Who says an afternoon tea should include finger sandwiches?! Not a slice of white bread in sight for CUTcakes & Tea, an untraditional afternoon tea with an unmistakably American twist! (Don't fear, while unique, the menu includes scones and clotted cream - I mean, they're not crazy) . . .
In busy, buzzy Soho is the Bun House & Tea Room. Upstairs is a steamy street-food-style cafe serving Chinese steamed buns and large pots of oolong. Downstairs is a Hong Kong-style speakeasy, lit with neon green Cantonese lettered lights, it's a fun throwback to 1960's Hong Kong tea rooms and serves cocktails and a much longer tea list . . .
Now this is an afternoon tea that is out of this world! From Jupiter Cakes to Galaxy Macaroons, the space-inspired Gravi-Tea at Skylon is a truly stellar experience. With a galactic menu that takes you on a journey through the solar system, discover this edible astronomical adventure . . .
The Tea Terrace, House of Fraser (Guildford or London) is a pretty and perfect afternoon tea for mother's day, hen parties or baby showers. Gorgeous Royal Albert teacups and Novus Tea . . .
Hillman's Tearoom, Walthamstow: Ever been to a vintage wonderland? Neither had I. But that is just what Hillman's Tearoom is - with a whole load of good tea poured on top . . .
East London rejoice! While it is still overrun with coffee shops, new tearooms are popping up in the East, and ready for you to get your brew on. The latest of these is Tea Leaf London. It's turned an old cafe (once a book shop) into tea-topia with shelves of tins of tea for you to buy and try at home, or sit for a while and enjoy a cuppa in their nook at the back, or window seat at the front while people watching . . .
After a walk on Hampstead Heath, what better way to refuel than with cake and a cuppa. Louis Patisserie is a Hungarian cafe, founded by immigrant Louis Permayer in 1963. And it hasn't really changed since. The patterned carpet, the panel walls, and the leather chairs take you back in time and to Eastern Europe, but with classically English teacups. With a range of tea, and an even bigger range of cakes and pastries, it's cosy and unique and the perfect spot to warm up after a wintery walk . . .
I'm a fan of the fan museum!
I fully admit that I only went there to check out their afternoon tea - but hey, why not work up a hunger by learning a little? It's the only museum in the UK devoted to the history of fans and the art of fan making and is home to a pretty collection of fans from around the world, some seriously old ones too. Worth taking a walk around checking them out. Now, on to the afternoon tea . . .
Tuesday Tea Tasting Do you remember your first afternoon tea? When I was a kid my school friend’s parents took us to York during half term. If was just before end of year exams so as a bribe we were told if we revised every day we would be taken to Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms for a treat. Needless to say we revised our socks off and it was all worth it. Afternoon tea at Bettys is one of my top childhood memories – probably the first time I had a full-on afternoon tea in what was the grandest...
Last weekend, myself and many other designer makers were invited to Liberty's British Open Call. A chance to show the Liberty buyers your products and get their valuable advice. It was interesting and eye opening but ultimately cold! After a ridiculously warm winter, England suddenly turned freezing and it happened to be that day that I was stood outside Liberty queuing with other designers...for 4 hours. It's over a week later and I've just about thawed out!! So after meeting the lovely Bryony...