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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
LouOver · 07/04/2024 17:27

Yes its a massive ROI in the industry. To not be ripped off you either go cheap or to the other extreme of where your also then paying for the experience of being at the ritz for example.

One 4+ hotel I managed started doing a mens afternoon tea. Think a mini fillet, sliders, scotch egg....it was amazing but it was stopped by head office because it became popular with women who clearly also like meat and picky bits....the price point v roi was so poor compared to a standard so back to sandwiches and little cakes.

Mimrr · 07/04/2024 17:27

No strong feelings. I don’t like the little bit of stress as everyone quickly counts how many of each thing there are so they’re not rude and take more than what’s allocated per head.
I just want to ask if anyone wants all the cakes so I can have all the sandwiches.

Enough with all the giggly/ripped off stuff though please. I don’t hang about with people who giggle or don’t have the capacity to avoid ‘frivolous shit’.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 07/04/2024 17:26

Dearg · 07/04/2024 16:27

It’s a bit of a minefield for me. Do I eat lunch beforehand ? Or do I risk being all hangry when the afternoon tea arrives? What if I want 2 vol-au-vent, but don’t want a sausage roll at all ? What is the actual point of a cucumber sandwich ?
How to I get the jam out of the dress I was coerced into wearing?
And when it’s all done, the sugar hangover…

Oooh this

I can never decide what to have for my other meals either as whilst it's basically sandwiches I tend to always over eat so feel bloated the rest of the day but aware it's been a nutritionally bad day

shellyleppard · 07/04/2024 17:26

The jam and cream should be separate!!!¡ Pure sacrilege!!!

Nanny0gg · 07/04/2024 17:25

Coddy · 07/04/2024 16:18

Well I see your point, but honestly the price of the actual team must be like £4

There is such a thing as a 'Gentleman's Tea' btw

Choux · 07/04/2024 17:24

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 07/04/2024 17:22

Slightly off topic but I once went for a cream tea and it arrived at the table with the sad little blatantly out of a packet

Wait for it ...

READY SLICED WITH THE CREAM AND JAM SPREAD ON

If I wasn't so passive aggressive I would have been outraged I tell you

I had one like that last year. And I don't even like cream. I wanted butter and jam on mine.

amidsummernightsdream · 07/04/2024 17:24

BurntOutNurseryNurse · 07/04/2024 16:48

Anyone else confused about why the OP keeps going on about "giggling" and "oooh"? [Confused]

I think she thinks she’s being funny

theworldie · 07/04/2024 17:24

shellyleppard · 07/04/2024 17:12

Theworldie..... the Sunday lunch at spoons is no more 😔😔

Tut…now where am I to go for my dose of reality?

Don’t say McDonald’s- that’s a step too far. It’s impossible to wash the smell of grease and desperation out of ones hair.

MinnieMountain · 07/04/2024 17:24

@Sandwichgen The Wolseley (I’m aware that some people on here view it as an annoying default option but I love it). Or The Lanesborough.

burnoutbabe · 07/04/2024 17:23

Me and partner do afternoon tea often.

We did a more savoury one recently in borough market -£45 pp inc savoury items, then sandwiches then scones then cake.

We had to take the cake home!

So look for savoury options -they are available,

GoldenSpraint · 07/04/2024 17:23

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 07/04/2024 17:22

Slightly off topic but I once went for a cream tea and it arrived at the table with the sad little blatantly out of a packet

Wait for it ...

READY SLICED WITH THE CREAM AND JAM SPREAD ON

If I wasn't so passive aggressive I would have been outraged I tell you

Original poster
Coddy · 07/04/2024 17:22

About 20 years ago, before I had this damascene conversion, I sent my parents to Fortnum and Mason and they were particularly underwhelmed, I can’t remember why

OP posts:
Yogaandchocolate · 07/04/2024 17:17

Sandwichgen · 07/04/2024 17:13

So I should be trying The Ritz, and Claridge's. Any more?

If you’re going to The Ritz I would personally spend the few pounds extra to get the 3 course lunch in the restaurant. Much better value IMO.

Choux · 07/04/2024 17:17

Sandwichgen · 07/04/2024 17:13

So I should be trying The Ritz, and Claridge's. Any more?

My top 3 would be
Claridges
Dukes
Anywhere but the Ritz - so much a tourist thing they have sittings from 11am till 5. It's not right.

Londonrach1 · 07/04/2024 17:14

Never been to one. Wasted on me as don't drink tea or coffee. My parents have gone fur special events...usually it's 15-20 pp and they always come back with cake and scones...they view it as a bargain as it's a treat and in a beautiful setting and they get cared for...

Original poster
Coddy · 07/04/2024 17:14

Theirs

OP posts:
Choux · 07/04/2024 17:14

My mum and dad loved the London afternoon teas I took them to for birthdays and anniversaries when they were in the 70s and 80s.

Claridges refilled our sandwiches more than once which pleased my dad who preferred savoury to sweet. It's posh but understated - my mum loved the loos (powder room?) with an attendant handing out towels.
We went to Fortnum and Mason shortly after the Queen reopened it was my mum's 80th and she told the staff and I doubt the Queen got better service than my mum. She is a huge cake fan and they literally filled a box with several slices of the different cakes for her to take home.
Mum loved having ciggies in the garden of the Goring Hotel knowing the Middleton family had stayed there for William and Kate's wedding.

Now dad's dead and mum has dementia those memories are priceless. But I always leave an afternoon tea feeling a bit sick after too much sugar!

Original poster
Coddy · 07/04/2024 17:13

Sandwichgen · 07/04/2024 17:13

So I should be trying The Ritz, and Claridge's. Any more?

The Wild Bean Cafe? There’s is good

OP posts:
GoldenSpraint · 07/04/2024 17:13

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Sandwichgen · 07/04/2024 17:13

So I should be trying The Ritz, and Claridge's. Any more?

YaMuvva · 07/04/2024 17:13

EmpressOfTheThread · 07/04/2024 17:07

You could get a pub lunch for 4 people for £28?
Seriously! Where do you live?

Show quote history

For 2 kids and 2 adults, yes.

an example of a few locals:
£5 per kids meal (once spot does unlimited squash)
2 adults meals anything from £12-£16 sometimes with a drink.

Wetherspoons you can very easily spend £20 on a meal for 4 (I know there’s snobbery on here about ‘Spoons but I like a lot of the food!)

Original poster
Coddy · 07/04/2024 17:12

books therapy

OP posts:
shellyleppard · 07/04/2024 17:12

Theworldie..... the Sunday lunch at spoons is no more 😔😔

Denou · 07/04/2024 17:11

99% of afternoon teas are shit. Not interested in sub Mr Kipling cakes on a flowery plate.

Scones are a particular issue for me. You simply should not be able to taste baking powder.

Only good one I ever had was at the Ritz.