr Twit’s bird pie comes to life in the form of a buttery pastry with a ‘birds leg’ breaking out of the top. Sophie and The BFG’s quest to Buckingham Palace is brought to life in a ‘breakfast’ sandwich with fried eggs and bacon in between colourful tomato bread fingers. The sweets are mouthwatering and start with The Witches chocolate mice, followed by a giant peach meringue filled with fresh peaches and cream. Each tea goer will also receive a golden chocolate bar to take home. Drink your tea with a side of DIY hot chocolate made with a melting chocolate spoon, or upgrade to a Champagne afternoon tea. Served Monday to Friday, 1-5pm. £45 per person or £58 with a glass of Yellow Label Veuve Clicquot Champagne. Available until the end of September.
Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street SE1 9RY; aquashard.co.uk
The Roald Dahl Afternoon Tea at Aqua Shard