10 Of The Best: Festive Afternoon Teas

‘Tis the season for sweet treats, decadent dining, seasonal shopping trips and precious time with friends and family – why not enjoy something that embodies all of this? A delicious afternoon tea with a seasonal twist!

1. The Drawing Room, Dorchester Collection’s Coworth Park, Ascot

In the run up to Christmas, relax in the Drawing Room surrounded by lavish Christmas decorations and a roaring log fire. Indulge in either a Festive Afternoon Tea or at weekends, a Christmas Carols Afternoon Tea with champagne.

Sample Festive Afternoon Tea Menu

• Turkey and stuffing with cranberry
• Smoked salmon, crème fraiche and lemon
• Chestnut and pear Mont Blanc tart
• Milk chocolate and hazelnut rocher
• Orange marmalade cake with cardamom chantilly cream
• Cranberry macaroon with white chocolate and yoghurt

Festive Afternoon Tea – Served weekdays from November 1 until December 23.Two sittings available, either 2.30 – 4.15pm or 4.45 – 6.30pm £32 per adult or £44 per adult (including a glass of Veuve Clicquot Champagne) and £15 per child (5 – 11 years inclusive. Under 5’s free).

3. Four Seasons Hampshire, Dogmersfield

Where better to cocoon yourself than in the warmth of an 18th century Manor House in the middle of the English countryside this festive season?

 

Sample Festive Afternoon Tea Menu

• Selection of finger sandwiches including smoked turkey and cranberry, Wye Valley smoked salmon and chive cress cream
• Chestnut cake, milk chocolate cremeux
• Butterscotch and banana lollypop
• Eggnog mousse, praline & gingerbread
• Almond, cranberry and pistachio delice
• Mini mince pies 

Available daily throughout December until January 8th (excluding Christmas Day), £30.00 per person, with glass of Champagne £42.00 per person. Members can use their complimentary dining benefits on afternoon tea Monday to Friday when joined by at least one full paying guest. Click here for meal periods and booking details.

4. The Lanesborough, London

This grand residence transforms at Christmas time, softly sparkling with festive decor and full of merriment from cheerful gatherings and parties.

Sample Festive Afternoon Tea Menu

• Truffle egg mayonnaise & cress
• Smoked salmon, caviar & cream cheese
• Roast beef, rocket & horseradish cream
• Cucumber & mint
• Coronation turkey
• Spicy Christmas muffin
• Apple and cinnamon doughnut
• Mulled wine and pear cake

Available throughout December until 1st January. Served with a glass of Taittinger Brut Champagne, £65.00 per person. Member dining benefits are available on afternoon tea and in Celeste at The Lanesborough, click here for benefits, meal periods and booking details.

5. Seaham Hall, County Durham

Enjoy a selection of tasty festive treats this Christmas Season at Seaham Hall which you can enjoy in the cosy lounge overlooking beautiful gardens…the perfect setting for getting in the Christmas mood!

Sample Festive Afternoon Tea Menu

• Smoked Salmon and Dill Mini Quiche
• Coronation Chicken with a Sesame Seed Bun
• Cave aged Cheddar and Beetroot in a Brioche Bun
• Honey Glazed Ham, Radish and Mustard Mayo Wrap
• Chocolate and Stout Fondant Fancy
• Irish Cream and Hazelnut Macaroon
• Pear and Chestnut Mulled wine Verine
• Stollen

6. Sketch, Conduit Street, London

In true Sketch fashion, this is an afternoon tea with a difference! The ‘Night Before Christmas’ is Sketch’s current theme and the whole site has been turned into a Woodland Wonderland – if you are looking for something quirky this is for you!

Sample Festive Afternoon Tea Menu

• Assorted finger sandwiches including corn fed coronation chicken and American pumpernickel bread
• Black truffle croque- monsieur
• Bûches de Noël (chocolate and blackcurrant or raspberry and mascarpone)
• Mandarin and cinnamon cheesecake
• Vanilla and pistachio battenberg cake
• Malabar marshmallows

  

 

This is it! Sketch Christmas afternoon tea experience is accompanied by music as various choirs of angels serenade you – click here for the choir schedule. Available until 31st December for £50 per person, or £27.00 per child including Pat the Bear. Members receive dining benefits in both of Sketch’s restaurants for lunch and dinner, click here for more details and booking information.

 

7. Cliveden House, Taplow

Inspired by the stunning Charbonnel et Walker Christmas Tree in the main hall, a delicious afternoon tea has been created by Executive Head Chef, André Garrett at this most luxurious of country house hotels.

Sample Festive Afternoon Tea Menu

• Variety of finger sandwiches
• Festive pastries
• Warm mince pies
• Andre’s almond cake
• Rose and violets
• Sea salt caramel Florentines
• Charbonnel et Walker Hot Chocolate

Available until Friday 23rd December, £37.00 per person (additional charge of £7 levied to non-National Trust members). Member dining benefits are available on afternoon tea and in both Restaurant André Garrett and The Astor Grill. Click here for more details and booking information.

8. Alexander House & Utopia Spa, Sussex

Nestle next to a roaring fire and spend your afternoon tucking into a delicious display of sandwiches, homebaked scones, cakes and tasty fancies.

 

Sample Festive Afternoon Tea Menu

• Warm sultana and apple scones
• Selection of seasonal sandwiches
• Homemade plum and mulled wine jam
• Clementine marmalade and jersey clotted cream
• Chestnut and dark chocolate eclair
• Cinnamon custard doughnut
• Homeamde hazelnut mince pies

Available daily throughout December,  £27.50 per person

Complimentary member dining benefits are available for dinner in AG’s restaurant at Alexander House, click here for more details and booking information.

9. RAW at La Suite West, Hyde Park

For those that want the indulgence but a guilt-free menu then this restaurant aimed at wellness-orientated diners is for you. Positioned within a row of quintessentially British townhouses by Hyde Park, their Winter afternoon tea menu offers a delicious alternative to the traditional.

Sample Winter Afternoon Tea Menu

• A Welcome Glass of Non-Alcoholic Fizz or Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine
• Starter: A Selection of Finger Sandwiches including Mushroom/Black Olive Pate
• Savoury Canapés: including Sunflower Seed Pesto and Quinoa filled Cherry Tomatoes topped with Crispy Kale
• Winter Spiced Scones or Traditional Vegan Mince Pies Served with Fresh Strawberries and Whipped Coconut “Cream”
• Desserts: Raw Xmas Cake with Coconut Frosting & Red Berries, Raw Carrot Cake with Mulled Wine Spiced Cranberry & Orange Topping or Gingerbread Loaf with Freshly Roasted Walnuts

Available until 28th February 2017, for £29.00 per person. Member dining benefits are available on afternoon tea and lunch and dinner in RAW. Click here for more details and booking information.

10. The Kensington Roof Gardens, London

Celebrate the festive season with a Christmas themed afternoon tea at the roof gardens, high above London town. Guests are invited to lose themselves in the three themed gardens before taking their seats in a heated Tudor Marquee for a delectable assortment of treats with a festive twist.

A roaming live band will ensure that guests are well and truly full of Christmas spirit, performing festive favourites throughout the afternoon.

Sample Festive Afternoon Tea Menu

• Roasted bronze turkey with pork and sage stuffing, cranberry sauce on sundried tomato bread
• Toasted Dingley dell honey roast ham sandwich with smoked Applewood cheddar
• John Ross smoked salmon scotch quail egg
• Baked Somerset brie pastry with radicchio, red onion marmalade and poppy seeds
• Chocolate yule log
• Brandy buttercream filled macaroon
• Mincemeat and cranberry Eccles cake
• White chocolate pannacotta with winterberry crumble

From 12pm – 5pm on Saturday 10th December, £35.00 per person. Tickets can be bought in advance from the Roof Gardens, click here. Member dining benefits are available for lunch in Babylon at the Roof Gardens, click here for more details.

 

 

Not a member? Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to dine with fabulous benefits throughout the lead up to Christmas. Call membership services on 01276 850581 today and join The Luxury Restaurant Club for 12 months for just £95.00 – or why not purchase as a gift?