National Chocolate Week with Whittard

Tis the season to eat chocolate! Before you write us off for being prematurely excited about the arrival of, dare we say it, Christmas, we are of course referring to the one week of the year where we're actively encouraged to eat chocolate and indulge to our hearts' desire - Chocolate Week! 

To celebrate, the beautiful people at Whittard sent us the most glorious selection of chocolate treats to ensure we did Chocolate Week in style. But we're not just talking any old hot chocolate, Whittard have gotten very creative and delivered a selection of chocolate beverages that are to leave you with the most worthwhile guilty conscious you've ever had. 

From the collection we tried; 70% Cocoa, Rocky Road, Caramel, White Chocolate and we kid you not - white chocolate tea. Yes this exists. 

To start we went with the Classic Cocoa - so so chocolately, it tastes like pure luxury. Next was the Caramel - this one is very sweet so if you're used to a nice dollop of caramel syrup in your coffee, this is the one to try. Then Rocky Road - again so full of flavour and topped off with some mini marshmallows you definitely get that textured, rocky experience. 

Now we're giving White Chocolate its own little paragraph because it needs it. Oh. Dear. Lord. This was actually heaven in a cup. Yeah sure we've had white hot choc before but imagine a Milky Bar, melted and served to you as a drink. This is it. It's so smooth and not at all heavy. Just A-mazing. 

Now for those of you who would rather a cuppa over a hot chocolate, the White Chocolate tea offers an alternative that lets you have the best of both worlds. Let it brew for just a few minutes and serve as it is. It is quite sweet and a very unusual taste but very drinkable. You'll notice a sort of shiny lining appear at the top which, as we learned at Paul Young's Afternoon Tea event earlier this month, is actually the coco nib. You probably couldn't drink this every day but it's a very unique blend and definitely one we would recommend giving a try.

Overall this was a delectable mix of chocolate treats and we can't wait for the weather to get a little frostier so we can wrap up in wooly jumpers and try them all again. If you're a chocolate lover or maybe just want to partake in the Chocolate Week festivities with a bit of luxury, look no further. 

For more info visit www.whittard.co.uk and if you've got any chocolately recommendations this #ChocolateWeek tweet us at @TeacupReview. 

The Afternoon Tea Club: Mother's Day Competition!

Mother's Day is just around the corner so if you're still on the lookout for the perfect gift, we have just the thing ...

Last week we were lucky enough to receive the best kind of junk mail we have ever received through our letterbox - chocolates! Designed by The Happy Mail, a London based 'bake and deliver' company, these beautiful packages are just as much a treat for the eyes as they are for your sweet tooth - think marshmallows, popcorn, mini Smarties with a sprinkling of rainbow confetti and pinstripe tissue paper - so cute!

The treats were so good in fact that we teamed up with the lovely people at The Happy Mail to give you the chance to win a very special prize to celebrate your wonderful mum this Mother's Day (March 15th FYI)! 

Up for grabs we have a fabulous Afternoon Tea themed Mother's Day Box delivered to your door complete with all the treats and tea you need for a perfect Mother's Day afternoon in - don't worry, there's enough for you to tuck in too!

We'll let The Happy Mail do the talking: 

A perfect gift for Mothers Day or just to let them know that you are are sorry you can't be there today but no doubt you'll be thinking of them (especially when they are tucking into those tasty treats!)

This package contains all the fun for a perfect afternoon tea. Packaged with a little vintage style spoon and Rose Garden tea bags, you would definitely have made the right choice.

Sound good? To be in with a chance of winning all you have to do is follow @the_happymail on Twitter via our competition link below.

The competition closes on Saturday 7th March at Midnight and the winner will be announced on Sunday. 

Good luck!

Laura & Caroline x

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to UK residents only. Only one entry per person. Competition will close at midnight on 07/03/2015. The winner will be chosen and announced on 08/03/2015. The Afternoon Tea Club's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The Afternoon Tea Club is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied by third party connected to this competition. There will be no cash alternative. Winner will be notified via email. By entering the competition the winner agrees to participate in such promotional activity on our website and Twitter. No responsibility can be taken for any entries which are not received for any reason.

The Afternoon Tea Club visits Bavaria

Last month, Caroline travelled to Austria to eat cake amongst the mountains. Read about her top finds here

Chocolate Cake

Birth place of Mozart and home of the Sound of Music, Salzburg is rich with cultural history. However, did you realise that they also have a pretty good reputation when it comes to cake? For example did you know that the city is home of the famous Sacher Hotel and its eponymous chocolate cake? No me neither. For some reason, I'd always thought that it came from France, which is why I'm sorry to say that I somehow managed to completely miss the hotel until my last night - as you do - so didn't get to sample the Sacher cake in all it's glory.

However, I'm sure that my Austrian chocolate cake pictured above was just as nice!

Strudel

When in Bavaria, it's almost a sin not to try some of the region's famous Apple Strudel. So in the interest of upholding tradition, I couldn't leave without sampling some for myself. Now, in Salzburg, strudel is fairly easy to come across, with every coffee shop having about three varieties in stock. During my visit, I tried out two of these varieties - traditional apple and the slightly more unusual vanilla cheese option. Out of the two, my fave was definitely the apple, although the cheese was delicious, perhaps just a little too rich for my taste.

There was a whole lot of other sweet treats but these were just a couple of my highlights. Where are you heading off to this summer? Let us know in the comments below :)

Don't forget that it's #AfternoonTeaWeek all this week, so why not join in the conversation at @TeacupReview and tweet us your afternoon tea pics. We can't wait to see you over there.

Caroline

Afternoon Tea News: Eric Lanlard Afternoon Tea on P&O Cruises

It's no secret that we love Eric Lanlard, so when we heard about his brand new afternoon tea partnership with P&O Cruises, our hearts skipped a tiny beat. After all, what could be better than a world-class tea aboard a luxury cruise liner? Nothing we tell you - read on to find out more and watch the video below:

Eric Lanlard Aboard P&O Cruises

‘Cake Boy’ celebrity chef Eric Lanlard creates new signature afternoon tea

A short video presented by celebrity chef and Master Pâtissier, Eric Lanlard, has been produced highlighting his unique signature afternoon tea with brand new sweet and savoury creations, which he designed for a dedicated food & wine themed cruise.

Lanlard, star of Channel 4’s Baking Mad and Glamour Puds series, has previously made cakes for Her Majesty The Queen Mother, David Beckham and Claudia Schiffer, amongst others. Normally associated with his luxury afternoon tea in his Cake Boy London cafe and five star hotels, this is the first time Lanlard has created an afternoon tea for a cruise ship.

The video begins with Lanlard talking through his bespoke afternoon tea, which brings a contemporary and interactive twist to the traditional British institution. Highlights include:

- edible perfume
- savoury lemon and cracked black pepper macaroons filled with Scottish smoked salmon and cream cheese
- savoury gruyère cheese éclairs with brie, rocket and red onion marmalade
- exotic pop cones topped with orange blossom Persian candy floss
- a modern take on the classic Eton mess with injection pipettes filled with a raspberry coulis and meringue topped with Malaysian tapioca pearls filled with lychee juice

During the video, Lanlard also talks about sharing his tips, designs and techniques during his cookery demonstration and the Q&A session he held whilst on board Azura, sharing a few celebrity secrets.

Lanlard said: “When I was invited to create a signature afternoon tea for P&O Cruises, I jumped at the chance! I wanted to design something which had a modern twist and would be more interactive so people could really get involved and enjoy a whole new experience. And I wanted to use ingredients from around the world which people may not have ever seen or tasted before, whether it be Persian candy floss or Malaysian tapioca pearls, it’s important to create something new and fresh.”

Lanlard will be appearing as a special guest on the next food & wine themed cruise later this year with Marco Pierre White; a 28-night Caribbean no-fly cruise on Adonia (D318), departing November 22, 2013. Vantage Fares from £2,399pp. To book, visit www.pocruises.com or call 0843 373 0111.

The video is hosted on the P&O Cruises YouTube channel and Facebook page and can be downloaded for hosting on independent sites:
www.youtube.com/pandocruises
www.facebook.com/pandocruises

Direct link to the vodcast:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_yZ8UX6EGE

*Post brought to you in association with P&O Cruises

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: The Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel, Manchester

PLEASE NOTE: THIS TEA HAS NOW BEEN UPDATED. READ OUR REVIEW OF THE NEW V&A OFFERING HERE

Last week the Afternoon Tea Club were invited to the Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel in Manchester for a riverside tea!

Environment

Caroline:

Located by the River Irwell, on the edge of Manchester City Centre, the Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel offers country lodge settings in a city environment. Decorated throughout in warm shades of brown and accented with relaxing blue hues, this brasserie-style bar is a place of modern comfort. Similarly the side gallery, where tea is served, also offers a pleasant atmosphere, with exposed brick walls and comfortable leather chairs which create a wonderfully  intimate feel - perfect for a coffee and a catch up!

Laura:

The Marriott brings the the rural homeliness of the country right to the heart of the city. Olive green furnishings and crisp white table settings serve this restaurant well and compliment the almost 'New York' inspired accents shown in the dim wall lighting and bare brick walls.

The best thing about this hotel is the calming view of the River Irwell, made even more picturesque by the surprise snow that fell during our visit! A simple and relaxing setting.

Food

Caroline:

Served on pretty floral cake stands, Afternoon Tea at the Victoria and Albert Hotel offers simple yet traditional fare. Their menu includes: a selection of finger sandwiches (Salmon, Cucumber, Ham and Egg), Fruit Scones with Clotted Cream and Bonne Maman Strawberry Conserve (my jam of choice) and a selection of mini cakes and pastries.

My favourite layer had to be the patisserie, which consisted of a variety of bite-size classics: a rich chocolate cake, mini-vanilla slice and a zesty orange macaroon. Being a fan of all things chocolate the cake was a clear winner, being wonderfully chocolaty and moist.

The tea, a staple classic Twinings Earl Grey, was served in a lovely white tea service and replenished regularly - much to my delight!

Laura:

This traditional afternoon tea comes served with brilliant views, a bottomless coffee pot and a little bit of history. On our table was a small card which explained the origins of our favourite pastime which was a really lovely touch.

Our three tier stand was quite adorable with multi-coloured floral layers that gave a complete contrast to the venue's rural layout.

To start we had a good range of sandwiches, my favourite being the ham and mustard which was surprisinly filling. To follow we indulged in some classic fruit scones which came partnered with yummy cream and a mini pot of jam each.

Finally the dessert selection included a mini chocolate cake, custard slice and also an orange cream macaroon. The macaroon was a clear winner for me as it was nice to try a less than traditional favour for this increasingly popular dessert.

All I would point out is that perhaps by trying to stick with a 'traditional afternoon tea' theme, this tea lacks the excitement and variation you might find at other venues at a similar cost. I do feel that this afternoon tea could be fantastic with just a few changes such as slightly larger desserts and perhaps homemade scones.

Service

Caroline:

The service at the V&A was attentive without being at all invasive. Out teacups were topped and our places promptly cleared. I particularly appreciated the presence of the doorman who greeted us upon arrival - He offered a very warm welcome, pointing out the direction of the lounge area with great enthusiasm. Very good service!

Laura:

Like Caroline, I really appreciated the gentleman greeting us at the door. We were made to feel very welcome throughout our stay with staff being appropriately attentive - very well mannered too!

Overall Thoughts

Caroline:
If you’re looking for a no-frills afternoon tea in a great environment, then the Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel could be just the place for you. The hotel itself is lovely and the staff are very attentive - a great place for a relaxed afternoon.

Laura:

The Marriott Victoria and Albert is a very pleasant afternoon tea venue. It's offers simple afternoon tea in idyllic surroundings and the lovely staff make you feel right at home. A really enjoyable afternoon.

Cupcake Rating:

 

The Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel is located along the River Irwell on Water Street, Manchester City Centre. Afternoon Tea Price start at £14.50pp. For more information please visit their website HERE  

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.   

Cake Break: Sooty's Cupcakery, York

It's not exactly traditional to have cupcakes for breakfast but walking past the window of this delightful little cupcakery, you have to forget it's 11am and just indulge - as I did!

 

 

Decked out with 50's style diner seating and shelves stacked with increasinly popular American sweets, everything about this cupcakery invites you in - and that's before you've even tasted the cake.

 

The lovely lady at Sooty's introduced us to all of the different cupcakes available that day, each of them made by her daugher. Naturally, as a self confessed Mini Eggs addict, I chose the chocolate buttercream Mini Egg flavour. It was just gorgeous, the buttercream was perfect and the sponge was nice and fluffy.

 

To top it off, my coffee arrived in a pretty homely mug accompanied by floral patterned china to balance the quirky with the quaint.

 

 

Overall Sooty's is a cute and quirky little place where the cupcakes live up to their pretty surroundings. Highly recommended for a sweet pit stop.

 

(Laura)

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: Browns, Manchester

Last week, The Afternoon Tea Club was invited for an afternoon of champagne and sophistication at one of Manchester's premium restaurants, Browns Bar - what better way is there to spend a birthday!

Epitome of Sophistication

Environment

Caroline

Whether you’re ladies who like to lunch or on a business brunch, Brown’s is an idyllic location. Wonderfully calm, but bubbling with ambiance, this sophisticated Brasserie treats its guests to a little taste of the Art Deco past, whilst being firmly footed in the twenty-first century. Their dining area is comfortable and elegant offering just the right balance of historical charm and modernity, with the inclusion of some very impressive chandeliers and mirror lined walls which exude a ‘high class’ feel. The background music was appropriate for the surroundings, adding an extra element of atmosphere to the dining experience - Paolo Nutini is always a winner. I have no doubt that this restaurant can, at peak times, become as lively as every other in town, but for tea and scones in an afternoon this comparative serenity gives Browns that extra added charm - Perfect for escaping the city centre blues for an hour or two.

Dining Room

Laura
The overall design of Brown’s is all about grandeur. High ceilings, marble pillars and statement chandeliers are all elegantly put in place to produce the perfect get-away from busy Manchester life.

The aroma from the top class kitchen hits you the moment you walk through the doors of the former banking hall and the shine from gold accents and Edwardian signature pieces make you feel like you’ve just stopped for tea in the first class lounge of the Titanic. However, let us say, Brown’s is no sinking ship and has its feet firmly on the ground with a high class feel that compliments rather than overpowers its welcoming atmosphere. 

Food

Caroline 

Browns offer a selection of Afternoon Teas which include, ’Traditional’, ’Champagne’ and ’A Most Unusual Afternoon’ - which comes with a ’stylish glass of Hendrick’s & Tonic with a slice of cucumber’ - All sounded lovely, but on this occasion we both opted for the Champagne! 

High Tea

I must say that I was very impressed with the standard of all of the food which we were presented with. The tea itself consisted of a selection of finger sandwiches (Cucumber, Salmon & Cream Cheese and Egg & Watercress) presented on a lovely cake stand, with fruit scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam, a selection of mini cakes (Rich dark fruit, Chocolate Mousse and Lemon) and a choice of tea or coffee, with a glass of champagne on the side. The sandwiches were very fresh and made to order on good quality bread - complete with trimmed crusts - whilst the cakes were lovely and moist. My particular favourite was the rich dark fruit cake which was brilliantly dense and fruity and left me wanting more. 

As an added treat, we were given the opportunity to sample the Chef’s special of the day - a Passion Fruit Panna Cotta - which was a definite highlight of the afternoon and well worth trying if you pay them a visit in the near future!

Afternoon Tea

Laura
As you may be aware, we’re rather partial to a spot of tea and cake (and if you didn’t well … welcome!) so we were quite excited at the prospect of afternoon tea at Browns. Given the choice between Traditional Tea, Unusual Afternoon and Champagne Tea, we of course did not hesitate to select the champagne option.

Our champagne came presented with a slice of strawberry on the side – subtle but finishing touches like that really make the difference.

I chose to go wild and select coffee instead of tea for the afternoon – good choice too as it was noticeably great quality coffee accompanied by hot milk.

As Caroline said, the selection of sandwiches on offer was a trio of traditional favourites. Perfectly cut afternoon tea staples on particularly fresh bread - top marks for the salmon!

Moving down the stand were some lovely fruit scones complete with jam and cream. They were an absolute treat and if it didn’t break tradition I would have happily had several!

The final tier offered something for every palette with a choice of three miniature cakes – rich chocolate,zesty lemon and good old fruit cake. Of course, my favourite was the chocolate slice which had a lovely mousey texture and thick chocolate topping.

And as if all that wasn’t enough -  we were kindly offered the chance to try the chef’s daily dessert special – a passion fruit Panna Cotta. Delicious! So creamy and tangy at the same time –definitely worth a return visit.

Passion Fruit Panna Cotta

Service

Caroline
Service at Browns was very swift, friendly and professional, taking care of you without being over facing. We were made to feel incredibly welcome by all staff members from the second we stepped in through the door and couldn‘t have asked for more. 

Laura

Upon arrival we were greeted and offered a beverage whilst we chose our tea options. The lovely lady who looked after us was kindly attentive and as Caroline said was observant without being intrusive. Just the right balance.

Champagne

Overall Thoughts

Caroline
I had a very enjoyable afternoon at Browns Manchester and will definitely be returning in the near future to sample their a la carte menu and experience the evening ambiance. Full marks!

Laura

It would be easy for Browns touse its beautiful guise of grandeur to set itself aside with a sense of elitismbut this just isn’t the case. For me, that was its winning factor as it manages to separate itself from most establishments by simply providing a genuinely lovely experience. Browns is beautiful yet comfortable and if we could stop for afternoon tea here every afternoon, the world would be a wonderful place – now, just have to try and convince the other half to take me there for their Valentine’s special!

Cupcake Rating: 

Browns is located in Manchester City Centre near Rosso, on the corner of York Street and Spring Gardens. Afternoon Tea Prices range from £9.95 - £23.95 and are served daily from 2.30pm. For more information, menus and how to book a table please visit their website HERE 

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. 

Coffee Break: Waffles in Belgium

There's a lovely little coffee shop in Brugge which sells the most delicious waffles, the only problem is that it doesn't have a name... All I can say is that it's located just around the corner from mini water in the centre of Brugge and always has a display of freshly made waffles (complete with chocolate sauce, bananas, strawberries and cream) outside the door to entice you in. I'm sure you'll know it when you see it... So if you're ever in Belgium keep your eyes peeled for the waffles!

(Caroline)

Coffee Break: De Proeverie, Brugge

De Proeverie has to be one of the lovleiest tea rooms I've ever visited - and it's not even  British...

 

Situated in the pretty Belgian town of Brugge and offering a good selection of traditional English and Belgian fare, De Proeverie is a continental gem. From the moment you walk through its lovely green doors until the moment you leave, the charm of this tea room is apparent, not only because of its warm and welcoming atmosphere, but also because it's bursting at the seams with locals and tourists alike. 

Hot Chocolate

This wide-spread popularity is testimony to their staff's service and product quality, which in my opinion is second to none. My personal favourite is their hot chocolate, which is served as a do-it-yourself delight, with a cup of hot milk and a dish of melted chocolate to stirr in. The attention to detail here is wonderful and every coffee is accompanied by a plate of chocolates and cream - yummy!

People say that it's the little things that make the difference and it really is.

- If you're ever in Brugge, pay them a visit - you won't regret it!

Check out their website Here

(Caroline)

X

Coffee Break: Apple Charlottes, Arndale Market, Manchester

In a world where having to splash out over £2 for a fancy cupcake has become pretty much the norm, you come to not really expect much from one that costs less.

But Apple Charlottes does just the opposite and for only £1 you can treat youself to a few of their fabulous different flavours!

The bakery on Manchester's Arndale Market offers a vast selection of cupcakes, brownies and muffins. My favourites have got to be the vanilla and chocolate orange flavours. Beautifully frosted with buttercream and glitter - and they really do taste as good as they look! Soft, creamy and the perfect amount of fluffiness - I could eat these cakes forever but unfortunately I enjoy being able to fit through my front door.

Just delightful.

(Laura)

P.s Head over to Manchester Arndale's website and download yourself their summer deals booklet where you'll find a voucher for a free Apple Charlottes' cupcake! (T&Cs apply) Manchester Arndale Voucher Booklet 

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: The Footage, Oxford Road, Manchester

Environment

Caroline: Footage isn't strictly a tea room or coffee shop, it's more of a pub/bar, but being one of our regular haunts, we couldn't resist giving it a sneaky little review. For sentimental reasons I'll always love Footage and for cheap pub grub you can't really go wrong. Environment-wise, Footage possesses a nice atmosphere, with comfy seats and a pool table making it the perfect place to hang if you're a student on a budget, or just a general lover of nice pubs. It's quite dark inside, but this only adds to it's ambiance, although be warned you'll probably be blinded when you step out of the door!

Laura: Oh Footage, the place we frequent when we pretend we're off to the library! It's not your typical cutesy tea room set-up but rather a pub that just happens to serve very nice cake. The converted picture house interior is used to its full potential with balcony seating and a large screen above the bar. Although it is rather dark inside, the blue fairy lights help to create a relaxing pub atmosphere but be careful as you may forget what time it is during your visit and it will evening before you know it and time for cocktails - actually that's not such a bad thing!

Food

Caroline: The food at Footage is very reasonably priced, and you can generally get a whole meal for less that £10. On this visit I opted for a filter coffee (99p) and a piece of their Chocolate Cake and Ice Cream (which I'm sorry to say I can't remember the price of - but it was very cheap!) The Cake, for the price, was very nice and the portion size was exceptional. However, because of the large portions it did become rather sickley after a while - but the beauty of large portions is you don't need to eat it all!

Laura: Don't let the super cheap prices fool you as the desserts at Footage rival some of the much more up-market eateries in the city. I chose a belgian waffle with ice cream and chocolate sauce and dear me, they've become my latest obsession! Absolutely gorgeous and a generous size too. As if that wasn't enough, the desserts are all 2 for the price of 1, meaning coffee and cake for you and a friend will only cost around £5 overall - Bonus!

Service

Caroline: The staff are friendly and service is prompt - exactly what I'd expect - well done!

Laura: The service is always great at Footage. The wait time is always extremely good and the staff are really pleasant.

Overall Thoughts

Caroline: I love Footage. It's studenty, but super affordable and lacking in pretentions - It does what it says on the can. If you're in the Oxford Road area, pay them a visit!

Laura: Footage has always been a firm favourite of ours and although it may not fall into the sugar coated coffee shop category, its casual and welcoming atmosphere makes it a great place with good food. Plus, as it's so cheap, there's no reason why you shouldn't use the 2 for 1 offer on your own!

Cupcake Rating

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: Teacup on Thomas Street, Manchester

Environment

Caroline: Oh Teacup, I'll always love you, I really will - You were the first independent tea room we visited in Manchester and our inspiration to start this blog... but I'm sorry to say, you've changed (and it pains me)

Re-opening after a series of sizable renovations, I expected to find my favourite tea room BIGGER and BETTER than ever, and upon discovering their extension to the upstairs area, it's certainly fair to say that it's bigger. However, 'better' is another question. The Teacup of old had an eclectic mix of New York Cafe Chic and Cath Kidston Kitsch, which worked perfectly to combine the American city with the English country. Their use of cute polka dot tablecloths and quirky graffiti wall art, gave the cafe a character which was uncharacteristic of many in the area, and made it the ideal place to spend an afternoon.

However, the new and 'improved' Teacup has unfortunately abandoned all of these things, settling for an arguably blander and safer alternative. The tables, although nice, are simple and wooden, while the wall art is none existant, with the designer having opted for a dark brown colour scheme throughout. The upstairs extension I feel, has also served to make the cafe appear chaotic, which although not a massive issue, has made the place seem less personal than before.

Having said that, I do like the new counter and blackboards, which make a welcome addition, but unfortunately these fail to make up for the loss of the other, more exciting, character 'features'.

Laura: Yes, Teacup has been our go to retreat for quite some timenow, our little place of tranquillity and indulgence where a slice of flourless chocolate cake could take all of our cares away. But I have to agree, change hasn’t necessarily been a good thing for our faithful friend.

The quirky set up of old has been stripped in favour of a much more minimalistic approach. The basic ambience of Teacup is still there but I feel that this extended version takes away the intimacy that I always found so inviting about the tea shop. I still think the place looks very appealing but I can’t help but miss its old personality, such as that found in little quips on receipts that would say things like ‘Tippers make better lovers.’

Food

Caroline: I've always loved the food at Teacup and have my go-to dishes which I always order when I visit, namely their Ham and Cheese Toasties and Flourless Chocolate Cake. Being a creature of habit, I once again opted for these on my last visit, in the hope of experiencing the same enjoymant as before. By and large the food was pretty similar to before, although I did feel that portion sizes were perhaps a little smaller and I missed the small pots of coleslaw and raddishes which usually accompany the meal.

Laura: As a bit of a soup addict lately I opted for the soup of the day which came served with granary bread to dip. As expected, it was lovely. I decided to move away from my flourless favourite for dessert on this occasion and chose a chocolate brownie (My initial choice of a cupcake was unavailable). Teacup has quite the brownie selection and I chose the Malteaser option. It looked absolutely yummy but I was a little disappointed that some of the brownie appeared undercooked and had more of a cake mix consistency to it. Unless this is a type of brownie I’m unfamiliar with?

Teacup isn’t the cheapest of tea shops we’ve visited with a soup costing just over £4 and a £3 for a brownie. I’d have to agree with Caroline too that the portions do seem considerably smaller than the last time we visited and this hasn’t really been reflected in any price changes.

Service

Caroline: Although the service was highly professional and incredibly friendly, there were occasions when we were overlooked. This is probably down to the new floor plan and with experience I'm sure the staff will adapt to this change of scene - we just happened to catch them at a particularly busy time.

Laura: The staff at Teacup are always extremely polite and friendly.Our server offered her expertise on the available dishes when I was told mydessert choice was unavailable which definitely gains them extra points.However, I too felt we were slightly overlooked as we were left waiting a whilebefore coming to the attention of a member of staff who eventually asked if we would like our bill.

Overall Thoughts

Caroline: From reading my review you'd be forgiven for thinking that I hate the 'new and improved' Teacup. I don't - I'm just disappointed that the new changes have taken away some of the cafe's previous sparkle. When reviewed without previous experience, Teacup is still head and shoulders above a lot of other coffee shops in the city and is nonetheless a pleasure to spend an afternoon in.

Laura: I did in fact enjoy our visit to Teacup and would still recommend giving it a go. After all, as Caroline has already pointed out, it’s the tea shop that made us want to create this blog in the first place! I’m sure we will visit again, it really is a pleasant place to get your cake fix but our last visit didn’t completely match up to some other places that are quickly becoming firm Afternoon Tea Club favourites.

P. S We still love you though... maybe it's us, not you!

Cupcake Rating