Savoy Hotel NYE Afternoon tea - London

 Finished off 2024 with a wonderful afternoon tea at the 5 star Savoy Hotel in London.

This was my second visit to the Savoy as took my mum there for her birthday a few years ago. 

You can understand why this is a 5 star hotel as from the grand entrance to the large reception area it is stunning and very posh looking . 

 The Christmas decorations were stunning and the large angel made of lights above the stairs was so beautiful 

Afternoon Tea is served in the newly decorated Galley which looks much different to when I last visited. They pavilion in the middle that hosted the piano has now gone and instead the piano is to the side of the room. The sofas and chairs are in a cream and gold fabric with brown leather. The main feature of the room is still the glass domed ceiling in the middle. 

Our table was to the side of the room in the corner and upon being seated we were handed the menu to choose the type of afternoon tea we wanted to order. 

We decided to order a bottle of the English Nyetimber Rose Cuvee priced at £115 as it was NYE. The traditional afternoon tea is priced at £95 each however my husband wanted the High Tea which included an one extra dish to choose from below and cost extra £15

High Tea

 Pan Seared Creedy Carver Duck Breast | Potato Mille-Feuille Chestnut | Grilled Chicory | Truffle Jus 

 Hand Dived Orkney Scallop | Yoghurt | Grapefruit Petrossian Caviar | Lardo 

 Pearl Barley Risotto | Squash Purée Winter Truffle | Burella

The waitress noted that I do not eat fish or seafood and I asked for an extra turkey sandwich instead of the salmon one. 

The Rose Cuvee was lovely and went down well whilst waiting for the food to arrive. The room was very busy with just a couple of empty tables. The piano music in the background was a nice touch and not too loud. We felt very relaxed and very hungry. My husband ordered the Savoy tea blend and I ordered the Blackcurrant and Hibiscus as recommend by our lovely waitress 

The sandwiches arrived on their own plate and looked lovely. 

Coronation Larchwood Farm Turkey | Herbs | Cranberry Bread 

Scottish Smoked Salmon | Lemon Cream Cheese & Chives | Spinach Bread 

Hertfordshire Honey Roast Ham | English Mustard | White Bread 

Somerset Oak Smoked Cheddar | Plum & Ginger Chutney | Granary Bread 

Savory Bites

 Parsnip & Carrot | Thyme | Parmesan Tuile | Savory Cake 

Burford Brown Egg | Truffle Mayonnaise | Wiltshire Truffle | Brioche

I liked the turkey Coronation one in cranberry bread plus the cheese one with chutney was nice too. 

Both little savory bites were lovely  especially the Egg mayo with truffle. 

Next came my husbands high tea choice of scallop in a bowl, he only got one scallop for £15 but said it was very good. Whilst he tucked into this I ordered another plate of sandwiches which was included in the price. 

Once we had both finished the savory food the famous tea stand arrived . It included 2 scones each a plain one and fruit one along with Strawberry compote, lemon curd and of course clotted cream. The scones were unfortunately not warm but tasted nice and fresh. Not the best scones I have had but still very nice especially topped with the creamy lemon curd. 

Along with the scones we each got a tiny bite size mince pie.

Finally it was time to tuck into the fancy looking cakes 

We got one each of the 4 different ones as below 

Mont Blanc - Chestnut Cream | Citrus Confit | Meringues 

Santa  -  Bourbon Vanilla Cake | Chocolate Whipped Chantilly | Redcurrant Glaze 

Chocolate & Tonka Bean  - Cocoa Sponge | Tonka Bean Infused Chocolate Ganache

 Christmas Bauble  -  Yoghurt Crémeux | Lemon Sponge | Blackberry Compo

Before tucking into them I ordered a cappuccino 

 Firstly I had the Christmas Bauble that was the waitress favorite one when I asked her.

Creamy white chocolate shell filled with white yogurt cream on a light lemon sponge with a berry compote. It was defiantly delicious and my favorite one too. 

Next I had the chocolate and Tonka bean log shaped one. This was OK but I thought it had a slight spice taste too it that I guess was the Tonka bean. 

Following this was the Santa dome with chocolate belt around to look like Santa's belly. I liked this one too as creamy center on chocolate sponge. 

Lastly I had the Mont Blanc which was nice and bit different with the Chestnut cream. Overall i thought they were very nice and not too sickly to eat.  We did however feel very full buy the time we had eaten them all !!!   I think the waitress was impressed too. 

We had a lovely time and was very well looked after. Before leaving the hotel we had a few cocktails in the famous American Bar which I have always wanted to go too.  

Nearest Station : Covent Garden about  10 minute walk. 

Best bits : The excellent service and cakes plus the bottle of bubbly went down well.   

Worst bits : Nothing all good     

Value for money :  At £95 its not cheap but the hotel is lovely and we got looked after and made to feel special. 

Would I go back? : Yes I would. 

Happy New Year to all my readers and looking forward to some new Afternoon Teas in 2025

 

 

Winter Wonderland Afternoon Tea The Chesterfield London

 On Saturday I treated my mum to a Christmas Afternoon Tea at The Chesterfield hotel in Green Park. I have been here a few times and  the last time was in December 2021. 

Inside the hotel reception was a lovely huge Christmas Tree and more inside the restaurant with red teddy bears sitting around them 

The afternoon tea is served in the conservatory at the side of the restaurant and priced at £75 per person. Unfortunately you cannot get any vouchers for this !!!

Our table was simply decorated and the menu sounded lovely with lots of different cakes. 

To start we got a small glass of Mulled Wine which was nice and we explained to the waitress what sandwiches we wanted as either of us eat fish or seafood. 

We both ordered a cappuccino whist waiting for the food to arrive. I decided not to have champagne as had been out the night before drinking at local pub with friends. 

When the tea stand arrived it looked very full 

I got my sandwiches separate and I had an Egg Mayonnaise one, 2 pulled Ham and Brie which were delicious and  2 turkey and cranberry ones. They were nice and fresh and we got offered more so I had 2 more of the pulled ham ones. 

Unfortunately by the time we had eaten the sandwiches the scones were not warm. We got a chocolate one and cranberry one each with homemade strawberry jam a lots of clotted cream. 

I think I liked the cranberry one best but they were very crumbly and broke up when you spread the jam and cream on top. 

The waitress asked us if we wanted anymore scones which we said no too as still had lots of cakes to eat. We did order another coffee each. 

The cakes were decorated very Christmassy and we cut them all in half. The waitress did ask if we wanted another plate of cakes so we could have one each but this would of been too much so instead she said we could take some home with us. 

 

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First we had the Battenberg slice which you cant go wrong with especially if you love marzipan. 

Then we had the orange and mulled wine slice which had a creamy custard sat on a shortbread biscuit base. The macaron had a lovely chocolate Nutella type filling and the little choux bun was filled with a gingerbread flavor cream. We thought the chocolate log would be one of our favorites but the sponge was a bit rubbery and the chocolate filling too sweet. 

WE both liked the cranberry and coconut bauble and my favorite was the biscuit Christmas tree in the chocolate pot with berries and cream inside. 

At the end of the afternoon tea we got offered more drinks and the waitress brought out a plate of the same 7 cakes plus a box so we could take them home. 

We also got to choose a bag of sweets each from the pick and mix trolley which is something they always do. 

All the food was lovely and we got looked after and offered more food and drinks if we wanted. 

Its not a cheap afternoon tea but they are very generous so you could defiantly get your moneys worth if you can eat extra food. 

Nearest Station : Green Park 8 minute walk. 

Best bits : The pulled Ham sandwich and lovely cakes.  

Worst bits : Nothing really apart from the scones being hard to eat as very crumbly.     

Value for money :  At £75 its not cheap but I think worth the money as more food of everything is offered along with hot drinks.

Would I go back? : Yes I would. 

Cotswold Afternoon Tea - Broadway, Cotswolds

 Last weekend we rented a cottage and had a lovely weekend away with our friends to a charming village called Broadway in the Cotswold's. 

It was their Christmas late night shopping and market that they have 2 Fridays towards Christmas. It was on the television last year and repeated this year. 

Despite the weather  it was a wonderful weekend however not all the stalls were there as strong winds had been predicted. They still had the reindeer and the local brass band playing carols and Christmas tunes. 

We got into the Christmas spirit wearing Christmas jumpers and hats and sipping on delicious mulled wine. 

On the Saturday we went for a long walk through 7 muddy fields to the Broadway Tower. Here you get an amazing view and there is a lovely cafe serving hot chocolate and food.  It was defiantly worth the walk and much quicker going back downhill 

Once back in the High Street we went for a much earned Afternoon Tea in a quaint tearoom called Tisanes

The Afternoon Tea was £17 per person plus extra £5.50 for a small mini bottle of Prosecco. 

You get to choose your sandwich from the menu and your slice of cake plus a plain or fruit scone each. It also included a pot of tea of choice or coffee. I choose a turkey and cranberry sandwich, fruit scone and coffee and walnut cake. 

The sandwich was packed full of filling and nice and fresh.

The scones were large and still slightly warm. We got plenty of strawberry jam and clotted cream to go with it. 

The cakes looked homemade and we got a big slice. My husband choose carrot cake so we shared and I think he made the best choice as the carrot cake was very nice. 

It was a lovely Afternoon Tea and reasonably priced. Also it was good to be able to choose sandwich and cake from the menu. 

Nearest Station : Not sure as we were staying within walking distance. 

Best bits : Getting to choose from menu and food very fresh.  

Worst bits : Nothing to mention as all very nice      

Value for money :  At £22.50 each with the mini bottle of prosecco yes worth it.

would I go back? : Yes if I went back to Broadway 

 

Fabulous Tea, Cakes and Cocktail afternoon tea in Revery Bar at Hilton Park Lane Hotel London

 Yesterday me and my husband had a fantastic afternoon tea that involved cocktails that all contained tea as well as alcohol !!!

I had an old Buyagift voucher for champagne afternoon tea at the Podium Hilton park Lane but was told that they no longer served traditional afternoon tea.  At first I was disappointed as this was one of my favorite afternoon teas and where my love of them started back in 2010. 

 As I already had the voucher they offered me instead  Tea , Cakes and Cocktail afternoon tea in their new bar. The hotel had recently been renovated and appeared on the TV last year so i was keen to visit again. 

The voucher cost me about £75 as I had a discount code so I got a good deal as this afternoon tea is priced at £65 per person 

The bar had a modern cozy feel to it and we had a nice round table in a quite corner with curved velvet sofa . The table was nicely laid with a gold tree style cake stand with offset glass plates. 

Our waiter  was warm and welcoming and very keen to explain about the cocktail afternoon experience. He also noted that I had mentioned upon booking that I do not like fish or seafood. 

The first part of the experience was to try out all 5 of the tea alcohol cocktails so we could choose the one we liked best.

COCKTAILS 

Cairo Gossip Belvedere, Cocchi Americano, Lime & Egyptian Camomile Tea Syrup, Pommery Brut 

Earl Grey Sour     Bombay Sapphire infused with Earl Grey Tea, Gomme Syrup, Lemon Juice, Aquafaba 

Pistachio Bliss Hennessy VSOP, Frangelico, Amaretto Disaronno, Lemon Juice, Tropical &  Pistachio Tea Syrup

 Mexican Breakfast    Patron Silver infused with English Breakfast Tea, Vida Mescal, Cointreau,  Lemon Juice, Gomme Syrup, Saline Solution 

Hibiscus Kiss Patron Silver, Hibiscus & Pistachio Tea Beer Cordial  

 

The barman brought over a drinks trolley with 7 brown glass bottles. He poured us a small measure of each one to try and explained what was in them.  I think there was only one that I did not like but my favorite was the Earl Grey Sour that had Gin in it. My husband had trouble deciding between Pistachio Bliss that hit you with strong Brandy taste then the nutty taste came through or the Mexican Breakfast that had Tequila but a strong smoky taste that was very unusual. My husband liked it as he likes a smoky whiskey . In the end he choose the Pistachio bliss one. 

Next we tried the two non alcoholic ones 

NON-ALCOHOLIC COCKTAILS 

Blooming Blossom (53 kcal) Clean & Co V, Grapefruit & Sea Blossom Tea Syrup, Lemon Juice, Raspberry Purée, Miraculous Foamer

Moroccan Souk (127 kcal)                   Clean & Co G, Moroccan Mint Tea & Cucumber Syrup, Honey Water, Lemon 

Once again both were nice and refreshing but we both preferred the Moroccan Souk one that you could really taste the cucumber in. 

The cocktails were very unusual and glad we got to try them all. 

Whilst the barman made up our alcoholic cocktail of choice the waiter brought us the canapes. 

Beetroot cheesecake (32 kcal) (vg) 

Black truffle macaroon with chicken liver pâté (93 kcal) 

Yes this is the correct photo

The one that looks just like a cherry is beetroot and the macaroon is sweet with a chicken liver filling. 

Sounds awful and to be honest I do not like chicken liver but my husband said it was very nice and the sweet macaroon complimented the salty chicken liver pate. 

Next we got a plate each with the savories on 

Mini poached lobster roll with Marie Rose sauce (177 kcal)

 Devon handpicked crab, sourdough toast with citrus bisque jelly (30 kcal) 

Deconstructed classic chicken Caesar, beet pearl & blue pea flower (62 kcal) 

Asparagus panna cotta, egg yolk & sourdough soldiers (55 kcal) (v) 

As I do not eat fish they substituted the crab for Celeriac and the Lobster for Tofu. 

It was all nice apart from the egg as I did not like the raw egg yolk sitting on top of the asparagus panna cotta. My husband thought it was OK. 

The deconstructed chicken Caesar was really nice but just could of done with bigger portions of the savories.  

Before the waiter brought out the sweet stuff he took our orders for hot drinks. I ordered the Pink Tropics herbal tea that was nice and fruity

When the cakes came out along with the scones I was amazed at how good they looked. 

First we had the scones a fruit one and plain one each with our own pot of homemade jam and thick clotted cream.  The scones were delicious so light and fluffy my hubby said they were the best ones he has ever had. 

Lastly we had the three cakes each along with our other non alcoholic cocktail 

Carrot cheesecake (363 kcal) (v) 

Triple chocolate sandwich (398 kcal) (v)

 Strawberry and citrus (332 kcal) 

They were all amazing and tasted delicious but my best one by far the carrot cheesecake. Crisp thin biscuit base with hint of  ginger , soft carrot cake sponge inside a soft creamy mouse then covered in a green chocolate that had a lime flavor.  As Craig says on Strictly A MAZE ING and a 10 from me !!!

As you can imagine after eating all this food i was feeling very full .  

Just before we left the waiter said there was one final thing to add to the experience  and then brought over 5 jars of different sweets plus a empty black box each to put some in to take home. 

REVERY PIC ‘N’ MIX

 Apple jelly, Vanilla fudge,  Dark chocolate truffle,  Marshmallow and  Raspberry jelly  

He said that these were homemade by the chef . As you can see I did not waste time in selecting some to take home and share with my son.

This is a really nice afternoon tea with a difference and the service was excellent, we both enjoyed the whole experience . 

Nearest Station : Green Park 10 minute walk. 

Best bits : Everything but must mention the delicious scones and cakes.  

Worst bits : If i had to say something it would only be the egg yolk for me and maybe more savory things on offer.      

Value for money :  At £65 its not cheap but I think worth it if you want something a bit different .

would I go back? : Yes I would. 

Huffkins afternoon tea - John Lewis Oxford Street London

 I had never heard about Huffkins until I saw it on Wowcher.  Huffkins is a chain that started with a small bakery in the Cotswold in 1890 and has expanded with  9 tea rooms in England plus online shop. 

I dedcided to book this with my mum and two friends for part of my birthday celebrations. We went to the cafe inside John Lewis in Oxford Street and got a great deal using Wowcher voucher. I paid just £39.99 for two with a small bottle of prosecco each. 

The cafe is situated on the 4th floor and has windows overlooking the street below. They have made it nice inside by adding a artificial flower arch. When we arrived a nice table had been reserved for us by the window. 

After about 15 minutes the waitress came over to take our order.  We ordered a hot drink each and the waitress informed us that there were 3 different sandwiches on each cake stand Coronation Chicken, Tuna mayo and Cheese and chutney relish with leaves. I asked if we could have two cheese ones instead of the Tuna mayo which she said was no problem.  We also had to choose between plain or fruit scone. 

The waitress brought over our cappuccinos  which were in a large cup and a small bottle of prosecco each. 

When the cake stands arrived they looked very full 

Each stand had 3 whole sandwiches cut into triangles so we got 6 triangles each plus some salad leaves in middle of plate. The sandwiches were nice and tasty however my friend who only wanted the cheese ones did not like the chutney inside as a bit spicy. We asked the waitress if she could just have plain cheese ones and they brought over a plate of 8 triangles and let her keep the ones with chutney. Therefore between us all we had lots of sandwiches and unfortunately could not eat them all. The coronation chicken ones were my favorite 

Next we had the scones which were still slightly warm and large in size. We noticed that they were very light and fluffy inside which is a sign of a good scone. To go with them we got a small jar of strawberry jam and pot of clotted cream each. 

By now we were all feeling rather full but i wanted to try the chocolate eclairs as they looked rather nice. On our stand we got a pink raspberry one and my friends got a chocolate one. They were big in size so we could cut them up into four pieces. 

Before eating these we had another coffee each and was informed that we get a free refill of hot drink with the afternoon tea. I was not expecting this so a pleasant surprise. Both eclairs tasted nice and had fresh cream inside. 

Unfortunately after eating these we could not manage the rest of the cakes so was given a nice box each to take them home in.  The other cakes were a chocolate brownie, Lemon drizzle cake and a Victoria sponge. 

We left the tea room feeling happy and full before having a look in the Christmas shop inside the department store. 

Nearest Station : Oxford Circus 8 minute walk.

Best bits : The amount of sandwiches and lovely scones  

Worst bits : Service was a bit slow as very busy      

Value for money :  Yes defiantly for what I paid and amount of food plus 2 hot drinks included each 

would I go back? : Yes I will be buying another voucher to use on a Christmas shopping day