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

My Dad also loves afternoon tea, I'll let him know that he's really a lady.

Where are people having afternoon tea at £40 a pop?

I can't stand scones which is why I don't bother with afternoon tea. Instead I'd like more savoury sandwiches, a cake or two and a meringue with fresh cream. High tea is much better value

Totally depends where you go! There are a lot of mediocre sandwiches and cake out there.

But I did take DM for afternoon tea at Claridges once and it was worth every penny.

God I'd love a scone.

Move to Gloucestershire - there are literally six on the local independent shopping street near us, and lots more sprinkled through the towns. All homemade cakes, nice tea, proper cutlery and not an afternoon tea option in sight (though scones, jam and cream are on offer in half). Decent coffee and good sandwiches as well.

I've been for afternoon tea twice and enjoyed both occasions very much. The first time was at a very posh hotel in London and I went with 3 friends as part of our wonderful day out which included going to the David Bowie Is exhibition at the V and and A. A perfect day in every way. Second time was for a birthday so and I really enjoyed that too, it has never occurred to me to consider the economics, I have just enjoyed the ambience, the company and the food which luckily was really good.

I love the opportunity to eat several cakes and drink prosecco.

Is it linked to the disappearance of tea shops (taken over by coffee bars)? Nothing poncey or 'sophisticated' about them, just wee cafes where you could buy a pot of tea, got proper cups (ie not Starbucks bag-dunked-in-cardboard-cup), and homemade cake and buns? I do miss those places; the 'afternoon tea' providers have seen a gap in the market and are making a packet with massive mark-ups for basically the same stuff. So no, YANBU.

There's an amazing cafe near us that does nothing but afternoon teas, and weekends only, at that. Gets sold out, has a waiting list. She makes everything fresh for each sitting and is super creative about it - so just did a Willy Wonka one with everything created for the theme. Her teas are worth it. The Christmas one had a gingerbread house that opens up and is actually a tea stand, with everything hidden inside. The kids get so excited. And my husband loves her food on taste grounds, as does my son, so not a women's thing, either. Though the Mother's Day tea was, admittedly.

Local fancy hotel ones, not so much, agreed. But it can be a good option to meet with friends when everyone has kids, because they can pick at food in a less pressured way, and adults talk. It works a lot better than a standard meal and feels more of an event for the children.

I miss the Landmark's Sunday brunch, though, which Covid put paid to. Unlimited Champagne and the most amazing array of lovely food, all buffet. You could eat a full English, an American breakfast (all made to order), have a full Sunday lunch, or sushi, or seafood, or salads... an omelet bar, soups, and an amazing range of patisserie and fruit salads and cakes. If memory serves they even had a chocolate fountain. It was lovely for special birthdays (the kind with a zero at the end) as literally everyone had something they loved. Twice the cost of a London hotel tea, but infinitely better value.

You evidently haven’t been to Luton Hoo; the sandwiches and cakes are something else. Worth every penny!

Afternoon tea is fab when done well. By that I mean homemade cakes, fresh scones, ample cream, and plentiful fresh nicely filled sandwiches.

Also, regular tea top ups.

And women spending time together away from kids and families.

When done well, it is great.

Booking a private box for a football match is also expensive. And you’re basically paying for a room with a window. But those silly (often) men are being manipulated into doing that for a special occasion! What fools they are!

OP, high tea is considered to be an experience Same as a box at the football. Neither one of those or both or just one of those might appeal to you. This is an utterly ridiculous thing to get exasperated about. Fun fact - people enjoy different things and are prepared to pay for them as they enjoy them. The value is in the time spent with those you care about doing something out of the ordinary.

Yeah, to be fair my DH would probably enjoy an afternoon tea much more than me because he can eat twice his weight in one sitting, whereas I'm more half a scone and I'm done. Plus I hate sandwiches.

Of course it's not aimed at ripping women off. You choose to pay for it. Or not. I love afternoon tea. I've never gone for afternoon tea in a women-only group. Nor have I looked around the room at the other afternoon tea enjoyers and seen only women.

I went to one at Christmas, am going to one later this month at a stately home ( christmas gift from ds) and a Bridgerton themed one in July with the girls ! I do sadly need to ditch the habit though and concentrate on my weight loss.

I know several men who love afternoon tea. I also love it. I'm happy to pay £80 to sit in the Palm Court at the Ritz and listen to their pianist and be waited on by people who know their job, wearing my best frock and in the company of other people who are also dressed for the occasion.

You know, if you think it's overpriced, nobody is forcing you to go.

I definitely want to go

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Have you been recently to the Fourteas? I used to love it for both afternoon tea and full breakfast, but the last time we went it was under new ownership (2019) and we were quite underwhelmed by the changes. We live 250 miles away so I’ve not been in the area since but even if I was, I wouldn’t be keen to go back sadly

I genuinely don't know anybody at all who ever goes for afternoon tea. I'm surprised it's still a thing!

Yes - I had one as a gift and went with my husband. We enjoyed it - not the kind of thing to which we'd usually treat ourselves, so it was a novelty.

I was thinking more, Jumanji

Where is this fabulous place where afternoon tea is poured by foreigners dressed as game-keepers? It's giving me Lady Chatterley meets Argentinian Mellors vibes.

Mee too,