We all love a cuppa and scone so AFTERNOON TEA WEEK is the perfect excuse to head out and do it in style. It takes place through to Sunday 13th August and there are lots of deals and specials to enjoy throughout the week, and with the kids on holiday, and the weather not so great, it’s a good chance to have a little treat.
The custom of drinking tea dates back to the third millennium and was popularised in Britain by King Charles II and his wife Catherine de Braganza in the 1660s. However, it wasn’t until the mid-19th century the concept of Afternoon Tea was founded.
Afternoon tea is a British tradition of sitting down for a treat of tea or coffee. It’s accompanied by a selection of sandwiches, scones, and cakes. The sandwiches typically will be cut into delicate ‘fingers’ with their crusts cut off the bread. Popular fillings include egg mayonnaise, smoked salmon & cream cheese, cheese & pickle and prawn mayo. Not forgetting the afternoon tea favourite – cucumber sandwiches.
Scones can be topped with butter, clotted cream, and jam, and the cakes will be small and finger sized. They’ll often be served on an ornate tiered tray, making it even more special. Many people will also opt for a glass of fizz instead of tea or coffee.
We have so many amazing places to enjoy Afternoon Tea across South Wales, so let’s begin with ten ideas to get you started…..
THE ANGEL HOTEL – ABERGAVENNY
The Angel Hotel is an AA Four Silver Star hotel located in Abergavenny town centre and was named AA Hotel of The Year, Wales.
Built in 1829 as a coaching inn, this traditional hotel, decorated with contemporary artworks, is close to Abergavenny Castle and Museum and the beautiful Linda Vista Gardens.
The Angel pride themselves in the time-honoured art of High Tea as the holder of The British Tea Guild Council’s Top City and Country Afternoon Tea Award and The Award of Excellence. The menu changes to offer the freshest ingredients in line with the season.
Their specialist bakers, (inspired by Sally Lane, whose passion and talent made Afternoon Tea at The Angel the exceptional dining experience it is today) freshly prepare the sandwiches, savouries, cakes and scones ready for the afternoon.
The following are our service times for High Tea:
On Thursdays through to Sundays; High Tea only; served in the Wedgewood room from 1.00pm.
Take away High Teas are also available on these dates, for collection only (reservations essential).
Download the High Tea menu HERE.
The Angel Hotel is on Cross Street in Abergavenny with the Afternoon Tea menu starting at £46 per person. For more details, go HERE.
THE IVY ASIA – CARDIFF
The Ivy Asia Cardiff partners with Perrier–Jouët for Afternoon Tea Week with its new Sakura Afternoon Tea.
In the true style of The Ivy Asia, the new Sakura Afternoon Tea is one with a twist, inspired by Asian culture with delights such as Salmon cream cheese and cucumber maki rolls, steamed vegetable bao buns, warm passion fruit and coconut doughnuts and vanilla and sesame crème brulee.
During Afternoon Tea Week, anyone who books a Champagne Afternoon Tea at the restaurant for £38.95 per person will have their champagne upgraded to Perrier–Jouët.
Afternoon Tea can also be enjoyed at its sister restaurant The Ivy, where its Dream Afternoon Tea menu is available between 3pm – 4.45pm. You can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea with an irresistible assortment of sandwiches, scones and other sweet treats.
Afternoon Tea is available in The Ivy and Ivy Asia Cardiff seven days a week. For more details go here – THE IVY ASIA or IVY COLLECTION.
LLANGOED HALL – BRECON BEACONS
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon tea in a beautiful country house setting next to the River Wye, on the fringes of the Brecon Beacons.
From the Gold Rose and Butterfly design fine bone china, exclusively designed for Llangoed Hall, to the selection of fine loose leaf teas, Afternoon Tea at the Llangoed Hall is a treat!
Afternoon Tea is served Thursday to Sunday, subject to availability and demand between 2 and 4pm and they offer a number of luxurious options.
The Full Afternoon Tea consists of tea or coffee, together with sandwiches, homemade fruitcake, cream pastries, trifle, homemade scones, preserves and clotted cream. Turn it into an Afternoon G&T – if you’re a gin fan – for an extra tenner.
You could also try The Ashley Afternoon Tea includes a glass of Elderflower Champagne, a selection of floral teas, finger sandwiches, scones and various cakes.
N.B. All bookings require a minimum notice of 48 hours and can be placed
Prices are from £28 for the full afternoon Tea option, with plenty of extras you can add. For more details, go HERE.
LLECHWEN HALL – PONTYPRIDD
Llechwen Hall is a beautiful country house hotel with stunning views, situated high above the Cynon Valley. You can enjoy your afternoon delights on the sun terrace overlooking the beautiful countryside, or in the Orangery Restaurant with its doors opening onto the lawn.
Their take on the famous afternoon tea is from £15 per person!
Indulge yourself in luxury and enjoy a traditional Afternoon Tea at Llechwen Hall. They serve all you would expect such as, sandwiches, cream cakes and most importantly our handmade traditional Welsh Cakes dusted with a sprinkle of sugar.
In the summer months you can bask in the sun and take your tea out on our garden terrace, overlooking the Welsh Valleys below. Or in the winter how about a special country house afternoon tea soaking up the atmosphere inside the hotel, sitting in our comfortable lounge bar.
For more details on Afternoon Tea at Llechwen hall go HERE.
Download their afternoon Tea Menu HERE.
CELTIC MANOR RESORT – NEWPORT
Celebrating one of the nation’s favourite traditions, Celtic Manor will be marking Afternoon Tea Week with a range of treats across the resort. There’ll be lashings of cream and freshly made scones, as well as surprising twists on the British institution.
Perfect for get togethers big or small, the Celtic Manor indulgent afternoon teas are renowned in South Wales and make a dream date for cake cravers and patisserie perfectionists.
The Resort Afternoon Tea is 15th April – 1st December.
Savour a selection of treats and finger sandwiches, delicious hand-made cakes and pastries, and freshly baked vanilla scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam at The Olive Tree.
£30 per person (Monday – Friday)
£15 per child (Monday – Friday)
£36 per person (Saturday)
£18 per child (Saturday)
There are so many options to choose from across the resort, with a variety of deals in place. The Afternoon Tea details at the resort are HERE.
Remember too that they have a whole collection of venues to choose from from the resort itself to a bit of city luxury at The Parkgate, or the lovely Tŷ Milford Waterfront. You can check out the entire collection – HERE.
BRASSERIE AT MERCURE SWANSEA
Enjoy a classic Afternoon Tea at the Mercure Swansea, a 4 star hotel with superb lake side views. Set next to Fenrod Lake in Swansea, the hotel and restaurant’s fantastic location and exciting menu options offer something for everyone.
Afternoon Tea is served in their stylish Brasserie Restaurant, where you can enjoy the contempary interiors and cosy atmosphere.
Their Afternoon Tea menu features a selection of classic savoury treats including a range of finger sandwiches, accompanied with scones and an array of delicious sweet goods. For en extra indulgent afternoon outing, why not upgrage to include bottomless Galanti Prosecco?
Just 9 miles from the idyllic Gower Peninsula, Mercure Swansea Hotel is a 10-minute drive from Swansea city centre and train station.
Afternoon Tea Includes:
- Variety of delicious sandwiches
- Scones served with jam and fresh cream
- Selection of cakes
Tea or coffee is served between 12.30 and 4.30 pm and must be pre-booked. The price for afternoon tea is £17.95 and you can get more details HERE.
HOLM HOUSE – PENARTH
With stunning view over the Bristol Channel from its position at the head of Penarth’s Marine Parade, Holm House is a lovely place for Afternoon Tea. Incidentally, it also has a spa so you really can make a day of it.
The traditional afternoon tea includes a pot of tea or coffee, savoury treats including a smoked salmon and crème fraiche sandwich, with a selection of mini desserts and freshly baked cakes. These will be accompanied with homemade fruit scones with clotted cream and jam.
You can opt for a ‘Sparkling Afternoon Tea’ or a ‘Champagne Afternoon Tea’.
Prices at Holm House start at 21:50. You can download the afternoon tea menu HERE, and get more details on what’s on offer HERE.
CAFÉ ROUGE – ST DAVID’S CARDIFF
Bring a little extra je ne sais quoi to your day, and savour their gorgeous, all-new French-inspired Afternoon Tea experiences.
Try Traditional, Rouge or our very exciting Brunch Afternoon Tea. And if you fancy something extra, ask for a freshly-baked cheese Scone for an additional £2.99 per person.
Make it really special with 90 minutes of free-flowing Prosecco for an extra £15 per person, or simply add a glass of Prosecco each for just £5 per person.
Afternoon tea with a little Ooh La la! Tuck into a full croque monsieur and croque champignon to share. Served with freshly baked fruit scones, clotted cream and strawberry conserve… you pick the order! A selection of cakes and sweet treats. Enjoy from noon every day for £17.99 per person.
You can download the afternoon tea menu HERE and get details on the huge variety of options at Café Rouge HERE (Cardiff Location HERE).
HENSOL CASTLE AT THE VALE RESORT
Enjoy a delicious Traditional Afternoon Tea served in the luxurious Hensol Castle Atrium, located on the Vale Resort estate.
Your delicious Traditional Afternoon tea will be served in the luxurious surroundings of the Hensol Castle Atrium. Steeped in history, you are sure to feel like royalty whilst enjoying a selection of sandwiches, traditional sweet treats and a nice pot of tea.
Booking Available 12:30 to 3:30pm from Fridays to Sundays
Upgrade to Champagne Afternoon Tea for £6.50 per person or Welsh Gin Afternoon Tea for £7.50 per person
You can download the Hensol Castle afternoon tea menu HERE. With all the details you need – HERE. Remember too, there is so much to do at the resort itself, os you really can make a day of it.
THE GREAT HOUSE HOTEL – BRIDGEND
This beautiful grade II* listed Great House Hotel in Bridgend is the perfect setting for afternoon tea. Enjoy delicious sandwiches, freshly baked cakes and scones, fair trade coffees and freshly brewed teas in the charming lounge or landscaped gardens.
The afternoon teas are all freshly made by their bakers and are the perfect way to spend a relaxing afternoon. Afternoon tea is always a treat for the eye and the taste buds alike.
They also make the perfect gifts for a loved ones, so if you’re planning a celebration, this could be just the thing.They also available for delivery or collection! Find out more about HERE.
You can buy an afternoon tea vouchers from just £19.95, or takeaway from only £15 per person or £30 for two.
They also have a Children’s afternoon tea available for £9.95.
The Great House Hotel in Bridgend is open for Afternoon Tea everyday between 3pm and 5pm. To find out more and see what’s on offer, go HERE.
And if you want to go down the DIY route, here’s some great recipes from the BBC Good Food site…..
