A few weeks ago, we donned our finest attire and headed to one of Manchester's most exclusive restaurants and bars to sample their afternoon tea menu. Here's what we thought:
Manchester House is one of those places that always has rave reviews. From its towering city views, to its impressive menus, this restaurant has quickly become the talk of Manchester's dining scene, with everyone and their mother wanting a piece of the action.
As the restaurant is almost always booked up, we were delighted to hear that their Afternoon Tea was something that we'd be able to get in for on relatively short notice - and boy were we excited!
Upon our arrival, we were greeted by one of the bar's lovely hostesses who was ready and waiting to show us to our table - even in spite of us being around 10 mins late - so sorry to keep you waiting!
We were very excited at the prospect of trying food from Manchester House and really wanted to love it, and whilst we didn't hate anything that was put in front of us, we couldn't help but feel let down by its quality. The sandwiches in particular were disappointing, presenting a simple trio of cucumber, cheese and egg, alongside a ham bagel/roll, which I found to be quite limited and not what I'd anticipated. The cakes were better, offering a good selection of Northern inspired treats such as the Eccles Cake and Manchester Tart, however, again I still felt slightly uninspired by the colour schemes and options available - I'd rather have had something a little more delicate and patisserie style.
Whilst the Manchester House afternoon tea didn't exactly rock my world, their full menu is still something that I'd definitely like to try. Their reputation in the city is second to none and I don't doubt, that I would be impressed if given the chance to sample their savoury delicacies.
When spending money on a premium afternoon tea, I like to be wowed - perhaps with an original presentation like the IC Westminster's recent Chelsea Flower Show Green House, or an unlimited supply of food like the Milestone hotel - but unfortunately on this occasion, I wasn't.
I had very high expectations of Manchester House, and whilst their offering was by no means bad, it definitely didn't live up to my imagination.
On a brighter note, the views and surroundings are definitely some of the finest that the city has to offer, so if you're looking for a comfortable and elegant surround then you will be impressed by what Manchester House has to offer.
For more information and prices, please visit their website here
Have you tried afternoon tea at Manchester House? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!