The Afternoon Tea Club: Twitter Teas

A couple of months ago we asked our lovely twitter followers to tweet photos of their favourite Afternoon Teas - this is what we received!

1. First up, sent in by @MoorsideFriends was Annie's Liverpool - we're loving the stand and Strawberry Shortcake selection! http://www.anniestearooms.co.uk/

2. In at two, sent in by @sameverett203, was Harvey Nichols Manchester - what a classy looking tea!
http://www.harveynichols.com/second-floor-manchester-restaurant

3. Cuthbert's Liverpool was another favourite with both @Thynie and @_ladyvic_ listing it as their fave - we have to say that we couldn't agree more - read our review here!
http://www.cuthbertsbakehouse.co.uk/

@_ladyvic_...

 Cuthbert's take two by @Thynie...

4. Number four was the the Great Gatsby Tea at Harvey Nichols 5th Floor London - submitted by @Loopy279 - don't you just love it? http://www.harveynichols.com/fifth-floor-london

5. Who's for tea at Eric Lanlard's Cake Boy? @cookesarah was and so are we - Read her blog post Here
http://www.cake-boy.com/

6. Kelly-Michelle (@80pairsofshoes) had a few favourites and we love them all - Check out here blog here!

Browns Hotel...
http://www.brownshotel.com/dining/the-english-tea-room/

Landmark Hotel London...
http://www.landmarklondon.co.uk/en/marylebone-bar-restaurant/atrium-afternoon-tea

 

Intercontinental Park Lane, Royal Afternoon Tea...
http://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/gb/en/london/lonwm/hoteldetail

Lanesborough Hotel...
http://www.lanesborough.com/en/london-afternoon-tea

The Berkeley...
http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/fashion-afternoon-tea/

The Dorchester Vintage Afternoon Tea...
http://www.thedorchester.com/afternoon-tea

 

7. Submitted by Olivia Seymour (@Ollyseymour), the Belfast Merchant Hotel tea has to be one of our favourites - wonderful colour palate!

http://www.themerchanthotel.com/index.php/sm-bars-and-restaurants/sm-great-room/sm-afternoon-teas.html

8. @tgirlheloise shared our love of the Radisson Blu Edwardian, Manchester with this wonderful photo!

9. Simon Dunn Chorlton (SDV_Chorlton) recommend their own Chocolate Afternoon tea and we have to say it looks absolutely delicious!

We love being inspired by your teas. If you'd like to feature in our next twitter teas post, get in touch at @TeacupReview with the hash tag #TwitterTeas. 

In the meantime let us know your thoughts, have you been to any of the places above. Can you recommend anywhere else? Get in touch!

Afternoon Tea News: Wimbledon 'Not Afternoon Tea' at OXO Tower

Following hot on the heels of their successful Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Not Afternoon Tea, OXO Tower have launched their themed delight - Wimbledon Style!

Experience the tastes of summer:

Join us at the OXO Tower to celebrate the fabulous fortnight of tennis with a Wimbledon themed Not Afternoon Tea Experience. OXO has planned a best of British affair, yet with the promise that there won’t be a scone in sight.

The ‘first serve’ is a glass of delicious OXO Champagne. Choose one of the four Not Afternoon Tea plates (a selection of decadent desserts paired with a unique cocktail) and enjoy a smoked salmon and cucumber crostini. Finish on a sweet note with a gingerbread tennis racket with strawberries and cream pistachio coated truffles to take home; meaning everyone’s a winner.

Glass of OXO Champagne

One Not Afternoon Tea Plate of choice with bespoke cocktail

Smoked salmon and cucumber crostini

Gingerbread tennis racket with strawberries and cream pistachio coated truffles to take away.

£46.50

So what do you think? Will you be heading to OXO Tower this summer?

Available at the OXO Tower Brasserie Sunday – Friday, 3pm until 5pm and Saturday from 2pm until 4.30pm. Friday 14 June until Sunday 14 July. For more information or to make a reservation please call 020 7803 3888 or email oxo.reservations@harveynichols.com

Charlotte in the City: Bond & Brook, Fenwick on Bond Street, London

Last week we sent our London tea gal Charlotte Vowden, to sample the delights of a designer afternoon tea at one of the city's most fashionable venues. 

Tucked away on the second floor of Fenwick on Bond Street, chic restaurant and bar Bond & Brook offers a dainty afternoon tea that could tempt even the most dedicated of shoppers away from the West End stores.

Separated but not severed from the shop floor by glass divides, Bond & Brook has a sleek contemporary style with white walls, a polished marble floor and a dazzling pewter bar that acts as a divide between the bar/lounge area and formal dining space. 

In keeping with its location among the designer labels of Fenwick’s ladieswear department, there’s a subtle fashion theme running throughout - from a library of fashion-related coffee table books and magazines to iced gingerbread biscuits shaped like shoes that are delivered on your tea stand. They’re details that don’t go unnoticed. 

Served from 3pm, by which time the restaurant’s lunchtime rush has passed, afternoon tea is taken at tables dressed with crisp white cloths and delicate silver cutlery. The menus and napkin holders add a welcome injection of colour, ensuring that the minimal style doesn’t feel clinical. Large windows along one wall allow natural light to flood the space but on a dull day a variety of tall funky transparent lamps shed light on proceedings. 

For such a modern setting the afternoon tea is surprisingly traditional. Edibles come out on a three-tiered stand and the ornate tea service is pure silver - the two-handled sugar pot is particularly darling. Tea is sipped from fine china cups, which the attentive staff are happy to keep topped up. 

The selection of teas on offer is modest but all tastes are catered for and the Angel Peach is a summertime must. The choice of finger sandwiches, dressed with a salad garnish, includes classics such as Wiltshire Ham and English Mustard but a Devon crab and mayonnaise number features alongside cucumber and mint to provide something a little different. 

Petite sultana scones come in twos and they’re adequately light and fluffy while the confections, sprinkled with glitter, are delicious and bite-sized - so taking your time to savour the treats and not eat them in one go is advised. The lavender shortbread with marshmallow and jam is best enjoyed if you let the chocolate it is encased within melt in your mouth.

Bond & Brook does not operate a dress code which makes it perfect for a spur of the moment afternoon tea fix, but it gets busy at the weekend so booking is recommended. The portion sizes make it a treat rather than a full-on indulgence, ideal for ladies who want to get back to the serious business of retail therapy post-tea.

The Bond & Brook afternoon tea is £18.50 per person and is served daily from 3pm. To make a reservation visit: https://www.fenwick.co.uk/bond-street/.

Charlotte Vowden is a travel & lifestyle journalist who is as happy in the mountains as she is sipping champagne and indulging on cake. Writing for The Sunday Times and other national publications keeps her busy but she’s always looking for her next adventure or afternoon tea destination.

Twitter: @charlottevowden

DISCLAIMER: As is common in the catering and leisure industry, we were provided with complimentary services for review purposes. Whilst this has not influenced our review, we believe in the full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. 

Afternoon Tea News: Wimbledon Tea at the Dorchester, London

Celebrate the Wimbledon season at the Dorchester!

With tennis ball cakes and a wimbledon mousse, the Dorchester's offering looks set to take centre stage this summer. read more here:

Wimbledon, the world's most famous tennis tournament will be celebrated at The Promenade at The Dorchester. Enter into the spirit of the occasion by enjoying one our special Wimbledon Afternoon Teas, with Champagne, tennis inspired cakes and pastries, and strawberries & cream, naturally. 

What do you think? Are you loving this tea as much as us? Comment below with your thoughts or message us at @TeacupReview

Champagne Wimbledon Afternoon Tea and Pastries, £55.00 per person, Five sittings Daily: 1.15pm, 2.30pm, 3.15pm, 4.45pm and 5.15pm, A discretionary service charge will be added to your bill. All prices include VAT. For further information, please telephone The Dorchester on +44 (0)2076298888 or email restaurants.TDL@dorchestercollection.com. Visit their WEBSITE

Product Review: teapigs tea bags

It's always nice to arrive home to a huge gift bag - even better when it's full of fab tea - which is exactly what we got from the lovely folk at teapigs.

teapigs selection

Teapigs offer a huge selection of teas and we were treated to four of their fantastic flavours including; super fruit, everyday brew, peppermint and Darjeeling earl grey. Here's what we thought!

Laura:

The first thing I noticed about teapigs was the lovely packaging. Boxed in neutral brown card and labelled with individual colours for each flavour, they're very cute and modern and have quite an indie feel to them. 

The teabags themselves are a little different too. They're shaped in small pouches which kind of look like mini drawer fresheners - and they smell just as good as them too! The bags are designed in quite a revolutionary way with biodegradable sachets and traditional strings for brewing. 

My favourite of the four flavours was the peppermint - refreshing on its own but incredibly soothing with milk. Just the perfect cup to wind down with before going to bed and a real winner in my household. 

For those who like a strong brew, everyday brew is great. It's bursting with flavour and totally holds up to its name. 

I could definitely see myself buying this tea in. 

time for tea.

Caroline:

What’s better than sitting outside on a hot summer’s day with a nice glass of iced tea? - Nothing - And with the lovely weather we’ve been having recently, now might be the perfect time to give Teapigs Super Fruit Tea a try. I’m not sure if it's been created specifically for the iced tea market, but it certainly fits the bill and is absolutely delicious with a couple of ice cubes. As it says on the box, the flavour is strong and fruity, with exciting berry bursts and an exhilarating citrus hint - offering a distinctive yet subtle blend. I also tried it warm and have to say that it's just as nice and well worth a try if you're in the mood for something a bit different.

Like Laura, the peppermint tea was another favourite in my house and I'll definitely be buying more soon - Renowned for its digestive benefits, it's a great one to drink after meals!

For their great presentation and delicious flavours, teapigs are definitely worth a try.

www.teapigs.co.uk