The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: Bill's, Manchester

Just when we thought we had seen the best of Manchester’s Afternoon Tea range, an invitation arrived in our inbox for an afternoon at Bill's, a cool and welcoming restaurant with a history that originates from a small grocery store in East Sussex. 

Arriving during the parade festivities of Manchester Pride, Bill's is in a prime city centre spot and was perfect for views of the festival. Somehow the restaurant manages to be homely, rustic and yet hip, all at the same time. There are natural tones running throughout with lots of stripped back wooden details and exposed brick but also edgy interiors with industrial style lighting and glass panes.

There’s a warm welcome to compliment this with staff that cannot do enough for you and seem to have a genuine passion for the place. This was particularly evident when our Afternoon Tea arrived with a smile and a confident, “Don’t you think this is the best tea stand in Manchester?”

The presentation was absolutely gorgeous and different to anything we have seen before. The stand tiers expand so that each layer can be seen in all of its yummy glory.

We began with a selection of sandwiches including egg mayo, cucumber, ham and tomato and smoked salmon on a range of breads. No guesses as to which was our favourite!

Then came the fruit scones which remained lovely and warm even after we had spent about 10 minutes taking photos – blogging, it’s a hard life. They were nicely golden and came served with good dollops of strawberry jam and Devonshire clotted cream.

To finish we had a choice of cakes including chocolate cake, lemon cream pie, fresh strawberry tart and a lovely oaty fruity slice. A good balance of flavours and textures and just the right portions, meant we didn’t feel too overfull at the end – always a good thing.

We washed it all down with a nice big pot of tea. Upon looking at the menu and seeing the range of tea choices, we would have liked to have been given a choice of tea but a regular cuppa was lovely nonetheless.

You will be surprised to learn that all of that will set you back just £9.95 per person, making Bills one of the best value Afternoon Teas we have experienced. If you’re looking for a cool location, yummy cakes and a friendly atmosphere with a tiny price tag, Bill's is the place to go.

Bill's is located on John Dalton Street in Manchester. Afternoon tea costs £9.95 per person or £12.95 with a glass of hedgerow fizz. For more info and to book, visit their website www.bills-website.co.uk.

Afternoon Tea was kindly provided courtesy of Bill's Restaurant. However, as usual, all thoughts and opinions remain our own!

Charlotte in the City: The Montcalm at The Brewery London City

Sometimes cute cakes and petite pastries just don't quite reach the spot when you're looking for something to really hit the hunger. Hey, we said 'sometimes', okay? Lately, we have succumbed to the call of stodgy pork pies and savoury scones that feature in the increasingly fashionable, Gentleman's Afternoon Tea. Our London lady, Charlotte Vowden, also decided to ditch the daintiness and opted for a Gent's Afternoon Tea at The Montcalm at The Brewery. Here's how she got on ... 

Gents Afternoon Tea

I recently took tea with a handsome gentleman more used to heavy-handed behaviour in the boxing ring than handling finger sandwiches. Although a willing taste tester when I bake something sweet, he doesn’t enjoy being as sugared-up as I, and so I sought out an afternoon tea, man style.

The menu criteria included a healthy load of carbs, plenty of saturated fat and an emphasis on savoury. It was the combination of sandwiches, Welsh Rarebit and buttered toast slathered with Patum Peperium Relish on the Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea menu at The Brewery London City that won me over. 

Expecting chunks of bread bubbling with cheese too hot to eat straight away, I was disappointed to find the Welsh Rarebit thinly-sliced and cautiously topped with cheese rather than the greasy indulgence anticipated. My guest though, is a little more forgiving and deemed it delicious. 

On the same tier of the stand the buttered toast and pot of Patum Peperium Relish sat. This was a first-time taste for me and I applied an over-generous coating. The anchovy paste’s fishy, salty and spicy taste hit me all at once and made my cheeks flush rose red. 

Swapping sweet for savoury.

The sandwiches were a third filling with two thirds bread and included smoked salmon and beef, marvellous. Hidden between the top and bottom tiers were scones. Feather-light, crumbly and dusted with icing sugar, my fellow high tea taker and I concluded them a knockout. 

Our experience took a blow when it came to the service. The parlour was busy, a good sign, as afternoon turned into evening and the staff were friendly, but as the gent put it, things felt a little lacklustre. Our tea pots arrived ten minutes before the edibles and despite proclamations on its website that you could begin with a glass of champagne and extend the proceedings with a tumbler of whiskey, we were offered neither and left parched in search of a pub. 

Afernoon Tea at The Montcalm at The Brewery London City is £25pp. For more information, visit their website themontcalmlondoncity.co.uk. 

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

The Breakfast Club - KitchenAid Competition!

How would you like the chance to win a brand new KitchenAid kettle or toaster, courtesy of Housemakers?

I love a good cup of tea, I really do. However, ask any of my friends and most of them will tell you that they've never seen me drink one. At work I'm known as the girl who doesn't have a brew, and on the odd occasion that I've broken with tradition, my lovely friends have marked the moment with the use of our finest office china - it really is that rare!

'But how can you be an afternoon tea blogger and not drink tea?' 

Now, I hate to think that you can have too much of a good thing, but on the off chance that this is true, I like to save my tea as a morning treat, with a slice of toast or Pikelet. Because of this, a kettle is one of my most prized possessions.

True, my current model is in dire need of an upgrade, with a leaking bottom and temperamental switch, but it's served me well and I'll always love it for that (soppy kettle moment over!)

Everso Sophisticated Office Tea

Anyway, how do you like your tea in the morning? 

Here are my top tips, for anyone who's ever wondered exactly how Caroline makes her tea!

1. Fill your kettle 1/3 full and set to boil. Whilst waiting, do a little dance to welcome in the morning.

2. Find the goofiest mug available and carefully drop in a tea bag (white cups for illustration purposes only - actual collection includes, Harry Potter, Hello Kitty and Pepe Le Pew styles) 

3. When the water has boiled, leave to cool for a few seconds, before pouring. IMPORTANT: Use these seconds to check twitter obsessively.

4. Watch the tea diffuse throughout the water for around three minutes, before removing the bag and throwing towards a bin.

5. Add a dash of milk to taste and stir.

6. Enjoy your tea - Simples!

Fancy the chance to brighten your morning routine? Housemakers are running a rather fabulous competition over on Facebook to win a brand new KitchenAid Artisan kettle or toaster. Simply give them a 'like' and vote for your favourite piece HERE, to be in with a chance of winning. Entries open until 31st August. Good Luck!

  

In Collaboration with Housemakers

ATC on Tour: Tubingen, Germany

It's hard to give up an obsession with tea and cake so even when we're on our travels we can't really resist the call of a cute tea room or coffee shop.

Pink traditional coffee maker.

 

This month, Laura visited Tubingen in Germany which, amongst it's traditional southern architecture and picturesque river, revealed itself to be a hub of mini coffee houses and tea shops. Oh, and a pastry lovers dream! 

Walnut and Mandarin Cake.

A favourite was Cafe L, a coffee shop that had literally opened the week before I arrived so everything was shiny and new. 

The counter was bulging with gorgeous golden pastries and particular mention must go to the yummy croissants and almond cakes - so sweet and the perfect companion to the creamy latte they served. 

It's bold decor was very modern yet in keeping with the area's traditional theme had a fab vintage coffee maker on display in the seating area - and it was pink! 

Cafe L

Another was Marktchenke, a little cafe in the centre of the town with a very studenty feel. With indie music coming through the speakers and a menu that boasted mainly snacks and cakes, it was a great relaxing place for a quick lunch. 

Apricot Filled Pastry.

There were so many great coffee shops around I could have quite easily lived there! Where there's cake and tea, I will always be happy. 

Have you been to any great coffee shops on your travels? Join in the conversation on Twitter this #AfternoonTeaWeek at @TeacupReview 

Cake Break: Marmalade, Rhos on Sea

Most people speak of soggy weekends away in the UK with a shudder and a swift ticket booked to sunny Spain. Well unlike the general consensus, I am partial to a cozy afternoon in a caravan on a rainy day in Wales. (Pack of playing cards and TV movies, hello?) 

Pretty pastels.

It was on one of these rainy days when I ventured into the lovely Rhos on Sea for a cup of tea. It’s been some time since I’ve been to the area so I was pleased to see that an abundance of sweet cafes and coffee shops had popped up in my absence. One in particular that caught my eye was Marmalade.

Latte.

This place has got cute shabby chic down to perfection. Pastel colours, restored furniture, mismatched chairs, bunting, graphic text artwork – just everything. There’s a real homely feel too and even a separate area with comfy lounge chairs and coffee table that look like they were pulled straight from a kooky French apartment.

Beautiful decoration.

There’s an impressive selection of cakes on offer too and the best bit is – they’re all less then £1.95 – pretty good when that includes a rather generous slice of chocolate cake topped with Malteasers. The lemon drizzle and chocolate brownies looked delicious too.

The drinks are also reasonably priced, with a range of hot and cold drinks including a choice of teas, that mean a cake and drink combo cost around £4.

I really appreciated the presentation here as our drinks arrived on a little wooden serving tray with a mini biscuit on the side for the latte and even a pretty pink glass for the cold drink – lovely.

Pink glasses!

Yet perhaps the most intriguing thing on the menu was the Welsh Afternoon Tea – pretty much your standard Afternoon Tea with a choice of sandwiches, cake and tea but with oversized scones to rival the beach pebbles that looked absolutely amazing.

Yummy cake.

I could have happily spent all day in here – it was welcoming, pretty, cozy, yummy – all of those lovely things. I may even pop back next weekend. An hour and a half drive for tea and cake? Yeah that’s worth it! - Laura

Home from home.

Marmalade is located on Rhos Road, Rhos on Sea, Colwyn Bay. The Welsh Afternoon Tea is available daily from 2.30pm. Find them on Twitter @MarmaladeRhos

Don't forget, it's #AfternoonTeaWeek this week so be sure to Tweet us your fave tea hotspots! @TeacupReview