The Cavendish, London

Visit The Cavendish Website HERE
COST: £20 per person with champagne* (*Special Offer price)
The Cavendish seemed a promising choice in central London. As the website boasts:

"The Cavendish Afternoon Tea includes an extensive selection of Fairtrade teas and coffees, accompanied by a selection of freshly-made free-range sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and organic preserves, mini pastries and tartlets. Finally, a variety of chocolate truffles add a little indulgence"

Maybe I've just been spoiled by having some fantastic afternoon teas, or maybe The Cavendish just doesn't deliver what it promises? Marc and I were sat in the "lounge" by the lifts - a very busy area which ruined the ambience. The whole afternoon tea package was delivered - a bonus as it meant we could mix eating the sweet with the savoury. However, the sandwiches really disappointed. They definitely were not freshly made and despite the flavours sounding nice (cheese and tomato chutney for example) they really did not deliver. Scones only came with raisins (I think Marc spent most of the time picking out the raisins) and we had the choice of one strawberry preserve. Tea on offer was either Clipper (yes, Fairtrade, but also offered in cheap high street fast food chains...) and... Twinings (which I would happily buy in the supermarket but I won’t pay over the odds for it for an afternoon tea). Hmm, well not quite the extensive selection I was expecting. I'm really starting to sound snooty now but having worked for a rather popular brand of tea, I think I'm entitled to be snooty about tea. To finish it all off, no chocolate truffles were offered. Probably not an afternoon tea to recommend...

London Hilton on Park Lane, London

Visit The Podium Website HERE
COST: £25 per person - worth every penny!
Booked by Miranda, my cousin, I was very excited to try out this afternoon tea because they offer a chocolate afternoon tea (heaven!). Aside from feeling a little sugared out when I left, the offering did not disappoint. It was utterly divine. The Podium restaurant (inside the hotel) offers a very stylish and relaxed atmosphere.

We were sat at our table and asked what tea we would like and the type of scone we would like (raisin, no raisin or chocolate chip...?). We went for raisin - Marc wasn't there. Tea was delivered in individual white china tea pots together with a tea strainer - lovely. The sandwiches delivered were open sandwiches and were very tasty (prawn, cucumber and cream cheese, smoked salmon). We then had the scones and cakes delivered. WOW!! The presentation is the best I have ever seen. The cakes were presented on top of a solid chocolate slab (edible!) and a little christmas scene had been made out of chocolate and icing - almost too good to eat (almost!). The scones were accompanied by a strawberry preserve and a gorgeous chocolate spread (more like a dark chocolate mousse). There were cupcakes on offer (2 full sized ones each!) and little chocolate pastries and truffles.

This tea definitely deserves a top rating. My only issue with it was that the sandwiches were delivered before the cakes and scones and therefore the inevitable sugar high was experienced. We probably should have made use of the stylish doggy bag to take away some of the cakes, but Miranda and I couldn't resist the challenge to finish it all...

The Kensington Hotel, London

Visit The Kensington Hotel Website HERE
COST: £23 per person 
Part of the Doyle Collection, The Kensington Hotel has just reopened after a £20million renovation. First impressions were great. The renovations have been finished to a high standard.

My friend Mandy and I discovered it because they were offering a special deal on afternoon tea - 2for1. They had a great selection of teas and the sandwiches were lovely. There was no option of extra sandwiches - not great when I have been used to this (at The Wolseley and Four Seasons). Once we had eaten the sandwiches, the scones and cakes were delivered together. The scones were lovely and served with the usual strawberry jam and not so usual passionfruit curd - yummy! The cakes on offer were ok, but having the sweet things delivered in one go, we were both feeling the effects of a sugar high. A sandwich would have been nice but as these had been served separately this was not an option. My friend and I agreed that the ambience was fantastic but the quality of the tea didn't quite match, so not sure we would return.

A photo of the afternoon tea from their website... it didn't quite look like that in reality...

The Barn, Ruislip

Visit The Barn Hotel Website HERE
A nice little find close to our parents. The Barn in Ruislip. Lovely lounge area - dark wood panelling and very cosy with a roaring log fire. We only went for the cream tea (tea and scones only). Scones were lovely but my only qualm was that the jam was Coopers, served in little glass pots. The only reason I'm sounding snooty about this is that we'd experienced the home made preserve at The Four Seasons and nothing can really compare with that. Tea was good.

The Four Seasons, Hampshire

Visit The Four Seasons, Hampshire Website HERE
COST: £25 per person

In one word, exquisite. Probably a little biased as Marc, my husband, and I were celebrating our first wedding anniversary when we tasted this feast. We did have to wait a little while to get service but once sat in The Library, the experience was excellent! We chose to try their "Russian Caravan" tea which had a slightly smoked malty flavour. An Assam or English Breakfast may have been a better choice... Sandwiches were gorgeous! Twists on the traditional. Rare beef with horseradish, cucumber, smoked salmon and chicken all available. Again, we were offered regular top ups. Scones were beautifully warm and without raisins (a plus point for Marc!). Homemade strawberry preserve and lemon curd were served (DIVINE!) with them. Cakes served were again on the rather delicate side and perhaps not the best part of this afternoon tea but still tasty none the less.

The Wolseley, London

Visit The Wolseley Website HERE
COST: £21 per person
Probably my first introduction to the proper traditional English afternoon tea and a good place to start sharing my thoughts. Ambience is fabulous! In their own words, a cafe-restaurant in the grand European tradition. Priced at £21 per person, it sits at the higher end of an average price for afternoon tea and gives you finger sandwiches, pastries, scones and tea. The sandwiches are divine and free top ups are regularly on offer. Scones are served warm and are very tasty. The pastries are a little too delicate and Parisian for my liking but that could all be down to personal taste. Tea is served in ornate silver pots and require a tea strainer as loose tea leaves are used to brew the tea. This all adds to the ambience and chicness of afternoon tea the The Wolseley. Definitely recommend!

Welcome!

I was first introduced properly to the quintessential English afternoon tea at The Wolseley in London in about 2007. I'd had the classic cream tea (scones, clotted cream, jam and tea) many times but never the full blown treat with sandwiches AND cake.  What a wonderful idea! I have now made it my mission together with friends and family to try out as many afternoon tea's as possible and share my thoughts with you on this blog. Feel free to to share your comments and, if you've been to the venues mentioned, even better, share your reviews! Enjoy reading.