I don't know about you, but this Winter lark has really been killing the mood recently, so whilst the sun is out and Spring has officially begun, it's time to embrace the seasonal afternoon tea in all its forms.
If you know us well (or even just a little) then you'll probably be aware that we LOVE Great John Street Hotel, and whilst we haven't visited in a couple of years, they will always be ranked high on our list of all time favourites.
Part of the Eclectic group, Great John Street Hotel is one of four residences in Greater Manchester, with the brand's most recent opening, The King Street Townhouse, launching in December 2015. Now, it may seem crazy that it's taken us almost two and a half years to make it there for tea, but let me assure you that it was it worth the wait.
The "Traditional" and "Gentleman's" afternoon tea selections are served up daily in the hotel's Tavern, offering a good range of sweet and savoury treats for visitors to enjoy with a glass of bubbly or Jack Daniels (yum!). Menus change regularly, but during our visit last month we were treated to an Easter rendition of their Spring menu, which included: white chocolate mousse, carrot cake slices and miniature chocolate eggs - for up to date menus, see here.
With Great John Street having such a strong reputation when it comes to afternoon tea, I have to admit that I was a little sceptical about King Street Townhouse - could they really live up to my expectations?
Before our visit, I'd heard mixed reviews, with some people praising the tea, whilst others were a little more non-plussed. However, from my experience, I can only give them praise. The menu itself was incredibly well balanced, with a good mix of textures, which included: cake, macarons, scones, mousse and pastry, offering something for everyone. The flavours were similarly impressive, with the Carrot Cake in particular offering a lovely sweet-yet-earthy flavour, which was delicious.
In terms of environment, the Tavern's lounge has many qualities which are comparable to Great John Street, with comfortable arm chairs and homely nicknacks decorating the room, making for a really lovely place to spend an afternoon. However, a main point of differentiation for me, is the lack of natural light, which was a little disappointing - especially with summer approaching.
That said, the hotel's central location is definitely to its advantage, sitting at the heart of Manchester's current Afternoon Tea hotspot, surrounded by other premium neighbours, The Hotel Gotham and Grand Pacific - the ideal excuse to take in two or even THREE teas in a day.
Overall, we were really impressed with the Kingstreet Townhouse and would recommend it to anyone looking to venture out for a spot of cake with the girls (or guys)
For prices and more information:
Have you ever visited the King Street Townhouse? What did you think?
I had a mixed experience ages ago. The room was gorgeous. The tea was a bit meh. Might try it again sometime.
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