Afternoon Tea Mother's Day Gift Guide

In case you hadn’t noticed the influx of pink, florals and gin sets filling up the shelves on the high street, Mother’s Day is just around the corner (11th March, FYI). Nothing says “I love you” quite like tea and cake, so what better way to show the special woman in your life how much you care than with some afternoon tea-inspired goodies? Whether you’re looking for the perfect little something for your coffee queen or a bit of a tea adventure, our Mother’s Day gift guide has got you covered.

1. Clipper Organic Infusions | RRP £2.39 available to buy online here 

Florals, for Spring? Groundbreaking. If you did the flowers thing last year, maybe a floral tea could do just the trick? All made with pure ingredients and a clear conscience, Clipper's range of organic infusions and green teas are your go-to gift. Try Flower Power Infusion made with elderflower, hibiscus & limeflower or the wonderfully named, Calmer Chameleon Fusion with chamomile, honeybush & cinnamon which can be bought separately (20 bags per box) or as part of the Clipper's Tea Organic Infusions Sublime Selection which includes six different flavours presented in a neat gift box. 

2. Cake stand, teapot and teacup & saucer, Matalan | RRP from £4 to £10 available to buy online here 

If you fancy hosting your own Mother’s Day afternoon tea party, Matalan’s range of affordable teacups, teapots, cake stands and much more has everything you need to throw a party even the Hatter himself would be jealous of. Our favourite has to be this adorable gold polka-dot teapot but with pieces in the range starting from as little as £4 there’s something to suit every style and budget.

3. Elizabeth Shaw Luxury Biscuits | RRP £1.79 available to buy online here 

Tea and biscuits anyone? One is always better with the other so if tea is already on the cards why not try a selection of luxury biscuits from British chocolatier, Elizabeth Shaw. Choose from a variety of flavours including Raisin & Hazelnut, Coconut & Hazelnut, Raisin & Cocoa and Mint & Cocoa, topped with smooth milk or rich dark chocolate, available from all major UK supermarkets.

4. 'Queen of Caffeine’ bone china mug, Bespoke Verse | RRP £12 available to buy online here 

Most will tell you being a mother is the best job in the world but it’s also a busy one. So for those who like a good caffeine boost to kickstart the day, sip in style with this sweet bone china mug from Bespoke Verse. The website specialises in a range of poetry-themed gifts and homeware including a rather brilliant “Ode to Poldark” mug which we might have to steal for ourselves (sorry mum!). 

5. Personalised teacup and saucer, Find Me A Gift | RRP £14.99 available to buy online here 

The folks at Find Me A Gift have got Mother’s Day sorted with a dedicated gift section but we’ve done the searching for you (you're welcome) and our favourite has to be this personalised cup and saucer. Make mum the perfect breakfast in bed complete with a brew that comes decorated with your own personal message and mini cupcake print. Plus you can complete the set with a matching teapot. Beats any old card, don’t you think! 

6. Taste Tripper | RRP £19.50 (one person) or £35 (two people) available to buy online here

If you want to try something different, then this little yellow envelope may just have the answer. Taste Tripper takes you on a tour of some of London’s best cafes, bars and boutiques with a range of curated Explorer Packs created by people who just really love food. The Central London Explorer Pack includes four coffees, one tea and three chocolates to collect across Notting Hill, Chelsea, Soho and Covent Garden, plus recipes, fun facts and a map to help you navigate your guided taste tour. Get the two person pack and make a day of it!

What are some of your Mother’s Day afternoon tea-themed gift suggestions? Let us know in the comments and join in the conversation on Twitter and Instagram.

Photography: Caroline
Words: Laura

Top Picks for Mother's Day Afternoon Tea

What better way to treat your mum this Mother's Day than with some quality time spent drinking tea (or champagne!) and eating lots of fabulous cake! Here's our pick of some of the best places to take your lovely mum this Mother's Day ...

Bettys, York

Bettys was the first tea room I ever visited as a child and has remained a firm favourite ever since. Boasting six locations across Yorkshire, their afternoon tea is a must for anyone travelling through the region, with York’s outlet offering both a casual dining option for passers by, or a reservation only experience upstairs in their Belmont room. Be sure to stop by their in house shop on the way out, to purchase a selection of Bettys signature breads, cakes and preserves - their Yorkshire tea loaf and fat rascal are an absolute must! - Caroline

Great John Street, Manchester

Everything about Great John Street’s afternoon tea is perfect. From its sumptuous library surroundings with sinkable sofas, to their beautiful Kumquat embellished serving plates, this boutique hotel has everything down to a tee (or tea!). Like many venues across the UK, Great John Street hotel offers both a ladies, gents and children's tea, making them the perfect choice for couples or family celebrations. Their new ‘High Breakfast’ makes tea an all day affair, offering a quirky take on the tradition, with Smoked Salmon Benedict, Mini French Toast and Strawberry Smoothies up for grabs. Definitely one to check out. 

Grand Pacific, Manchester

Our second Manchester recommendation is the ‘Asian High Tea’ at Grand Pacific in Spinningfields. Served in two waves (savoury stand first, followed by a sweet) this tea is a twist on the traditional British pastime, swapping out sandwiches for sushi, and scones for sweet spring rolls. With the bar being part of Manchester’s premier Australasia restaurant, it’s impossible to go too wrong. 

Crewe Hall, Crewe

Anywhere that’s good enough for the kings and queens of days gone by, is good enough for us. Served in the Sheridan Lounge fresh from the estate’s Victorian kitchen, the most striking part of this afternoon tea is its surroundings. With beautiful period features and high ceilings running throughout, it’s difficult not to get swept away in the venue’s history. Their champagne option is exactly how you’d imagine a quintessential afternoon tea to be, so if you’re looking for an elegant high tea in traditional surroundings, this is about as perfect as it gets!

Harvey Nichols, Nationwide

Harvey Nichols is a great option for afternoon tea on the go. Located at the heart of five of the UKs  major cities, the premium department store offers a luxury high tea experience at a very reasonable price. With seasonal menus that often include collaborations with prominent chefs, such as Paul A Young, this ever changingafternoon tea is a fantastic option for shoppers and ladies who lunch.

Cuthberts’ Bakehouse, Liverpool

If vintage charm is more your style, Cuthberts’ Bakehouse in Liverpool offers a fun and affordable afternoon tea in a casual setting decorated in turquoise hues and fairy lights. Chosen from a selection of co-owner Matthew’s favourites, the menu varies from season to season but whatever the time of year, Cuthberts will spoil you with a quirky tea stand that’s packed with afternoon tea classics like Victoria sponge, huge macaroons and hearty sandwiches in an impressive selection of fillings and breads– you’ll wonder how you’ll ever finish it all.

Marco’s New York Italian, Sheffield

Marco Pierre White’s New York, Italian restaurant offers a choice of two fabulous afternoon teas – traditional and Italian. Served on an up-cycled vintage style wine box, the Italian menu brings a fresh twist with a selection of savoury bites including pastrami on rye and bruschetta down to a sweet selection of cronuts, chocolate covered strawberries and polenta cake. Hardcore traditionalists might miss their usual scone fix but the surprise “wow” box that arrives as you finish, featuring mini biscuits and hot dipping chocolate, more than makes up for it. 

Are you treating your mum to Afternoon Tea this Mother's Day? Tweet your photos at @TeacupReview!

Mother's Day Favourites with Whittard

With Mother's Day fast approaching, I got my mum to try out some of Whittard's gift selections. This is what she thought!

From our mutual love of the theatre to our longstanding obsession with Guinea Pigs, my mum and I have always had a lot in common, but one of our defining similarities is our love of tea. 

Not a morning goes by where we don't sit together with a cup, chatting about our days ahead and sharing gossip from the day/night before. It's a ritual in our house, and one which I'll miss a lot when I find a place of my own.

When it comes to tea, I have to admit that she's a lot more adventurous I am, always happy to try out the various fruit and exotic varieties, that I'm less keen on. So when this lovely Mother's Day selection from Whittard dropped through the door, I knew she'd love it. Now I won't go into too much detail about the different varieties available, because you can see that for yourself here, instead I'll just pick out a few of her faves and let you know what she thought.

Pretty Tins with Whittard

Darjeeling

"I've never tried Darjeeling before, usually opting for breakfast teas when I'm out, but this was lovely. I'd definitely choose it again - a nice refreshing cup of tea."

Goji & Acai Berry 

"The first thing that hit me about this tea was its lovely rose pink colour. There wasn't much in the way of perfume, but I appreciated its subtlety and loved the refreshing fruity rang on the taste buds."

Mango & Bergamot

Mango & Bergamot 

"I love mango, so this was a real treat to try. The delicate fruity flavour of the blend comes through nicely and is balanced well with the subtle bitterness of the Bergamot tea. A lovely tea!"

So, that's what my mum thought. What will you be getting your mum for Mother's Day?

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.