The Afternoon Tea Club's Top Tips for Afternoon Tea Success!

As experts in the finger sandwiches and cake department, we often get asked what some of our favourite components are for the perfect Afternoon Tea. So we thought it would be a good idea to give you a little run down of some of our top picks for a successful tea.

It starts with a simple sandwich ... 

Savoury selection at IC Westminster.

Every successful afternoon tea starts with a good range of sandwiches. A simple ham sandwich on plain white bread is fine but this is Afternoon Tea – it needs some pizazz! A nice range of breads makes a world of difference, as do fillings with a slight twist in spread or presentation. We see this more and more often these days but a good addition to a savoury palette is a mini smoked salmon bagel with cream cheese – a traditional filling but the bagel gives it a bit of added cool.

Top tip! For extra points, a completely different form of savoury miniature is always a good option to go with. Think a homemade sausage roll or pie.

What goes first - jam or cream?

Rosewater Bakery - Rosewater scones.

You can’t have afternoon tea without scones – well you can, but you best have a good replacement! A great way to make such a standard component that little bit special is to have a signature flavour. We have come across fantastic rosewater scones and apple flavours on our travels. These subtle flavours just give this staple an extra kick and can really add to a running theme that’s identifiable with a particular venue.

Top tip! If scones are a little too conventional, strawberry shortcake makes a worthy substitute.

Macarooning magic. 

Colourful Macaroons at Manchester House.

Some people can take them or leave them, we’re fans but there has to be a point to them be that an interesting colour theme or unusual flavour. Macaroons that surprise you with their flavour work really well, like a chocolate style one that’s actually filled with blackcurrant flavour – yum!

Top tip! Mix things up, offer a choice of a couple of flavours depending on the size of the tea.

Keeping up with the classics.

Not that you could mistake a classic Bettys tea.

Whilst it’s good to be quirky it’s important not to ignore the basics. These things are classics for a reason. A good slice of victoria sponge or lemon drizzle never goes a miss and is quite often more popular than a fussy three layer cake.

Top tip! Adding a caramel swirl or a hotel signature brand on top can give what would appear to be a boring old victoria sponge, just a little sparkle.

Afternoon ... what was that last bit again?

Proper timed tea at Crewe Hall.

You would not believe the amount of tearooms we visit that neglect the importance of the tea part of Afternoon Tea. A choice of tea goes a long way in our books, even if we do often go for a simple old earl grey but this is where venues can really get creative and often miss the opportunity.

Top tip! Get creative with names and presentation. The irresistible aroma from an assortment of tea can really set the mood and make for a much more interactive event.  

Feast your eyes. 

Afternoon Tea ... in a greenhouse at IC Westminster.

Of course a tea has got to taste good but we eat with our eyes first and presentation is so important for making a good tea. There’s no one size fits all, whether its all matchy, matchy or a bit hotchpotch, Afternoon Tea should have a style that makes you go wow.

Top tip! From cute glasses for a mousse to a miniature greenhouse, Afternoon Tea should be something to remember and cool accents like this can really set a tea apart.

So there’s just a few things that in our humble opinion, make for a pretty perfect Afternoon Tea. What about you - What are some of your essential components? Tweet us @TeacupReview #EssentialAfternoonTea.

Product Review: Delimann Afternoon Cream Tea

Some people get Amazon packages in the post, some get postcards. Us? We get Afternoon Tea - its a hard life.

This week we were lucky enough to get our hands on one of Delimann's unique Afternoon Tea gift packages. Sent directly to our door and packaged super carefully in a neat box full of cream tea goodness, this is definitely the kind of mail we like to get.

Time for a cuppa.

Delimann offers several different Afternoon Tea packages, including; picnic hampers, champagne tea and even a special Birthday tea complete with a mini celebration cake - adorable. We tried their Devonshire Afternoon Cream Tea which included everything you need for a real Afternoon Tea experience in the comfort of your own home - two plain scones with Devonshire clotted cream and strawberry jam, Tea Lover Biscuits, West Country Teabags and Devon Fudge.

Devonshire Fudge - yum!

For starters, the great thing about this Afternoon Tea is there's very little preparation. Just simply heat the oven, pop the kettle on and grab your favourite cup and saucer.

The scones smelled absolutely amazing whilst baking away and came out a lovely golden brown colour. They were a great size too, much bigger than I had anticipated which is never a bad thing where scones are involved!

Biscuits for dipping.

The scones really did taste just as good as they looked. Smothered in strawberry jam and Devonshire cream, they were absolutely yummy. I often find some scones to be a little heavy yet these were lovely and light and not too filling, even with lashings of cream - I may have gone a little overboard on that one but I think I my indulgence can be forgiven.

Warm scones.

I'm a huge fan of good old tea and biscuits too so I was very happy to see the packet of Tea Lover Biscuits tucked away in our gift box. This really gave the tea a charming, homely feel and there were plenty to go around. The biscuits were melt-in-your-mouth good and baked in cute bitesize portions - lovely.

Jam and cream - it's a must.

I must admit when I first spotted the Devon Fudge pieces I was slightly surprised as they're not a typical component to cream tea. However, they were in fact a very pleasant addition - crafted with organic clotted cream, they blended really well with the Devonshire Cream theme. The fudge cubes were really smooth and sweet - perhaps too sweet for some palettes but for me they were a wonderful, unexpected treat.

Bitesize treats.

Finally, included in the box is a full packet of West Country tea - 15 teabags altogether. I really liked this because once the scones were finished with I could still enjoy this tasty tea days later with my morning cuppa - definitely value for money.

I very much enjoyed Delimann's Cream Tea. It was hassle free, super fresh and each part was served in really generous sizes. I would definitely recommend it as a gift for any tea lover - you never know, they may even share it with you.

- Laura

Delimann provide a range of Afternoon Tea gift packages and deliver all over the UK. Prices start at £15.00 for a traditional Cream Tea. To find out more and to order go to: www.delimann.co.uk

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: The Milestone Hotel, Kensington, London

Last weekend the Afternoon Tea Club headed into the City for a very special afternoon at one of London's top destinations, The Milestone Hotel. Here's how we got on:

Tea Stand

Environment

Caroline:

Located just off London's Kensington Park, the Milestone Hotel offers luxury at its very best. Decorated throughout in a rich colour scheme of red, green and gold, the library in which tea is served, is an intimate yet ambient environment,  offering something for everyone. A selection of lounge chairs and comfy antique sofas provide informality for the casual guest, whilst traditional dining chairs and tables are also available for those seeking convention.

Looking around the room, it's clear that the Milestone doesn't have a certain 'type' of guest, with patrons ranging from ladies who lunch to a group of young children having a birthday party - proving that afternoon tea is very much for everyone!

The Library

Personal design highlights included their lovely tennis painting which offered a fantastic focal point to the room - particularly after the recent Wimbledon excitement - whilst their magnificent chandelier in reception (you know how I love a good chandelier!) provided an extra touch of class.

A pianist in the room adjacent was another nice surprise, playing a selection of quirky lounge music (including my all-time favourite 'I dreamed a dream' from Les Miserables) further adding  to the relaxed environment.

Milestone Hotel

Laura:

To quote my good friend Caroline as we entered The Milestone's lounge, 'Okay, now THIS is afternoon tea' - pretty much took the words right out of my mouth. 

Located in the heart of Kensington, this fabulous hotel is one of the most beautiful Afternoon Tea locations we have had the pleasure of visiting. 

Styled to perfection with authentic artwork and a rich tapestry of regal colours and furnishings, this takes traditional afternoon tea to the max. 

There's a good range of seating from antique sofas with incredibly intricate cushions to individual lounge chairs that are both ornate and pretty and a vintage queen's dream. 

Afternoon tea is about relaxation and The Milestone offers just that with elegant surroundings and even a live pianist to entertain guests throughout. I loved sipping my tea along to 'Here Comes The Sun'! 

This hotel showcases good old timeless England and I think visitors will love delving into this world of old books, rich art and traditional pastimes. 

Food

Caroline:

The variety of food provided on the Milestone's traditional champagne afternoon tea menu was staggering, with not one, but two tiers of cakes for the picking, alongside a sizable selection of sandwiches (Cheese & Tomato, Egg, Honey Roast Ham, Coronation Chicken, Cucumber and Salmon) and lovely warm scones (fruit and plain)

Sandwiches

Out of the sandwiches, my favourite had to be the salmon, which was fresh and light, balancing the smoky fish well with rich cream cheese. I always say that if the bread's fresh then you're on to a winner and the Milestone did not disappoint.

The scones were a similar success, served separately on a side plate with Blackcurrant jam and clotted cream, freeing up space for the all important cake stand...

Scones

Cake was very much the dish of the day at the Milestone, offering at least ten different options which included: a red velvet cupcake, American cheesecake with pistachio, chocolate eclair, carrot cake, fruit tart, coconut meringue and cream, raspberry cake, chocolate and hazelnut financier, and Lavender Shortcake. All cakes on offer were delicious - especially the carrot cake which was scrummy with a lovely creamy top - and truly catered to every taste. Unfortunately, there were just too many to get through during our sitting, but the lovely hotel staff boxed the left overs up for us to enjoy on the train ride home!

Cake

Laura:

Decadence. Complete and utter, wonderful decadence is how I would describe this Champagne Afternoon Tea. Arriving on a fabulous three tier, silver tea stand, accompanied by a glass of champagne, the food selection was truly mouthwatering. 

As with all good afternoon teas our menu was explained to us on arrival and there really was so much to take in. 

To begin with we had a plate of perfectly fresh sandwiches including; honey mustard ham, melt in your mouth salmon, cheese and tomato, cucumber and my favourite, circle cut Coronation Chicken. There was a really good mix of textures and breads and it was quite clear from the start that this wasn't any regular afternoon tea. 

Served hot from the oven our scones arrived separately with a choice of either plain or fruit and big dollops of both homemade jam and cream. The scones were just delightful, lightly glazed and a perfect golden brown. 

Cake Part 2

The desserts were also on a completely different level and offered a fantastic array of flavours and consistencies. The colour palette was just stunning with vibrant fruit tarts, raspberry sponge, subtle lavender shortcake, red velvet cupcake, lime and strawberry cheesecake and lemon meringue. However, the one that stuck out for me was the hotel's signature brandy chocolate cake - rich in flavour yet with a real smooth liquor kick. I really appreciated that the hotel managed to tick the traditional boxes but also experimented with interesting flavours to add a splash of personality to their menu. 

There are plenty of hot teas on offer too so to narrow our choices down we decided to go for the hotel's recommendations. I tried their signature earl grey, a real treat for a relaxing afternoon and the perfect complement to such an eclectic food selection. 

Service

Caroline:
As you'd expect, service at the Milestone was top notch, with every interaction being of the highest possible standard. All staff members were friendly and polite, doing everything possible to make us feel home - a big thank you to them for their efforts!

Laura:

Genuinely some of the best service we have experienced. For somewhere so formal and traditional,  the staff were not afraid to lighten the mood by joking with us (particularly about us wanting to take cakes for the journey home!) 

They were really helpful too and even invited a small party of mini guests to go help decorate cupcakes - absolutely adorable. 

Overall Thoughts

Caroline:

There isn't a single thing that I would change about the Milestone Afternoon Tea experience. From the moment we arrived until the moment we left everything was how a traditional tea ought to be - this is without a doubt the most immaculate afternoon tea that I have experienced to date (a big statement, I know) and I wouldn't hesitate to go back again!

Laura:

I often worry when we visit high end tea venues as grandeur can sometimes translate to quite a stiff environment where I'm afraid to raise a pinky finger incorrectly! However, The Milestone somehow manages to provide complete extravagance and still deliver an atmosphere that many of its peers struggle to conjure. 

There was a great mix of people enjoying Afternoon Tea during our visit and I think that speaks volumes about just how charming The Milestone is. If you're looking for something to really treat the family with this summer, I would look no further. 

Cupcake Rating: 

Plus - The Golden Cupcake! 

The Milestone Hotel is an award winning London hotel situated in the heart of Kensington. Afternoon Tea is taken in The Park Lounge with prices starting at £36.50 pp. For more information and to book, please visit their website here.

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. 

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: Hard Days Night Hotel, Liverpool

Whereas someone once said, you Can't Buy Me Love, you can in fact buy Afternoon Tea and in all honesty that's a kind of love I'm happy to settle for!

 

 

Step inside the Hard Days Night Hotel, Liverpool's very own Beatles themed abode set in the heart of the city that rocked the world. 

Tea is taken in the hotel lounge, where you'll find black and white photos of the Fab Four lining the walls and even framed lyrics in Lennon's famous handwriting. It's themed yet maintains an air of sophistication with its modern leather furnishings and dark wood accents. It would be very easy to go a bit Beatles mad in such a venue yet this place banishes the tacky in favour of subtle decoration.

 

 

 

This summer there are a few Afternoon Tea options on offer with the introduction of the restaurant's Summer Cooler's menu. However, I stuck with old faithful and went for a traditional tea.

The arrangement was really impressive. I absolutely loved the frosted glass tea stand - almost as much as I loved the pretty array of cakes!

The start I had a selection of sandwiches including cheese, ham, egg and salmon on a good range of breads and just the right size. No prizes for guessing my favourite - salmon!

Next up, it was the scones turn to shine. Beautiful warm fruit scones with jam and cream presented in a nice big dollop on the side - delicious . I really liked that there were two jams to choose from - strawberry and blackcurrant - and have now discovered how well blackcurrant jam goes with cream.

Finally, my favourite part, the dessert selection. Hard Days Night offers a really varied selection of cakes, not too heavy and not too repetitious either. This included battenberg, super fluffy Victoria sponge, lime and blackcurrant macaroons and a chocolate cake complete wth Hard Days Night print on top. The macaroons were particularly tasty, especially in such juicy flavours. The one minor let down here was the fact that the desserts were not home made. I think that if the hotel were to add a few signature cakes to its Afternoon Tea, then it could become a real hotspot for seasoned tea lovers. It's also worth noting that we were simply given the option of tea or coffee, which for me will do just the trick, however I can imagine some tea connoisseurs might expect a little more in the exotic tea department. 

 

Moving back to the positives, I must say the service at the hotel was really great and the staff were very attentive, making sure my teacup was constantly topped up - overall a really pleasant experience. If you're in the city for a shopping trip with friends and looking for somewhere to relax, I would definitely recommend booking yourself in.

 

- Laura

 

Hard Days Night is located on North John Street, Liverpool. Afternoon Tea is served daily in The Lounge with prices starting at £17.95 pp. for a standard Afternoon Tea. For more information and to book please visit their website here.

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: Fanny's Cream Tea by Post

As you know, we at The Afternoon Tea Club are partial to a couple of scones and a pot of tea so we were super excited when we received this yummy little package!

Afternoon Tea often conjures up images of grand hotels, perfect china and crisp white linen table cloths – which we highly approve of, of course! But sometimes there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to indulge in your favourite pastime, and after a busy day you might just want to curl up on your own sofa with a brew from your favourite teacup. Well, Fanny’s Farm makes that possible by bringing the best of Afternoon Tea to the comfort of your own home with their ingenious Cream Tea’s by Post!

Packaged to perfection in old fashioned brown paper and nestled rather creatively in a bed of popcorn, Fanny’s Cream Tea by Post has got your afternoon covered.

Tea for Two includes four fruit scones, a large jar Devon Clotted Cream of and two pots of homemade seeded raspberry jam along with two teabags, sweetly stamped with Fanny’s signature logo. There’s even a napkin each to complete the look – we loved the coordination.

There are handy instructions for tea too. The scones only take five minutes to warm in the oven whilst tea will take 3 minutes to brew for a cup that’s just right. The aroma from the oven was absolutely mouth-watering.

The jam and cream spread onto the scones very easily and there was a more than generous amount of both to go around. We loved that we each got our own jam jars and the labelling was extra cute with ingredient’s including ‘1% Fanny Magic’ – adorable.

The scones themselves were really lovely. We were anxious as to how the products would keep whilst in transit but they were extremely fresh and tasted great still warm from the oven. 

Cream Tea by Post would make a wonderful gift for any afternoon tea lover. You can treat yourself in your own time and have it exactly how you want it. It’s clear that a lot of love and care goes into each of these packages and that’s shown in the fantastic quality and faultless presentation. This really was a completely unique and very lovely experience – now who’s birthday is it next?...

Afternoon Tea News: The Goring Hotel Wins Coveted 'Top London Afternoon Tea 2013' in Tea Guild Awards

Top Afternoon Tea 2013
(IMAGE: Goring Website - http://www.thegoring.com/)

Congratulations to the Goring Hotel who recently won the coveted Tea Guild Award for the 'Top London Afternoon Tea 2013' (If you don't know anything about the Tea Guild Awards, they're sort of like the Oscars of the Tea world - prestigious and very sought after)

Very well done to the Goring Tea Team - we'll see you soon!

If you'd like to sample a piece of the excellence for yourself, then click HERE and HERE to find out what's on offer and how to book.

Read the Goring's Press Release about the Award HERE

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: Crewe Hall, Crewe

Last Monday the Afternoon Tea Club were invited to sample high tea at one of the UK's top venues - Crewe Hall. With its beautiful views and exquisite Jacobean interior, this was certainly an experience that we won't be forgetting in a hurry!

Crewe Hall

Environment

Caroline: 

The expansive landscapes and quintessentially English exteriors of Crewe Hall, combine to create the perfect Afternoon Tea setting. Located on its own estate, just ten minutes away from Crewe town centre, this Jacobean manor house has an extraordinary historical background, which will engage even the most passive of historians, with previous visitors including her Majesty the Queen and Charles Dickens. However, if the celebrity-factor doesn’t do it for you, the Hall’s interior certainly will, with beautiful period features and stained glass windows running throughout to create a luxurious environment.

The Sheridan lounge, where tea is served, is wonderfully lavish with beautiful ornate turquoise ceilings and rich furnishings, working together to create a lovely vibrant feel. The room itself is light and airy, with large windows allowing for an abundance of natural light, whilst the presence of potted plants, offers a freshness which really enhanses the environment wonderfully.

The Sheridan Lounge

Laura: 

Steeped in history dating all the way to back to Doomsday 1086, Crewe Hall is the epitome of Great British grandeur. Arriving from its private approach road, this stately building set amongst vast greenery, is an absolutely breath taking fete of architecture.

Before it’s time for tea there is a lot to explore in the former Jacobean Hall. Take a wander through the hallway to admire the giant library, stunning stained glass windows and the many ornate fire places, all with their own unique story to tell.

The Full Tea

When it’s time for an afternoon treat, The Sheridan Lounge is where the real magic happens. This utterly luxurious tea room is presented to perfection with deep tones of plum, chocolate and turquoise. Its modern colour scheme works beautifully amongst the traditional setting of vintage tea room equipped with leather seating you would envisage in a decadent lounge from a bygone era of complete class. 

I loved the huge windows and incredibly detailed carvings found on the far wall and above the fireplace -  there literally isn’t an inch of this place that doesn’t come with a story. Just gorgeous.

Scones

Food

Caroline: 

Crewe Hall’s Afternoon Tea is everything that it ought to be: elegant, sophisticated and delicious. Dominating the table with its substantial height and impressive selection of treats, this tea is an absolute delight for the eyes and palate.
 

The menu itself is executed to perfection and offers a good selection of traditional classics, including: Finger Sandwiches (Coronation Chicken, Cucumber and Crème Fresh, Ham and Mustard, and Salmon) Warm Scones (fruit and plain) with Strawberry Jam and Clotted Cream, and a selection if Cakey Treats (Chocolate Macaroons, Fruity Manchester Tart, Orange Gateaux and Chocolate Éclair) 

Afternoon Tea

The standard throughout the selection is consistently high, with all sandwiches being freshly prepared to order - an element which, although small, was greatly appreciated (too often do we come across sandwiches which are pre-made and a little dry!) - my favourite of these had to be the Coronation Chicken which I’ve never experienced before in an afternoon tea, but which I greatly enjoyed and thought made for a nice contrast alongside the other staple classics. My favourite from the cake tier had to be the Chocolate Macaroon, which was lovely and rich without being at all overpowering, whilst the Manchester Tart offered a nice contrast with light and fruity flavours.

With champagne, special loose leaf teas and a food selection to die for, you can’t really go wrong with Afternoon Tea at Crewe Hall.

Timed Tea

Laura:

My eyes lit up when our afternoon feast arrived at the table. Laid out on a gorgeous three tier stand with an endless supply of fabulous Twining’s tea, I knew we were in for an amazing afternoon.

Freshly prepared in Crewe Hall’s Victorian kitchen, our luxury Champagne Tea began with a refreshing glass of orange juice and a selection of teas to impress the most enthusiastic of tea lovers.

I opted for the intriguingly named Russian Caravan –a smoky blend which I’m told was transported in caravans when the tea was first brought from India to Europe. The tea was lovely with and without milk and made a pleasant change to my usual cup of coffee. Plus it was great to get a real tea experience with sand timers to ensure our drinks were brewed to 3 minute perfection!

The Cakes

The range of finger sandwiches was excellent. Traditional fillings but with a distinctive accompaniments that although subtle, made a huge difference. We were served cucumber with mint, Coronation chicken, salmon and ham and mustard. My favourite was the salmon – fresh and the bread was super soft, something that is normally very easy to get wrong – impressive!

Next up and the staple of afternoon tea – scones with jam and cream. I loved that we were given 2 of each variety, plain and fruit filled. It has to be said that these were some of the best looking scones we have ever had, brown and glossy on top and lashings of jam and cream to accompany. I particularly loved the jam and cream serving dishes as they were set aside from the main tier which made them very easy to dish out between the two of us!

The selection of cakes was tremendously generous and included chocolate macaroons, Manchester tart, orange praline gateaux and chocolate éclair. The desserts complemented each other wonderfully with a good mix of textures and flavours – a real treat for the self-confessed sweet tooth like myself!

This afternoon tea is one of complete indulgence and if like me, you find yourself defeated by this lavish cake selection, don’t worry as the lovely staff will box up any leftover goodies for you to enjoy at home – or if you’re anything like me and couldn’t wait – on the train home!

Tea Time

Service

Caroline:

We’ve had first rate service before, but nothing that quite compares to that on offer at Crewe Hall. From the lovely ladies and gents on reception, to the tea experts in the Sheridan Lounge, everyone at this hotel has a role to play and all play it exceedingly well. The commitment and enthusiasm from all staff towards their hotel is commendable, with absolutely no request being too much, as they strive for the excellence synonymous with high class dining.

Special mention must go to the Hotel’s Tea experts whose product knowledge was exceptional - Not only did they have exacting information about all of the blends available, but were also able to offer an interesting anecdote for each - I particularly enjoyed the story behind the ‘Russian Caravan’ Tea.

All in all brilliant service!

Champagne

Laura:

Passionate staff give Crewe Hall the upper hand – these guys really know their tea! The staff were extremely knowledgeable on the various tea options available and had extensive knowledge on the history of the hotel. Their appetite for great service was undeniably genuine and their warm personalities made this all the better. Special thanks must go to Kyle who was kind enough to give us a tour of the historic building and was incredibly attentive to our tea needs.

Overall Thoughts

Caroline:

It’s easy to see why Crewe Hall was recently voted by the AA as one of the top ten afternoon tea venues in the UK. Not only does it offer a perfect experience, but it does so with such ease and sophistication, as to make you feel truly at home. It is perhaps the most authentic afternoon tea experience which we have encountered so far and I would not hesitate to return again in the future.

Laura:

My favourite afternoon tea so far. With a great selection of cakes and the best tea selection yet, it puts you under a tea spell and makes you feel as special as the building itself.

The thriving yet sophisticated Sheridan Lounge has a wonderful atmosphere and brings a whole new lease of life to this longstanding afternoon tradition.

Beautifully luxurious and frequented by Royals for many generations – Crewe Hall is a must try and definitely gets our seal of approval. 

Cupcake Rating:

 

And the Golden Cupcake...

Crewe Hall is located on Weston Road Crewe. Afternoon Tea Prices start from £20.50 and are served daily from 12pm - 5pm. For more information, menus and how to book a table please visit their website HERE 


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.