Afternoon Tea News: Wimbledon Afternoon Tea at the Corinthia, London

The Corinthia are serving up a treat this summer, with their fabulous Wimbledon themed Afternoon Tea!

Here's what you can expect:

Inspired by the tastes of the Summer Wimbledon Season, Corinthia London presents delights such as Pimms Jelly presented in a small glass named “A Sip of Summer “ or a chocolate tennis racket aptly titled “Game, Set and Match”.

Savoury options are available including a selection of delicious finger sandwiches with gourmet fillings such as Loch Var smoked salmon, creamed Innes goats cheese with cucumber and organic egg mayonnaise with micro watercress, followed by a mouth-watering selection of scones.

Sounds like the perfect summer treat - and a beautiful one at that. Are you be tempted? Let us know your thoughts below or @TeacupReview!

For times, prices and more information, please visit the Corinthia Website

Afternoon Tea at The Four Seasons, London

Established in 1960, The Four Seasons Park Lane is one of London's Premier Hotels and top Afternoon Tea destinations. Offering a wide choice of loose leaf blends and Afternoon Tea menus, this is definitely one to consider if you're ever out and about in the capital

Afternoon Tea

Located on the prestigious Park Lane in Central London, The Four Seasons Hotel offers elegant yet homely surroundings, perfect for those wanting to escape the inner-city blues for a couple of hours. Decorated throughout in striking black themes and accented with red and cream hues, The Amaranto Lounge, where tea is served, consists of a series of three living rooms - all stylishly decorated with comfortable furnishings and an abundance of natural light. Feature pieces include their beautiful grand piano, hand crafted wall mouldings and art deco-esque chandelier, which create nice focal points to the lounge, contrasting wonderfully with their sleek black marble floors.

Amaranto Lounge

The choice of Afternoon Tea at The Four Seasons is considerable and offers something for everyone, including the Italian themed La Dolce Vita menu, Vegetarian Afternoon Tea and Simple Cream Tea. Their tea selection is similarly impressive, with a choice of over seventeen loose leaf varieties and two unique vintage blends (one of which is infused with gold!)

More Tea

However, their traditional English Afternoon Tea is perhaps the most popular menu and features all of the staple classics, including:

A Sandwich Selection:

Organic Free Range Egg and Watercress in a Brioche Roll; Tea Smoked Salmon with Lemon and Black Pepper Mayonnaise on Caraway Seed Bread; Cucumber and Truffle Cream Cheese on Cranberry Bread; Salt Beef, Pickle and English Mustard Mayonnaise on Rye Bread; Roast Chicken with Sage Mayonnaise on Rosemary Bread

Traditional, Golden Raisin and Cranberry Scones served warm with Homemade Strawberry Jam, Preserves and Thick Clotted Cream.

Dessert selection

Lemon Meringue Pie, Seasonal Fruit Tartlets, Caramelised Blueberry Cheese Cake, White Chocolate and Rhubarb Compote Pannacotta and Gianduia Cream Éclair

Elegant Amaranto Lounge

If you're feeling particularly adventurous, then there are also plenty of bubbly options available for that special occasion or even just as a treat (because let's face it, we all deserve one now and again!)

Have you ever been for Afternoon Tea at The Four Seasons? What did you think? Comment below with your thoughts!

Afternoon tea, £32 per person, is served on a daily basis between the hours of 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm in the sumptuous surroundings of the Amaranto restaurant, bar or lounge. In the winter there is comfortable seating by the fireside in the lounge and in the bar, and in the warmer summer months tea can be taken on the landscaped terrace under the maple trees. For more information and booking, please visit the Four Seasons' website HERE

Afternoon Tea News: The Goring Hotel Wins Coveted 'Top London Afternoon Tea 2013' in Tea Guild Awards

Top Afternoon Tea 2013
(IMAGE: Goring Website - http://www.thegoring.com/)

Congratulations to the Goring Hotel who recently won the coveted Tea Guild Award for the 'Top London Afternoon Tea 2013' (If you don't know anything about the Tea Guild Awards, they're sort of like the Oscars of the Tea world - prestigious and very sought after)

Very well done to the Goring Tea Team - we'll see you soon!

If you'd like to sample a piece of the excellence for yourself, then click HERE and HERE to find out what's on offer and how to book.

Read the Goring's Press Release about the Award HERE

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: The Radisson Blu Edwardian, Manchester

Last week the Afternoon Tea Club headed off to the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel in Manchester to sample some of their lovely afternoon tea in the Opus One Bar. 

Environment

Caroline:

Located in the historic Free Trade Hall on Manchester’s Peter Street, the Radisson Blu Edwardian is a building of grand proportions. From its beautiful Victorian exterior to its undeniably modern interior, this hotel is bubbling with ambiance and has a certain je ne sais quoi which makes for a wonderful afternoon tea.

The striking red themes which run throughout, create a vibrant and luxurious atmosphere, whilst the side room where tea is served extends this theme, also offering a lovely bright aspect onto the street outside, through the inclusion of wonderful feature windows. The furniture is also very comfortable and includes brilliant red-velvet swivel chairs which were an absolute delight and a personal highlight of the afternoon (who can resist a swivel chair?!)

Laura: 

Any unabashed Twi-hard would delight in the fab decor inside the Opus One Bar . Cool and classy, it's kitted out in patent black and red with huge chess pieces dotted around the bar. A very good start and there’s a noticeable contrast moving through to the afternoon tea area as the atmosphere changes, positively of course, as we find ourselves allocated a window table – this is definitely a place to watch the world go by.

There's a lovely feel to this section of the restaurant as the large windows invite great natural lighting and give the illusion of outdoor dining - without having to brave the cold!

The layout is pristine and crisp with white table cloths and super slim fire places. I absolutely loved the scarlet, rotating chairs which made it incredibly easy to get in and out of our seats without any tea spillages - more places should invest in these!

The Radisson Blu Edwardian is modern yet quite understated and certainly makes for a perfect afternoon tea location.

Food

Caroline:

The food at the Radisson was delicious and offered a good selection of traditional classics served on a three tiered silver stand, including: a selection of Finger Sandwiches in a variety of flavours (Beef, Ham, Tuna, Cheese, Prawn and Egg), Plain and Fruit Scones (with Clotted Cream and Tipton Strawberry Jam) and a wonderful array of Cakes and Pastries (Strawberry Tart, Banoffee Pie, Chocolate Cake and Summer Fruit Jelly)

The sandwiches in particular were quite special, being served as a double layer for twice the taste sensation - very impressive. The cheese mayo was my personal favourite - so much so in fact that I also claimed Laura’s for my own! The scones were also lovely and light, being served warm with a dusting of icing sugar for extra effect, whilst the patisserie crowned the stand, taking pride of place at the top. The selection here was very impressive and offered a real focal point to the display. Of this choice, my favourite by far was the Strawberry Tart which had the hidden surprise of a cream filling, which was a very welcome alternative to the usual crème patissiere and got me in the mood for summer!

Laura:

This was the dessert selection I had been waiting for. But before I get down to cakey business, let’s look at what else was on offer.

There are 3 different types of afternoon tea available at the Radisson Blu with one particularly exciting option - a Gentleman's Afternoon Tea. As tempted as I was by the sound of mini Yorkshire puds and pork pies - my sweet tooth got the best of me and I chose to sample the Traditional Afternoon Tea.

There was a great selection of sandwiches with a good mix of fillings including beef, prawn, tuna, egg and ham. My favourite was definitely the beef - simple and not overdone by other toppings that might otherwise make it too fussy.

Next up were the scones. I was very happy to find we were given a fruit scone and plain scone each and both were incredibly soft and still warm with a good amount of jam and cream.

And finally, the the final tier, the fabulous dessert selection. Oh my. Picture this; banoffee pie, chocolate cake, strawberry tart and summer fruits jelly - perfect. The banoffee pie was lovely and fluffy and the chocolate cake was just delicious.

The fruit jelly was certainly very different and made for a great refresher at the end of our tea.

These desserts were all quite rich which might be a bit much for some diners when presented together - but if you can't manage to finish it all, the lovely staff will box anything left over for you to take home.

Of course we found no problem in finishing the entire thing!

Service

Caroline:

I always feel that I tend to say the same things when reviewing service, but once again the waiters at the Radisson worked to a very high standard. All staff were very attentive and made sure that we were well looked after, whilst the personal welcome from the charming bar manager was also a nice touch. On a purely aesthetic note, I really loved the fact that everyone was wearing suits - It gave the place an executive/business feel which I liked very much. Great Job!

Laura: 

The service here was carried out to such a high standard. Our server took extra care to explain all of the different tiers and was very attentive when it came to topping up our hot drinks.

Each member of staff we encountered was friendly, with one lovely lady engaging in a joke with us when collecting our coats. This gave the service a much more genuine feel yet still remained top class.

Overall Thoughts

Caroline:
I really enjoyed our afternoon at the Radisson Blu Edwardian and would recommend it to anyone wanting to experience a traditional tea in a relaxed environment. The food is lovely and the service impeccable. Overall a very enjoyable afternoon, that I wouldn’t hesitate to repeat - Next time I'd love to try their Savory/Gentleman's tea which sounds fabulous!


Laura:

This was definitely one of my favourite afternoon tea menus. I would go back here simply for the choice and the service. It's an impressive space and you are made to feel extremely welcome. I think next time I will have try the Gentleman's Afternoon Tea, such a unique idea and certainly one to look out for. Just a delightful afternoon.

Cupcake Rating:






 

The Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel is located on Peter Street, Manchester City Centre. Afternoon Tea Prices start from £16.95pp. For more information please visit their website HERE

The Afternoon Tea Club Reviews: The Great John Street Hotel, Manchester

Last week The Afternoon Tea Club were invited to one of Manchester's premier Afternoon Tea destinations to sample some of their high class delicacies and be stars for the day!

Street View

Environment

Caroline:

It’s easy to see why Great John Street Hotel is the residence of choice for many visiting celebrities. Located a comfortable distance away from the City’s busy shopping district, close to Granada Studios, this boutique hotel offers its guests the very best luxury experience, without being pretentious. As a four star hotel, Great John Street has clear credentials and these are evident from the moment that you walk through the door. Greeted by floods of paparazzi outside, you know that you have entered somewhere special and the hotel certainly doesn’t disappoint. 

Lounge Area

Inside the environment is refreshingly relaxed and immediately makes you feel at home. Their comfortable lounge area is furnished to a high standard with an eclectic combination of leather and velvet chairs, which are wonderfully offset by an interesting mix of feature pieces, including old books, luggage boxes, tea lights and a particularly impressive clock. 

Great John Street’s ability to mark itself as a premier class environment whilst still being homely is a credit to its design team - proving that traditional comfort can be classy! 

Delicious!

Laura:
Entering Great John Street via a cluster of photographers makes you think, ‘okay, this place must be pretty special’. Well we’re here to tell you – pretty and special are this tea room’s middle names.  

‘Great John Street’ suggests an image of archaic builds and traditional furnishings yet one look at this gorgeous hotel and those conventional assumptions are shattered by a sense of sleek and welcoming modernity.

Our afternoon tea was served in the Osyster Bar, a section of the lounge which is decked out in a contemporary sitting room style. Rich textures and homely cushions invite you to make yourself at home and the luxurious sofas will entice you to find an excuse not to leave!

Soft lighting, neutral tones, clusters of clocks and mismatched china give it a truly unique character.

The atmosphere here is perfectly relaxing, with a great mix of people being drawn in by GJS’s effortless charm.

Yum

Food

Caroline:
The food at Great John Street is nothing short of a triumph. The definition of indulgence, your sweet tooth will be more than satisfied with their decadent selections which include a coffee and vanilla cupcake, red velvet and meringue sponge, and a lovely chocolate and strawberry cake. My favourite of this selection had to be the red velvet which was wonderfully sweet and gooey - the perfect dessert. Similarly their presentation was beautiful, with pretty sugar decorations and a particularly impressive caramel rose enhancing the display. Red berries and  summer fruits also framed the silver cake stand, creating an enchanting visual. Their finger sandwiches too were delightful and offered a choice of Beef and Horseradish, Salmon, Cucumber and Cream Cheese, Ham and Mustard, and Egg, whilst their 'Mighty Leaf' Tea was served in abundance.

The overall feel of this composition was one of great sophistication, with a wonderful mix of flavours and textures, which set it apart as being one of the best in Manchester. My absolute favourite to date.

Spun Sugar and Cream Anyone?

Laura:

This is certainly one of the most impressive looking afternoon teas we have ever seen – very rich and all three tiers are bursting with garnishes and edible decorations.  This bold look really shouldn’t work yet it absolutely does – and very well, might I add. Who wouldn’t want a caramel rose on their plate?

Our champagne tea began with a glass of Perrier Jouet champagne, fashioned with a refreshing strawberry followed by an unlimited supply of coffee – so far so good!

To start we had a great range of sandwiches with a good mix of breads and fillings. I think we’re both fans of the salmon finger sandwich at the minute but my favourite on this occasion were the beef and horseradish.

Tea for Two

To follow, we indulged in some gorgeously soft fruit scones with homemade jam and cream. I don’t think that any of our readers need reminding just how big a fan of scones I am, but just in case – I was a teeny bit excited about these little beauties and I was not disappointed.

Overflowing on the bottom tier of our 3 layer stand was a range of pretty cakes and treats. I must admit, I have been waiting for an afternoon tea to feature cupcakes and GJS was the first to adhere to my wish. A red velvet cupcake with a soft meringue top certainly made for a very interesting dessert. I especially loved the surprise layer inside that resembled an Oreo cookie. We were also spoiled with coffee cake and a wonderful slice of chocolate sponge to finish. All of the rich flavours complimented each other really well and made for a fabulous selection.

Scones

Service

Caroline:

The service at Great John Street Hotel was incredibly warm and hospitable. From the moment that we stepped through the door until the moment we reluctantly left, we were made to feel very much at home. Our waiter and waitress for the afternoon were very attentive and made sure that our tea cups were topped and our needs catered for throughout. Their service cannot be faulted. 

Pretty Tea Service

Laura:

Definitely some of the best service we have ever come across on our tea shop travels. Our servers gave us exactly the right amount of attention and not once did we have to ask for our tea to be topped up. The staff were courteous and friendly, even greeting us as we entered the building to guide us to our table. I could not have asked for any more – top marks!

Champagne

Overall Thoughts

Caroline:

I'd heard some wonderful things about Great John Street Hotel in the past, so was very excited to be visiting - They didn’t disappoint. Everything from start to finish was top notch and I wouldn’t hesitate to come back again!

Laura:

I would love to visit GJS during the evening as I can imagine it’s a great place to unwind with a cocktail or two after work. It’s high class all the way but what is so great about this venue is its ability to make you feel special without compromising its genuine personality. It was one of the most relaxing afternoons I have ever had. If you’re after somewhere with great surroundings and want to feel spoiled – look no further than Great John Street.

Cupcake Rating:



Plus The Golden Cupcake...



Great John Street Hotel is located on Great John Street, near Granada Studios, Manchester City Centre. Afternoon Tea Prices range from £19.50 - £25.00 pp (Ladies and Gentleman Jack Afternoon Teas). 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.