Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Afternoon tea is a rip off largely aimed at ripping women off

759 replies

Coddy · 07/04/2024 16:16

Somebody suggested this to me and I’ve never thought of it that way.

You don’t get very men going for afternoon tea do you? The Mark up on afternoon tea is absolutely enormous aside from staffing and cost of the building and stuff- it must be money for old rope for the businesses concerned. Specially the ones that charge over 50 quid ahead.

Are we being conned by the whole afternoon tea debacle?

(yes cake is nice I get that)

OP posts:
Thread gallery
15
PinkTonic · 07/04/2024 20:13

I’m not really a fan of afternoon tea because there’s always too much sweet stuff, but we did used to take my Dad every few months to a nice place that had jazz musicians on a Saturday afternoon. There were plenty of men there. Now there’s an Indian place which does a tea with mostly savoury food and that’s nice for a meet up. Always plenty of men there too.

Diversion · 07/04/2024 20:11

I hate afternoon tea and would rather have a decent sandwich and a decent pot of tea in a mug not a china tea cup and saucer. We were bought a voucher for afternoon tea once, I took my husband, he ate all of his and all of my cakes and was hungry an hour later.

Sillyname63 · 07/04/2024 20:09

ChatLike · 07/04/2024 20:00

Why did you overdose on sugar? I went to claridges last month and didn’t feel sick after. Where did you go?

Show quote history

I have done 2 at an award winning Hotel and one at a local coffee shop, and you have a least 5/6 pieces of cake and a scone with Jam and cream . Admittedly the cakes were small , so you try them all, but then I felt nauseous. I am an occasional cake person anyway. I admit if I had the opportunity to go to the Ritz or Claridges I doubt I would turn it down😂

Original poster
Coddy · 07/04/2024 20:08

BlueThursday · 07/04/2024 20:05

They wanted to know what love is

Show quote history

Omg dead 💀 @BlueThursday

OP posts:
butterpuffed · 07/04/2024 20:08

TroysMammy · 07/04/2024 19:56

@butterpuffed it's not just one of two cakes in an afternoon tea is it?

You need to go somewhere they're not so generous 😀

BlueThursday · 07/04/2024 20:05

Coddy · 07/04/2024 18:50

Foreigners serving tea?

They wanted to know what love is

ChatLike · 07/04/2024 20:00

Sillyname63 · 07/04/2024 19:59

I think the same, total waste of money , especially when it over £25 pp. You can get a reasonable meal out for that, and probably enjoy it more instead of feeling sick after because you have your overdosed on sugar. I have done them a few times but really wouldn't bother again.

Why did you overdose on sugar? I went to claridges last month and didn’t feel sick after. Where did you go?

Sillyname63 · 07/04/2024 19:59

I think the same, total waste of money , especially when it over £25 pp. You can get a reasonable meal out for that, and probably enjoy it more instead of feeling sick after because you have your overdosed on sugar. I have done them a few times but really wouldn't bother again.

Justkeepingplatesspinning · 07/04/2024 19:58

Oh my days, I love afternoon tea. It's a wee treat and I don't mind paying a bit extra. I've usually paid £20-£30 including a glass of prosecco. The only time it's been over £50 was at a posh hotel in Edinburgh, York or London. And you paid for the experience of going to that venue etc etc.

elbowedouttie · 07/04/2024 19:57

Everything is a rip off these days or at least two or three times more expensive than it was a few years ago. You used to be able to do an afternoon tea for two for £20 before the pandemic (no bubbles which was fine for me).

I used to enjoy a little afternoon looking round the shop with a friend then going for tea but everything from shopping, parking, public transport and the afternoon tea is too expensive now. We did just do an afternoon tea at someone's house recently and just bought things from M&S and it was lovely.

TroysMammy · 07/04/2024 19:56

@butterpuffed it's not just one of two cakes in an afternoon tea is it?

Mew2 · 07/04/2024 19:55

So the most expensive afternoon tea I have been to was £50 a head.... but had live Carol singing, a couple of ballet dancers piroting around the room- and the food was amazing (sandwiches, hot savouries, hot scones- (although hubby says my scones are better) and cake- and they refilled plates). The croque en buche was to die for!! Some however are definitely a waste of money!! My sis and I both bake and make afternoon tea regularly- but enjoy not having to do it!!

TroysMammy · 07/04/2024 19:54

butterpuffed · 07/04/2024 19:51

Come on . Of course he can have a treat now and again . I've been diabetic [type 2] for almost 25 years , have a treat sometimes and my blood checkups are always fine .

Show quote history

He's always having "treats". Sweets, ice cream, cake you name it he will eat it. Something sweet every day.

Wonderfulstuff · 07/04/2024 19:54

I love afternoon tea. Although it's only recently come to my attention that some places don't do bottomless tea and unlimited sandwiches which is just plain rude.

And I don't giggle... I'm too busy eating.

MotherofGorgons · 07/04/2024 19:53

JudgeJ · 07/04/2024 19:49

And think they are hogging the moral high ground while doing it. I could make a very long list of things that people on this site do that I think are money- wasting nonsense but I'm mature enough to live and let live.

Show quote history

I did not read the OP as holier than thou, smashing the patriarchy or a ColdPlay hater. I read OP as facetious.

Because it's Cod.
Maybe I misread.

justasking111 · 07/04/2024 19:52

tennesseewhiskey1 · 07/04/2024 19:49

I used to live in London and have paid - over £100 for afternoon tea 🤣

Was it worth it for the setting as well as the food?

RampantIvy · 07/04/2024 19:52

@Purplebunnie, @BusyMummy001 and @justasking111 I forgot to say that when you go to the loo you have to go through the wardrobe into Narnia.

The place is bonkers and the food is just brilliant - much better than Betty's.

butterpuffed · 07/04/2024 19:51

TroysMammy · 07/04/2024 19:34

My partner is diabetic so an afternoon tea is something we can't do together.

Come on . Of course he can have a treat now and again . I've been diabetic [type 2] for almost 25 years , have a treat sometimes and my blood checkups are always fine .

Gunz · 07/04/2024 19:51

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 07/04/2024 19:39

afternoon tea is like most of the eating out - overpriced

Agree - I always think these 'afternoon tea experiences' are aimed at the tourist market. If you go around London the 'Upmarket' version say Brown's is £50. Balmoral will set you back £150 including tour. Sorry but as a native - I think this are OTT.

justasking111 · 07/04/2024 19:51

Overseas visitors love it. We've chatted to Americans, Canadians, Chinese, Belgians from memory.

BarryTaylor · 07/04/2024 19:50

Yeah, how right you are. It's like everything else in life - shite weather, endless traffic congestion, increased cost of living, covid, and high levels of crime. All of it (and more) is solely to piss women off.

Fucking hell. 🤦🏻‍♂️🙄

tennesseewhiskey1 · 07/04/2024 19:49

I used to live in London and have paid - over £100 for afternoon tea 🤣

JudgeJ · 07/04/2024 19:49

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 07/04/2024 19:39

If there's one thing I have learned, it's that whatever any one person enjoys, there's going to be at least one other person who thinks it's stupid and/or a rip-off

And think they are hogging the moral high ground while doing it. I could make a very long list of things that people on this site do that I think are money- wasting nonsense but I'm mature enough to live and let live.

justasking111 · 07/04/2024 19:49

Afternoon tea has improved choice wise I think. You can have traditional, savoury, children's, boozy. Children love party type food, so it's a win, win for us

Afternoon tea is a rip off largely aimed at ripping women off
JudgeJ · 07/04/2024 19:46

Testina · 07/04/2024 16:22

And actually, in my local village (full of oldies) the afternoon tea market is all women of about 55 living it large on their slightly older (early) retired husband’s pension, with their boomer cheap housing long paid off. So the menz are paying 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I’m really seeing this as a common sense issue not a feminist issue.

What a load of parc, hope you can manage anagrams as well as patronising nonsense!