Afternoon Tea Week: ATC Top Picks!

What better way to start our week long Afternoon Tea celebration, than with a look at our favourite UK afternoon tea venues. Take a look below for our top afternoon tea week tips.

 

 

1. Grand Pacific, Manchester

 

If you're looking for something a bit different this week, then the Grand Pacific in Manchester, might be just the thing for you. Attached to the prestigious Australasia restaurant, this is definitely a good choice if you're looking for something a little more high brow (yet still reasonably priced) 

 

We visited back in the spring and fell in love with their glamorous surroundings, sushi rolls and chicken salads.

 

2. The Milestone Hotel, London

The Milestone doesn't just shout tradition, it positively screams it. With informal, but elegant surroundings, this is the perfect venue for the authentic afternoon tea experience. With offerings for both ladies and gents, this has something for everyone and is about as good as you can get.

 

3. Annies, Manchester

 

Co-owened by Coronation Street's Jennie McAlpine, Annies Manchester, offers an all 'round home-made experience. With a rustic selection of chunky scones, home made Jams and chutney, this hidden gem, offers great value for money and a whole lot of character.

 

 

4. Fortnum and Mason, London

 

Synonymous with fine tea, the Fortnum's brand has long been a staple British classic. As you would expect, their afternoon tea is exquisite. With tea and cake on tap, what more could you ask?

 

 

5. Great John Street Hotel, Manchester

One of our favourite northern tea venues, Great John Street Hotel has everything - comfortable surroundings, relaxing music and a food selection to die for. A great one for relaxing on a week day!

 

 

6. Crewe Hall, Crewe

 

Another very traditional offering, only this time, in the North. Crewe Hall's picturesque location makes this tea one of the most idyllic of our selection. 

We were taken with it when we visited last year and know that you will be too!

 

Where will you be going for #AfternoonTeaWeek? Let us know in the comments below or on twitter at @TeacupReview

The Afternoon Tea Club at Two - A Year in Pictures

Tomorrow, The Afternoon Tea Club turns two and what better way to celebrate than with a round up of the last year...

January 2013

Two-thousand-and-thirteen was an incredible year for ATC. From making our first appearance in the national press to judging a local afternoon tea competition, we were taken off on a whirlwind of cakey goodness and are yet to come down.

It's hard to believe how far this little blog has come over the last 12 months and we couldn't be more thrilled. In so much as this, we'd like to thank you, our readers, for all the love and support you've given us. Without your afternoon tea suggestions and lovely comments, there wouldn't be a blog, so thank you for everything - we always say that cake lovers are the best kind of people and you continue to prove us right over and over again!

Cuthberts, Liverpool

As a little celebration of the last year, we've put together a short post of our highlights. Here's the recap of 2013...

Featuring in the Easter Sunday edition of the Independent was one of the most exciting things that's ever happened to us. When we were first approached to contribute to the article, we had a surreal moment where we thought 'are we actually afternoon tea experts?' Before then, we'd never considered ourselves as anything other than keen amateurs, but there we were being asked to offer our expertise - needless to say, we were more than than happy to give it and after much discussion settled on ten of our faves for publication. The rest, as they say, is history. 

The 50 Best Tea Rooms

Awards. What can we say about Awards? In 2013, we were lucky enough to be short listed for two - Company Magazine's #StyleBloggerAwards as 'Best Blogging Duo' and the Cosmo Blog Awards as 'Best Food Blog'. The whole experience was out of this world and we felt very honoured to have our blog recognised alongside those of our blogging idols. We enjoyed every minute of the process and look forward to having another go at the title again this year.

The Company #StyleBloggerAwards

As relative newbies to the blogging world, we'd never really been to any gatherings, so were thrilled to have the opportunities at these ceremonies to mingle and get to know other bloggers better - hopefully 2014 will give us the opportunity to do it all again.

Cosmo Blog Awards 2013

Afternoon Tea is our passion and 2013 gave us the opportunity to experience some of the most incredible teas we've ever had. Along with our lovely lady in London, Charlotte, we've visited over 30 venues in the hunt for afternoon tea perfection - and some have been pretty close.

Harvey Nichols 2nd Floor, Manchester

We can't wait to see what the next year holds and hope that you'll join us for the ride!

Lots of love,

Laura & Caroline

Planning For the Future: The Afternoon Tea Club Gets Organised

Beautiful Original Patent Organiser  c/o Filofax

If you follow ATC on twitter (Ahem @TeacupReview) then you might've noticed us talking about all the exciting things we've got coming up over the next few months. Well, we thought it high time to let you in on the secret and reveal a bit of what's ahead for the Afternoon Tea Club. 

Over the last couple of months we've made a conscious effort to get organised and plan for the future, filling up our beautiful new Filofaxes with lots of lovely content ideas, and although we're biased we think you're really gonna love what's coming up.

Getting Organised

Reviews

In November you can look forward to round-ups from IC Westminster and Betty's York - we really enjoyed our visits to both of these lovely tea rooms and can't wait to share our pics with you. In addition to this we'll also be relaunching our 'Coffee Break' feature, giving you a sneaky peek at our daily coffee shop experiences from both high street chains and smaller independent venues. Not forgetting our lovely City Girl Charlotte, we'll also be posting lots more of her reviews from the big smoke, including a very special round-up from the new Laura Ashley hotel and a wintery Christmas special.

Competitions

Who doesn't love a good competition? We've teamed up with two fabulous companies to give you the chance to win some amazing goodies. We won't say too much just now, but they're two of our biggest giveaways to date and we can't wait to get you involved. Lets just say if you like free tea and cake, then you'll want to check back here over the coming months.

Needless to say our Filofaxes are full and we love it!

What would you like to see us do on the blog? Comment below with your recommendations or get in touch with us on twitter at @TeacupReview!

The Afternoon Tea Club at the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards

The Afternoon Tea Club at the Cosmos

This week The Afternoon Tea Club are heading off to London for the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards. Be sure to check in with us on Wednesday for live twitter updates from the big smoke and stop by here once it's over for a full round up of the night.

A massive thank you to everyone who's voted for us to win 'Best Food Blog', we really appreciate your support - wish us luck!

Love,

Laura & Caroline

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: Hotel De Orangerie, Brugge, Belgium

Time for tea

The one time holiday destination of Mark Owen (I kid you not) Hotel De Orangerie is one of Brugge's premier residences. Decadently styled in rich plum themes, this boutique hotel offers guests a slice of sophistication at a very reasonable price.

Welcome

Upon entry we were presented with a mini tray of aperitifs (incl. cakes, chocolates and biscuits) to whet our appetite for the meal to come. I always love it when you get extra surprises along the way, so this was a very welcome addition and really helped to take the edge off our hunger in preparation for the main event.

Palms

When the tea came, I was once again impressed. Served on crustless brioche bread, the sandwiches were lovely and light, coming in several varieties: Egg & Mustard; Salmon & Red Onion; and Cucumber. I very much enjoyed the addition of brioche to the sandwich menu, snaffling my way through them all quite happily - and perhaps a little too quickly  - oops.

Brioche Sandwiches

The scones, again, were delightfully light, served with an abundance of Strawberry jam and cream, which is always a winner, particularly when presented on a pretty silver tray.

Now the cakes. What can I say about the cakes? - Yum. 

I sometimes find that afternoon tea can offer too much of a good thing. Whether it's pastry, creamy fondants or cake, there is often a noticeable bias towards one particular aspect of patisserie, which can be overwhelming. However, this is not the case at De Orangerie Hotel, with a menu that includes: Summer Fruit Tart; Chocolate Cream Meringue; Chocolate Pistachio Coconut Fondant; Apple Cake; and Toffee Nut Tart. Needless to say, everything was as delicious as it looks - especially the Chocolate Meringue which was lighter than air!

Tea and Cake - What more could a girl ask for?

There's lots more that I could say about this place, but I think it's one of those you need to experience yourself before you can fully appreciate it. If you're ever in Brugge, go. You won't regret it!

To find out more about Hotel De Orangerie, please visit their website here:

http://www.hotelorangerie.be/hotel-orangerie_brugge_facilities.asp?rubriekId=7133&taal=en

Caroline

Charlotte in the City: The Ritz, London

Often cited as one of London's top afternoon tea destinations, the Ritz's reputation for excellence is second to none. Read on to find out what our City girl, Charlotte Vowden, thought when she visited last month! 

Welcome to the Ritz

Afternoon tea at The Ritz is a grand affair where traditional formalities create an atmosphere of occasion and glamour. Gentlemen are required to wear a jacket with a tie and women attend in their finest frocks. Absolutely no denim is allowed. 

The hotel’s Palm Court is where the magic happens, and it is here that my love affair with the quintessential ceremony began almost ten years ago. I returned this summer with my grandfather, accompanied by the same anticipation and awe that my first visit mustered.

Cake Collection

Little has changed since then; the service is still precise, the opportunity to have your sandwich and scone plates refilled remains and the clotted cream is just as thick as it used to be. However, there is one noticeable addition - a pudding trolley. 

Oh yes, much to our delight a four-wheeled dessert mobile now circulates The Palm Court. It’s purpose is to tempt you with even more elaborate creations and despite having a tea stand filled with tiny sugary show stoppers we kept a close eye to make sure the trolley made a stop at our table-side.

Our taste buds were tickled by slices of pistachio and cherry cake topped with vanilla cream and a miniature trifle with perfectly proportioned layers - not too much custard and a good few spoons worth of jelly. The tea stand delectables featured a salted caramel macaroon with a perfect crunch and the famous four-layered chocolate cake had a glaze so faultless you could see your reflection.

Sandwiches

When it comes to the evaluation of the finger sandwiches I quote my grandfather; ‘They are so very nice, you must have another before I eat them all up.’ The mix included ham, grain mustard mayonnaise on White Bread and my favourite, Scottish Smoked Salmon, Lemon Butter on Rye Bread. The scones were served warm so the cornish clotted cream began to melt as soon as the dollop hit the dough. Finished with a spoon of strawberry preserve they were suitably gluttonous.

Catering for plenty of tastes the tea menu has familiars such as Earl Grey, and more fruity blends such as Passion Fruit and Orange, which makes a winning cup. The Ritz Royal English, a light blend of Assam and Ceylon, is a soothing accompaniment. Just remember to sip politely. 

Perfection!

Over 400 teas are served in The Palm Court every day so sittings are limited to 95 minutes and my only criticism is that we would have loved more time to savour the experience. Instead, we retired to the Ritz’s Rivoli bar for a cocktail. Such a tough life. 

Traditional Afternoon Tea at the Ritz is £45 per person, booking is required: http://www.theritzlondon.com/tea/

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. 

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: The Stafford Hotel By Kempinski, London

A few weeks ago, the Afternoon Tea Club headed to London for a day of luxury at one the Stafford Hotel by Kempinski. Here's how we got on!

Welcome!

Environment

Caroline:

When we walked into the Stafford Hotel, I was immediately impressed by its grandeur. Light and airy, with plush velvet arm chairs as standard, the lounge where tea is served offers everything that you‘d expect from a five star hotel. I particularly liked the large floral presentations which were scattered about the room - especially the sizable bouquet which directly faced our table and offered a fantastic focal point to the room.

In fact my only criticism of the environment would be its lack of atmosphere. Now, by lack of atmosphere, I don’t mean to say that it was boring, or that it detracted from the afternoon’s enjoyment - because it didn’t. However as one of London’s quieter afternoon tea venues, I do feel that it could have benefited from a little background music to liven up the dining experience. Nevertheless it was still a very lovely room in which to enjoy tea and had many features to recommend it!

Laura:

Tucked away in the exclusive St Jame's Park corner of London, The Stafford exudes a classic London town house look with a grand kerbside  entrance complete with courteous doorman and timeless stone features that fuse the old with the new.  

Inside, the colour scheme is quite minimal with pale grey hues and creams taking over accented with dashes of lilac and dark wooden furnishings. There's a good range of seating for various party sizes and the tea room itself is rather sizeable. I particularly enjoyed admiring the subtle decoration in the hotel and like Caroline, I really liked the large floral centrepiece which somehow pulled off subtlety despite its large scale. 

I did notice however that the room itself was fairly quiet and conversation seemed to be muted amongst fellow diners. This did detract ever so slightly from the overall Afternoon Tea experience as it was difficult to get a real sense of atmosphere. However, it was a very pleasant venue for dining and I felt completely relaxed and spoiled during our stay. 

Food

Caroline

Presented prettily on a silver stand, the Stafford’s afternoon tea is one of pure decadence. Rich and everso slightly intoxicating, their food selection is perfect for those wanting a touch of luxury with at tea. The sandwich choice offers a variety of bread-types and toppings to excite even the most experienced of palates (incl. coronation chicken on brioche; Crayfish, tarragon on soda bread; Ham, English mustard on white bread; Roast Beef, horseradish, watercress on granary bread; Cucumber and cream cheese on white bread) and was a very welcome variation from the usual white fingers. My favourite by far was the Crayfish, which having never tried it before, was a taste revelation and definitely something which I’d like to see on afternoon tea menus in the future.

The cakes were again quite different to those normally on offer at other afternoon tea venues, and included a white chocolate and ginger mousse chocolate teacup; an aptly named ‘tipsy’ cake and the hotel’s signature ‘Basphorale’ dessert. All were lovely, but my favourite was the chocolate teacup which was light yet incredibly moreish and had me hankering after another. Lovely food!

Laura:

The Stafford offers their very own signature Afternoon Tea inspired by traditional British baking with its own personal brand of cleverly crafted patisseries. The Lady Lyttelton Afternoon Tea is both elegant and indulgent with petite finger sandwiches and desserts that aren’t afraid to be naughty.

To start with we had a rather fabulous selection of sandwiches. There were five fillings to choose from including: roast beef and horseradish on granary bread, cucumber with cream cheese, ham and English mustard, an exotic crayfish and tarragon on soda bread and my favourite, Coronation chicken on brioche. I’m always on the lookout for a good range of breads and complete freshness at Afternoon Tea and this one certainly ticked both boxes.

Continuing the momentum, particular praise must be given for the scones. These were some of the most perfect looking scones I have ever seen. Gorgeously smooth and evenly baked and served in a folded napkin bed to keep them fresh and warm. Fantastic!

I soon found myself tucking into The Stafford’s signature desserts; a trio of chocolate, apricot and a dash of alcohol. I was very excited by the prospect of the ‘Tipsy’ cake but I have to agree with Caroline, the chocolate filled teacup was my favourite – the perfect complement to quite a heavy dessert selection and incredibly moreish. I do think that this tea would benefit from a fruit or perhaps jelly based dessert in order to balance out the richness but overall I really enjoyed this selection. 

Service

Caroline:

During our visit we were served by two members of staff. Both were pleasant and made every effort to make sure that our visit was an enjoyable one - well done!

Laura:

The service at The Stafford was really lovely. Both members of staff who served us were very knowledgeable on the various layers of our Afternoon Tea and talked about the various tea choices with genuine enthusiasm. 

I also really liked the added bonus of being greeted by a suited and booted doorman upon arrival. It really accentuated the exclusivity of the hotel and made me feel like I had just stepped back in time! Just lovely. 

Overall Thoughts

Caroline:
The Stafford by Kempinski provides the ideal environment for relaxation and is well worth a visit if you’re looking to escape the city madness for an hour or two with a high class tea.

Laura:
I thought the food at The Stafford was really great. There was plenty of variation and enough signature bites to make it stand out in a city where you really are spoilt for choice when it comes to the famous pastime. I would like to have felt more of a sense of occasion during our afternoon but I think that this could easily be achieved with subtle music and perhaps pre-prepared table settings for taking tea. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon and I would not pass on the opportunity to return for some more chocolate teacups! 

The Stafford is located in the heart of St James, London. Afternoon Tea is served between 3-6pm daily with prices starting at £28.50pp. For more information and to book please visit the hotel's website: www.kempinski.com/en/London 

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.

Charlotte in the City: Coronation Afternoon Tea, John Lewis, Oxford Street

Last week our intrepid London reporter, Charlotte Vowden, ventured into the City for a very special royal themed afternoon tea at Oxford Street's John Lewis!

When she’s not tucking into a banquet the Queen is partial to a spot of afternoon tea and if Her Maj pays a visit to John Lewis on Oxford Street she’ll find a special Coronation treat tower that's been created with her royal tastebuds in mind.

A patriotic red, white and blue three-tiered macaroon oozes with ganache and disintegrates deliciously when you eat it, and a miniature victoria sponge topped with a single ripe raspberry tastes as good as it looks. But it's the Dubonnet (a tipple the Queen is known to enjoy) soaked fruit cake (her preferred baked treat) she would definitely make a beeline for. I've never tasted the wine-based aperitif and it's somewhat out of fashion, but it definitely gave the dense fruit-packed slice a spicy dimension.

As this was a celebratory occasion I opted to crack open a bottle of bubbly and toast the Queen with champagne instead of a brew, and it went down very nicely indeed. The hot drinks menu however featured classics that would make the perfect accompanying cuppa. 

Least successful were the finger rolls. I couldn't find fault with the presentation, they each had a garnish and were neatly positioned in a star shape around the centre of the tea stand, but aside from the coronation chicken filler, more on that in a moment, the selection was uninspiring. 

Originally invented for the Queen's Coronation sixty years ago coronation chicken is a royal celebration staple but John Lewis has enlisted TV chef and food writer Gizzi Erskine to update the recipe. Deciding to poach the chicken in saffron scented stock and add fresh mango and chilli salsa to finish it’s more punchy than its predecessor, which may explain why the other rolls (including smoked salmon, cucumber) seemed a little bland.

The scones scored highly in the fluffy stakes and came with clotted cream and strawberry jam,  a duo of toppings you really can’t go wrong with. 

To enjoy this royal tea book yourself into the Brasserie and ask for a window table overlooking Cavendish square, it’s a great spot for people watching. Once you arrive in store take the escalators up to the third floor and expect a warm welcome and swift service. It’s a busy venue so you’re not going to have a sedate tea-taking session but the buzzing atmosphere adds to the celebratory spirit.

Gizzi Erskine’s Coronation chicken with watercress and mango salsa and the accompanying Coronation afternoon tea will be available in the John Lewis Brasserie from 1^st July to 30^th August 2013 and will cost £20.13.

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. 

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.