Unusual afternoon teas

Simon Ward
by Simon Ward  |  22 February 2012  |   12 comments

From fashion to royalty, art to Alice in Wonderland, here are some weird and wonderful afternoon tea experiences

Unusual afternoon teas

Freshly-cut cucumber sandwiches, a selection of petite pastries and cakes, a china pot of tea leaves… afternoon tea is a quintessentially British tradition.

But if you’ve done the sandwiches ‘n’ scones thing a few times, here are some different takes on the traditional afternoon tea. As it’s London Fashion Week this week, we’ll kick off with a couple of fashion-themed offerings:

A Zandra Rhodes-designed tea

Zandra Rhodes' Iconic Afternoon Tea, which is served at the Mandeville Hotel in LondonFashion designer Zandra Rhodes got to do some designing of a different kind when she put together her Iconic afternoon tea for the Mandeville Hotel in London’s Marylebone. And her tea is as colourful as the lady herself - clouds of pink meringues, buttery butterfly lavender shortbread, jewelled éclair fingers and macaroon buttons mingle with the classics. There’s also a men’s afternoon tea.

Where: The deVille Restaurant, The Mandeville Hotel, Mandeville Place, London
Cost: From £26.50 per person

Prêt-à-Portea – the tea that changes with the seasons

Just like the fashion world itself, the Prêt-à-Portea afternoon tea at London’s Berkeley Hotel (pictured at the top of this article) changes its designs with the seasons. So you could be served a Stella McCartney polka dot sponge cake dress or a Burberry Prorsum stylish black and white double breasted chocolate biscuit coat with snow white vanilla icing.

Where: The Caramel Room, The Berkeley, Wilton Place, London
Cost: From £37.50 per person

A toast to past queens

In this Diamond Jubilee year, the Andaz Liverpool Street hotel in London is devoting a series of afternoon teas to past queens of England. It kicks off this month with the Bloody Mary afternoon tea, to mark the reign of Queen Mary I. This has Spanish themes, reflecting her marriage to Prince Philip II of Spain, with chorizo and squid in pimento bread, tortilla, and churros with chocolate and lemon saffron crème. The teas continue with Queen Elizabeth I in March, Queen Anne in April and Queen Victoria in May before Queen Elizabeth II’s turn during her Diamond Jubilee month of June.

Where: 1901, Andaz Liverpool Street, 40 Liverpool Street, London
Cost: £45 per person (Monday to Friday only)

An artistic tea

The Art Tea from Dublin's Merrion HotelIf you fancy indulging in some edible art, then head for the Merrion Hotel next time you’re in Dublin. Its Art Tea features cakes inspired by the works of artists such as Jack Yeats, John Boyd and Louis le Brocquy.

Where: The Merrion Hotel, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin
Cost: From €36 per person

Tumble down the rabbit hole

Heston Blumenthal would surely approve of the Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea at the Sanderson Hotel. Among the sensory delights are exploding hazelnut praline ice cream lollipops, chocolate rabbit’s clocks and a rainbow array of finger sandwiches on beetroot, saffron and spinach breads.

Where: Courtyard Garden, Sanderson London, 50 Berners Street, London
Cost: £35 per person

Fondant fancies

If you fancy a spot of cabaret with your tea, why not try the Voluptea or Afternoon Tease at the Volupté supper club? As well as sandwiches, scones, tea and a glass of bubbly, you’ll also enjoy some top-class burlesque and cabaret.

Where: Volupté, 9 Norwich Street, London
Cost: £42 per person (tea and show)

Indulge in some ceremony

“We’re putting the tea back into the ritual” says the blurb on TeaSmith’s website. To that end, its afternoon tea ceremony features cakes and chocolates paired with teas, rather than the other way round. You’ll also learn a lot more about the huge range of teas they serve.

Where: TeaSmith, 6 Lamb Street, London
Cost: £20 per person

Got time for more tea?

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