One Aldwych, Covent Garden, London

Visit One Aldwych website HERE
COST: £26.50 each

Having read my review after my first visit to this venue, I was invited back to One Aldwych by their food and beverage manager to sample their improved afternoon tea. I must say, I was very impressed with this focus on customer service and it was clear that they do listen carefully to customer feedback and take it onboard to continually evolve and improve their offering.

On arrival my mum and I were greeted with a glass of champagne and separate menus - one for the traditional gluten full afternoon tea and one for the gluten free option. It made my mum feel very welcome and normal unlike many afternoon tea venues where often the coeliac can be seen as a nuisance and often you get served a rather embarrassing excuse of an afternoon tea. The tea menu hadn't changed since our last visit but then it does already have a large selection of the usual and not so usual teas. During our time there, we didn't once have to ask for a tea top up - service was exceptional.

 Gluten Free Menu

 Gluten "Full" Menu

So on to the food... sandwiches, like last time, were lovely. They offered traditional flavours with a twist as they are served on different subtlety flavoured breads. The gluten free sandwiches were also lovely and it would have been difficult to identify which ones were which. One Aldwych like to offer a contemporary twist and together with the sandwiches served seasonal asparagus with a perfectly cooked hen’s egg. Nice touch!  The scones, however, disappointed again. They were small and quite dry - a bit more butter in the recipe and they would be top notch. The cakes and Eton mess were nice and should the sugar rush hit, a tasty Pimms jelly was served which was very refreshing. The frangipane cake on the gluten free option is definitely worth a mention - fantastic!

 Gluten Free Offering

 Gluten "Full" Offering

Overall, an improved food offering from One Aldwych and I would recommend it. My mum thoroughly recommends it for coeliacs and is trying to get it featured in the Coeliac Society’s magazine.