We all know how much we enjoy a cuppa, so with AFTERNOON TEA WEEK this week it really is the perfect opportunity to celebrate all the things we love about our favourite afternoon tipple.
Afternoon Tea Week takes place every second full week in August (11th to 17th this year). It’s a custom that usually involves finger foods, sweet and savoury sandwiches, and drinking tea. The menu has scones accompanied by jam and clotted cream, a must for any afternoon tea menu.
There’s always something special on the menu across restaurants and hotels giving us the perfect opportunity to enjoy and celebrate this annual tradition.
The Celtic Collection have some afternoon tea offerings that are perfect for capturing the quintessential British summertime experience. Whether it’s for a birthday, hen do or simply ‘just because’, these afternoon teas are all situated at properties within the collections portfolio of stunning properties across the most sought after, idyllic Welsh locations.
Spend a relaxing afternoon with unbeatable views overlooking the stunning sea with the St Brides Hotel and Spa classic afternoon tea. While you enjoy your indulgent treat, stare out at the magnificent Saundersfoot coast and let the sight of the rolling waves relax you. Afternoon tea includes a delicious selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and preserves, a fresh assortment of sweets, and a leaf tea selection.
Reservations available Monday – Saturday between 12pm – 4pm. £29 per person. For more details go HERE.
You can make your visit even more special by staying the night in their newly refurbished rooms, starting from £198 per night.
Heading to Wales’s capital city? Spend an afternoon at the newly award Best Hotel in Wales – The Parkgate Hotel – and enjoy a break from the hustle within the grand surroundings of Cardiff’s old Post Office, opened in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee! Tuck into sandwiches, cakes, pastries and of course scones with jam and cream, washed down with a selection of teas – or upgrade to a glass of Prosecco or Champagne for a luxurious experience.
Reservations available Monday – Sunday, with prices starting from £36 per person. More details available HERE.
After enjoying a spot of tea, visitors can extend the fun and spend a night in one of The Parkgate Hotel’s classic-meets-contemporary luxury rooms, starting from £114.
We’ve been to The Parkgate to sample the afternoon tea delights.
Situated within the award-winning Celtic Manor Resort, this afternoon tea experience is truly indulgent. Enjoy sandwiches such as Cucumber and Lemon Creme Fraiche and Wye Valley Smoked Salmon and Dill Mousse, perfectly offset with sweet delights such as Hazelnut Praline Delice. Guests can opt for speciality tea or upgrade to pink gin or champagne – perfect for special occasions. Celtic Manor Resort is currently offering an Afternoon Tee deal (available 18 July – 29th August), where those who enjoy an afternoon tea can also receive a complimentary round of adventure golf the same day. A perfect date day activity!
Reservations available Monday – Saturday, with prices starting from £32 per person. More details available HERE.
You can also enjoy a stay at the five-star resort to maximise on the fun, with a range of luxury dining options and activities. Rooms start from £115.
The Ivy Asia also have something special for the week with a selection of finger sandwiches, scones and sweets at its Cardiff restaurant.
Running daily from 3pm to 5pm, guests can enjoy irresistible delights, from savouries, scones and sweet treats. Pair the traditional way with a hot tea, or choose from a selection of coffee and hot chocolate. For those that want that extra sparkle to mark such a fun date in the diary, guests can also upgrade to a glass of fizz – the perfect way to ‘cheers’!
THE MENU
Those who visit throughout the summer can tuck into an indulgent tower of treats, which include:
- The Ivy 1917 Cure smoked salmon and cream cheese choux bun
- Chicken Milanese and truffle cream brioche roll
- Warm fruited scones with clotted cream, fresh strawberries and strawberry preserve
- The Ivy chocolate bombe with milk foam and gold flake
- Mini chocolate truffles with a liquid caramel centre
The summer afternoon tea menu is available now and can be booked daily from 3pm to 5pm at £34.25 or £44.25 for the Champagne Tea.
To enjoy an afternoon tea at The Ivy Cardiff go HERE
For many of us when there’s a mention of afternoon tea, the U.K. s top of the list, we’d like to think it’s because we do it so well. The tradition of having tea during the afternoon was started in England in the 1840s. Anna Maria Russell became the Duchess of Bedford in 1939, after her husband, Francis Russell, ascended to the position of a dukedom. While on a visit to the fifth Duke of Rutland, Russell started feeling lethargic and hungry. In the nineteenth century, it became normal to have dinner served and eaten from seven to nine at night. Because this was so late, a small meal called ‘luncheon’ was created. However, the luncheon meal also failed to keep the hunger pangs at bay.
And so the concept of afternoon tea was born, and this appeared to do the trick. Tea paired with savoury sandwiches and sweet cakes became Russell’s go-to midday meal. She also started inviting her friends for an afternoon tea session. This custom was soon picked up by people from the upper- and middle-upper classes.
It didn’t become as traditional until Queen Victoria, who was also a friend of Russell’s, started having afternoon tea. Eventually, having afternoon tea became a social event of sorts. People from your social circle would be invited for an afternoon of social discussions over some tea and other refreshments. Special dress codes were also decided beforehand, and while today it is not necessary to come dressed in formal thematic garb, going to an afternoon tea is still considered a special occasion.
FIVE TEA FACTS (THAT MAY SURPRISE YOU)
- Drinking tea regularly can prove to be quite healthy as it is packed with antioxidants that apparently help your body to fight off cancer, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, and several other ailments.
- It’s great for long-term energy. If you are looking to feel energised for a long period, then having tea is the answer, as the antioxidants present in it will allow for a slower absorption of caffeine.
- Americans first tasted iced tea when the tea merchant Richard Blechynden dumped ice into his tea brew to give the drink an appeal to passers by at the 1904 World Fair.
- Drinks labeled ‘mint tea’, ‘turmeric tea’, or similar are not tea, but merely infusions as real tea comes from a camellia plant.
- Before modern times, people who poured hot tea before milk into their China cups would be considered wealthier as their China would be able to handle the hot temperature of tea without cracking or breaking.
NAPA (National Activity Providers Association) are coming together to celebrate Afternoon Tea Week.
For them, Afternoon Tea Week is the perfect opportunity to take part in a range of activities that celebrate this quintessential English tradition; to meet people, chat, dance, laugh and eat a lot of cake – that is washed down with some delicious tea served in a fine china cup!
They have a series of NAPA Resources designed to support you to enjoy all that Afternoon Tea Week has to offer. These have been created following consultation with NAPA members who provided their feedback and shared their ideas and positive practice examples.
You can get more information on NAPA HERE.
