Top Picks for Mother's Day Afternoon Tea

What better way to treat your mum this Mother's Day than with some quality time spent drinking tea (or champagne!) and eating lots of fabulous cake! Here's our pick of some of the best places to take your lovely mum this Mother's Day ...

Bettys, York

Bettys was the first tea room I ever visited as a child and has remained a firm favourite ever since. Boasting six locations across Yorkshire, their afternoon tea is a must for anyone travelling through the region, with York’s outlet offering both a casual dining option for passers by, or a reservation only experience upstairs in their Belmont room. Be sure to stop by their in house shop on the way out, to purchase a selection of Bettys signature breads, cakes and preserves - their Yorkshire tea loaf and fat rascal are an absolute must! - Caroline

Great John Street, Manchester

Everything about Great John Street’s afternoon tea is perfect. From its sumptuous library surroundings with sinkable sofas, to their beautiful Kumquat embellished serving plates, this boutique hotel has everything down to a tee (or tea!). Like many venues across the UK, Great John Street hotel offers both a ladies, gents and children's tea, making them the perfect choice for couples or family celebrations. Their new ‘High Breakfast’ makes tea an all day affair, offering a quirky take on the tradition, with Smoked Salmon Benedict, Mini French Toast and Strawberry Smoothies up for grabs. Definitely one to check out. 

Grand Pacific, Manchester

Our second Manchester recommendation is the ‘Asian High Tea’ at Grand Pacific in Spinningfields. Served in two waves (savoury stand first, followed by a sweet) this tea is a twist on the traditional British pastime, swapping out sandwiches for sushi, and scones for sweet spring rolls. With the bar being part of Manchester’s premier Australasia restaurant, it’s impossible to go too wrong. 

Crewe Hall, Crewe

Anywhere that’s good enough for the kings and queens of days gone by, is good enough for us. Served in the Sheridan Lounge fresh from the estate’s Victorian kitchen, the most striking part of this afternoon tea is its surroundings. With beautiful period features and high ceilings running throughout, it’s difficult not to get swept away in the venue’s history. Their champagne option is exactly how you’d imagine a quintessential afternoon tea to be, so if you’re looking for an elegant high tea in traditional surroundings, this is about as perfect as it gets!

Harvey Nichols, Nationwide

Harvey Nichols is a great option for afternoon tea on the go. Located at the heart of five of the UKs  major cities, the premium department store offers a luxury high tea experience at a very reasonable price. With seasonal menus that often include collaborations with prominent chefs, such as Paul A Young, this ever changingafternoon tea is a fantastic option for shoppers and ladies who lunch.

Cuthberts’ Bakehouse, Liverpool

If vintage charm is more your style, Cuthberts’ Bakehouse in Liverpool offers a fun and affordable afternoon tea in a casual setting decorated in turquoise hues and fairy lights. Chosen from a selection of co-owner Matthew’s favourites, the menu varies from season to season but whatever the time of year, Cuthberts will spoil you with a quirky tea stand that’s packed with afternoon tea classics like Victoria sponge, huge macaroons and hearty sandwiches in an impressive selection of fillings and breads– you’ll wonder how you’ll ever finish it all.

Marco’s New York Italian, Sheffield

Marco Pierre White’s New York, Italian restaurant offers a choice of two fabulous afternoon teas – traditional and Italian. Served on an up-cycled vintage style wine box, the Italian menu brings a fresh twist with a selection of savoury bites including pastrami on rye and bruschetta down to a sweet selection of cronuts, chocolate covered strawberries and polenta cake. Hardcore traditionalists might miss their usual scone fix but the surprise “wow” box that arrives as you finish, featuring mini biscuits and hot dipping chocolate, more than makes up for it. 

Are you treating your mum to Afternoon Tea this Mother's Day? Tweet your photos at @TeacupReview!

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: Marco's New York Italian, Sheffield, Pt. 2

Traditional Afternoon tea

A few weeks ago, we brought you part one of our Marco's Italian afternoon tea weekend, complete with rustic bruchetta and chocolate dip biscotti. Well, this week we're pleased to bring you the restaurant's traditional afternoon tea.

Inside

Sweet Treats

A lot more conventional than it's Italian counterpart, the classic afternoon tea features everything you could wish for, including champagne to start, an abundance of finger sandwiches (Beef and Horseradish, Salmon and cream cheese, Ham & Mustard, Mackerel and Beetroot, Cream cheese and cucumber) a selection of sweet treats and cakes (Fruit Tarts, filled Brandy Snaps, Lemon Curd Sponge, Chocolate Cake, Dipped Strawberries) and a surprise strawberry treat to finish. Scones also make a reappearance on this menu, making this tea absolutely perfect for the afternoon tea traditionalist in us all.

Strawberry Surprise

As before the service was very friendly, with the manageress being more than happy to explain the details of the menu to us and make sure that we were well looked after.

All in all our trip to Marco's New York Italian was an absolute delight. It's not often that you see themed afternoon teas outside of London, so the range on offer here is a definite bonus. If you're in the area and after something sweet, give them a try!

Tip: If you like a quieter environment, book a sitting for after 3.30 as it was a lot quieter than earlier on.

For more info and to book visit:www.mpwrestaurants.co.uk

Afternoon tea was provided to us for review purposes, but as usual all thoughts and opinions are our own!

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: Marco's New York Italian, Sheffield, Pt. 1

Champagne and popcorn.

It's been almost two years since we last visited Sheffield for Afternoon Tea, so when we were invited to come and try the brand new Afternoon Tea menu on offer at Marco Pierre White’s New York,  Italian Restaurant, we thought what better excuse than to hop on the train and pay the Steel City a visit.

In keeping with the New York Italian theme, there are two types of Afternoon Tea on offer: Traditional and Italian. Luckily for us we didn't have to face the difficult task of choosing which one and got to overload on cake from both (Part 2 to follow). 

Starting with the Italian, the tea arrived presented on a vintage style, vine box turned tea stand bursting with food - so don't make the mistake on filling up on the paprika popcorn beforehand! To begin there's an interesting array of savouries including bruschetta, salmon bagel, pastrami on rye and pulled pork roll. It's an interesting mix of flavours and styles, some traditional Italian and others much more contemporary but there are enough flavours crammed in there to ensure there's something you'll love. 

Italian Afternoon Tea.

For the hardcore-traditionalists out there, you probably won't be over the moon about the skipping over the scones but honestly, there are so many miniatures, sweets and even surprises to follow that you won't even notice. 

Heavy on the chocolate theme (yes please!) the tea featured chocolate chip cookies, chocolate brownies, chocolate covered strawberries, orange and polenta cake and cronuts. The cronuts were absolutely delicious followed by the strawberry milkshake shot - there's a huge trend for a mini milkshake with tea these days and we're absolutely loving it. 

Savoury selection.

And just when you think you couldn't eat anymore, there's an extra surprise waiting for you when you finish in the form of a "wow" box featuring mini biscuits with dipping chocolate. Such a unique touch and one you'll definitely make a little room for. 

The tea side of things was a little less adventurous and we were asked a little while into our food whether we would like tea or coffee. The staff were more than happy to cater to our tea choice but it would have been nice to see a full tea menu. However, we were quite settled with a glass of champagne so the tea could wait!

Mini "Wow".

If you're looking for something a little bit different with a few special touches, Marco's New York Italian is definitely a must try. The staff were really attentive and the food is just delicious. Look out for part two of our review next week!

Marco's Italian Afternoon Tea is priced at £16.00pp or £19.95 with a glass of champagne. For more info and to book visit: www.mpwrestaurants.co.uk

Afternoon tea was provided to us for review purposes, but as usual, all thoughts and opinions are our own. Prices correct as of July 2015

Cake Break: Fancie, Sharrowvale Road, Sheffield

As promised, here's the second instalment of our visit to Sheffield's Fancie. Find out what we thought below...

Caroline: 

Considerably more intimate and flowery than its Ecclesall Road sister, the original Fancie is everything that's good and girlie. Decorated throughout in Cath Kidston-esque patterns (which include stars, polka dots and pretty florals) and enhanced with quirky table games and vintage pieces, this shop is the perfect place to escape from the humdrum of student life. 

The shop's main focus is on the lovely cupcakes (twelve varieties nonetheless) which are produced daily in the Fancie Bakery, offering a variety of distinctive flavours. As a treat after our tea, we were given a couple to take home. Without hesitation I went for my favourire 'Red Velvet' and their unusual 'Raspberry and Almond' Cupcakes. Needless to say both were delicious. As a bit of a cupcake fanatic (and baker in my spare time) I always like to judge cakes by their buttercream - It HAS to be perfect and anything less just will not do. I'm pleased to say that the icing in both cases was immaculate and exactly in line with my standards. Well done! 

Cappuccino Cupcake!

Laura:

Fancie’s cute cupcake café is where it all began and I can certainly see why it’s still so popular today. Decked out in hot pink and white it’s a complete contrast to its sister Canteen bakery and oozes home-baking charm.

Set out open plan, there’s a family feel here with patterned tablecloths, pretty teacups and even children’s artwork pinned to the fridge with alphabet magnets - very sweet and welcoming.

The cupcakes themselves were absolutely gorgeous. Like Caroline said we had a choice of Fancie’s 12 signature bakes and I went for gorgeously girly Pink Marshmallow and Cappuccino cupcakes. The sponge was lovely and moist and to join in Caroline’s buttercream fan girl moment, yes the buttercream was AMAZING. My favourite was the marshmallow cupcake simply for being the pinkest cake I have ever seen – oh and it was yummy!

This mini cupcakery also has quite a large range of drinks on offer so to finish our day I sipped on a vanilla latte - which could very well be my new favourite hot beverage! 

Fancie is located on Sharrowvale Road, Sheffield. Cupcakes can be ordered to go or can be enjoyed in the shop between 9-5pm Monday to Saturday and 11-5pm on Sundays. For more information check out the 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: Fancie, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield

Last week we were invited by the fabulous folk at Fancie Sheffield to sample their latest Afternoon Tea - being the tea lovers that we are, we were only too happy to oblige!

Time for Tea!

Environment 

Laura:

Arriving up the Ecclesall Road strip, there is an eclectic mix of eateries, unique boutique shops and student hangouts. Subtly positioned along this vibrant mix, Fancie’s Canteen and Bakery sits modestly with a white exterior and understated logo but with a fabulous display of cakes that are sure to lure you in.

Once inside, any false impressions of an overload of pink and fluffy are lost and replaced by bare brickwork (one of my favourite things –just ever!), natural wood, mismatched vintage china and gorgeous centre pieces.This is afternoon tea meets Sex And The City power lunch. 

Cakey Treats

Our table was already set with floral teacups and seal-top jars holding flower arrangements and all important sugar cubes. I loved the red lantern house table decorations as the pillar-box shade worked to bring the rest of the table to life.

The seating arrangement was also really nice. A mix of painted garden furniture, wooden chairs and recently fitted bench seating in the bay ofthe window. There are a great range of table sizes too which makes Fancie the ideal place for a quick coffee catch up or a full on afternoon tea treat with the family.

Cute Accessories

Caroline:
With four outlets across Sheffield and a selection of cupcakes to die for, Fancie‘s distinctive yet versatile interiors mark its unique appeal, offering a selection of eclectic designs to suit all tastes. 

A contrast to its original Cath Kidston-esque sister, their new flagship bakery on Ecclesall Road offers a relaxed warehouse-style environment, ideal for an informal afternoon tea. The exposed brickwork walls and rough wooden floors, create a rural feel which is quite different to anywhere we’ve been before, whilst the quirky crates and old-school-style blackboards accent this theme perfectly - I particularly liked the luggage tagged glass bottle which marked our table and the fairy light lined windows, which I thought added a very pretty contrast to the wooden interior.

Food

Laura:

The one thing I am always looking for with every afternoon tea we try is that one unique feature that sets it aside from the rest. Fancie has just that. If not for its gorgeous vintage china coupled with contemporary tea stands and hotchpotch furniture, the menu alone makes it worth the trip.

To start, we had a fantastic range of sandwiches, with more than enough to set us off in style. Fillings included classic cucumber, cheese and chutney, ham and whole grain mustard – gorgeously thick slices by the way,and smoked salmon. The salmon was my favourite although I did love the hot mustard filling with the ham – yum!

Next up – and might I add, what was Fancie’s trump card for me – amazing home-made puff pastry sausage rolls. I had never come across this before with afternoon tea and I just thought it was a fabulous idea. It made a typical party nibble feel grown up and posh – I’m not ashamed to say my share may have included some of Caroline’s too!

Then came the scones – an afternoon tea staple, yet even this key layer came presented with a twist. With a touch of cinnamon these werepre-cut into bitesize pieces which had a real homemade rustic texture. They were simply gorgeous and a great alternative to the traditional treat. There was plenty of Catherine’s Choice Jam and Clotted Cream to go around too!

And finally, it has to be said, one of my favourite afternoon tea desserts is a gold old cupcake and since these are a staple at Fancie, we were treated to four of their signature flavours – Victoria Mini, Chocolate Mini, Hazelnut Mini and Butterscotch Mini. I tried the Hazelnut and Butterscotch, they were both lovely and fluffy with perfectly smooth buttercream – I could have happily eaten them all. To accompany, we were treated to a few more bitesize favourites including a chocolate tiffin, chocolate brownie, Rocky Road and strawberries. I am a huge fan of Rocky Road so I was super excited to see that on the menu – chock full of marshmallows, just the way I like it!

We were also given a choice of Twining’s loose leaf infusion teas. As a recent Peppermint Tea convert I choose this option which came with plenty of refills.

This is one afternoon tea were flawless presentation definitely lives up to the taste.

Yum!

Caroline:

Traditional but with a distinctly Yorkshire twist, the Fancie Afternoon Tea is certainly something to behold. Presented on simple, modern stands which contrast wonderfully with their glass tea pots and beautiful vintage tea services, this tea has all the classics and then some - also offering a few unexpected twists along the way.

The menu itself is vast and includes lots of flavourful goodies such as: Finger Sandwiches - Cucumber, Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese, Cheese & Chutney and Ham & Wholegrain Mustard (Four of each); Mini Fancie Sausage Rolls(Yum); Fancie Scones (with Catherine’s choice of jam and clotted cream); and Fancie Cakes (too delicious to mention without getting hunger pangs, but here goes: mini Victoria Cupcake, Nutty-Rocky Road, Chocolate Brownie/Tiffin and Chocolate Cupcake!

Scone Slices

Out of this selection, my favourite had to be the Scones which were served in bite-size slices with lots of jam and cream - an absolute god-send for a messy scone eater like myself, and everso dainty. Other favourites included the Cheese and Chutney sandwiches, which I enjoyed so much that I had to steal some of Laura’s to satisfy my craving for more (they are seriously good, made with brilliantly soft bread). Off the top tier I LOVED the tiffin, which as a longstanding favourite of mine was a more than welcome addition to the cake selection - especially alongside the nutty bite-size rocky road and strawberry bites which were little pieces of Heaven.

Tea

For my tea, I went for the old faithful Earl Gray, which as usual, didn't disappoint. (I particularly liked the eclectic mix of vintage china and modern glass tea pots, which offered a quirky and off-beat dynamic to the tea taking ceremony.)

Teacup

Service

Laura:

The service at Fancie was spot on. Our order was taken rightaway and we were approached at just the right intervals. The staff were very friendly and happy to chat with us when taking our order – a really lovely team.

Caroline: 
In alignment with its setting, the service at Fancie was warm and welcoming, making our afternoon very enjoyable. The service style was friendly, with staff displaying a good product knowledge and enthusiasm for the brand.

 

Overall Thoughts

Laura:

Fancie has found the perfect balance between vintage and contemporary by combining the best of tradition with the practicality of modern dining. By thinking outside of the box, Fancie’s talented chefs have created an afternoon tea that stands out for its creativity and attention to detail. Two hours on a train is a long way for cake … but so worth it.

Caroline:
I really loved our day out at Fancie and would recommend to anyone. For excellent food in a relaxed and informal environment, you really can’t go wrong - a great place for students, families and business men alike - pay them a visit soon!

Cupcake Rating:

Fancie is located on Ecclesall Road, Sheffield. Afternoon Tea is served between 2-5pm, and priced at £12.95 pp. For more information, menus and how to book a table please visit their website HERE

LOOK OUT FOR OUR REVIEW OF THE ORIGINAL FANCIE CUPCAKERY LATER THIS WEEK!

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.