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

We have a lovely place near us that offers a gents and a ladies afternoon tea. The gents contains mini quiches/pasties/cheese scone and less cake. Might have even had cheese. I went with mum and we ordered one of each. It was amazing. The regular one usually gives me a sugar headache and I much prefer a cheese scone to a sweet scone. But endless tea I can’t pass by! I’m a tea addict. I love an afternoon tea but it’s usually a special treat not a regular thing. And places here you can go to on a variety of price points.

I don't drink, and can't bear the idea of spending £7+ on a "decent" pint as many of my friends do. Or £10+ on a cocktail, as nice as some of those do sound.

If you factor in how much a "few bevvies" on a Saturday night out must cost, a "nice" afternoon tea somewhere isn't that much of a rip off, if that's what is preferred.

No judgement either way. Eat cake. Drink beer. Long as you're happy.

Love an afternoon tea, been to loads of different venues, me and a male friend try to outdo each other on our birthdays, done the pottery tour followed by afternoon tea, done all the local garden centres and had afternoon tea on a barge, quite a few hotels, my favourite was a beautiful old hotel near by, that you can just keep eating what you dont eat they box up for you to take home, all included in the price

Totally agree with you, it is a treat and one I definitely enjoy.

The price overall not that bad ,(compared to the price of say takeaway fish and chips) depending on where you go .

I was indeed @ShadesofPoachedSmoke A lovey place to go for a treat and the service was absolutely fabulous!!

Afternoon tea at Fortnum is pretty good. And not just for ladies. The last time I had it we were three couples - and soon after one couple split: she went to live with another woman.

My sister and I took DM out for afternoon tea last week. DM loves a cake but DSis and I can take it or leave it. The place we went to did a savoury afternoon tea, now that was banging! 😀

Oh come on, stop this nonsense.
this is a discussion on Mumsnet!

Why the aggression, this is a discussion on Mumsnet and I am discussing it?

We had a gorgeous Italian afternoon tea at Pesto , leisurely catch up with friends and it was a lovely treat .

Oh come on, stop this nonsense.

The last piece I bought is a sculpture made with steel and glass, with very special tools and machinery, and even more special talent. I couldn't have made it and I will own it and appreciate it every day, foerever.

A cake gets eaten- and goes the same way as the excellent scones I can make easy peasy, and fab raspberry jam, with my own grown raspberries- and fabulous clotted cream. No comparison.

My choice.

You make yours- this is a discussion on Mumsnet!

I love afternoon tea! We had it at our wedding instead of a three course meal because we prefer it and also it saved us a lot of money. We had so many comments from guests about how much they enjoyed it and actually preferred it to a traditional wedding breakfast 😊

Yes of course there is a markup like lots of things, but I think it does depend on the venue alot of the time - fancier the venue the more expensive. I've had afternoon tea in little cafes before where it is cheaper.

We have been to a local (ish) place that does afternoon tea several times for birthday celebrations- it's not a hotel more like a fancy cafe, we pay £40 per person, alcohol is extra but we don't drink.
We get about 8 mini sandwiches, 3 home made savouries like sausage roll, mini quiche, 4 homemade desserts plus 2 big scones, jam/cream and unlimited tea/coffee. They also do a really good gluten free afternoon tea for my mum. It's probably not worth quite £40 but we don't feel it's crazy expensive for what it is.

As for men- my dad and partner always come, they really enjoy it.

I dislike it. I would far rather go out for lunch and eat properly.

You mean you dont make the own craft yourself 😯

Why on earth are you not happy making do with some simple craft, maybe getting together with friends to do it so that it doesn't cost too much and its a win win win?

Of course- your choice. No worries.

I would feel ripped off to pay those prices- that's me.

From time to time, I spend real money on buying a piece of amazing art or craft- that I'll enjoy day in, day out, forever. That's me.

I always wondered why I felt sick after afternoon tea, then realised it’s just a carb and fat overload. won’t do them anymore.
i also think Bottomless Prosecco lunches are a similar rip off as well.

Most people do that too. It does not then follow that afternoon tea is a waste of money for those who enjoy it. It’s an entirely different thing. You might not enjoy it but for thousands of others it’s a fun thing to do. And that’s ok.

Everyone is doing what they want

You just repeatedly seem to want to make them feel bad for it like the OP by implying its a rip off only women fall for like face cream and handbags etc and suggesting people should stop buying things they like because you think that its too expensive

You are the one doing the complaining so your comment is fairly hypocritical really

I've had some fantastic afternoon teas that have absolutely been worth the money. Men don't go for it because they're not into the tiny pretty food, but I definitely am! All the ones I've had I could see the care and attention that went into making each individual item. It's something I love doing for a posh girlie lunch. My friend and I have a standing arrangement to have one together over Christmas every year.

Oh FFS- I said again and again- it's a choice. Choose what you want- don't complain. I choose to not spend a fortune for some fancy tea- how is that making anyone feel guilty! You do what you want.

Have always thought that. A few sarnies and cakes plus a cuppa or one small glass of cheap fizz. Not worth it at all, I would rather just have lunch and choose something better to have. Xx

Surely you got more than that? IME afternoon teas are quite filling: , sandwiches, cakes, scones with jam and cream. Or am I taking your comment too literally?

Because why should women be guilted into having to do extra work if they want to treat themselves?

Ive never seen men be reccomended to kick a football round the garden with a few mates instead of being on a team because it doesnt cost as much

If you want to bake and have your friends round that's lovely. Dont try and make other people feel bad for doing things differently

We grow all our own veg and have hens for our own eggs and grow a fair amount of our own fruit, but I dont see the need to sneer at people buying their potatoes at Tesco because they could just grow their own.

Honestly because after cooking, washing up for four men for 40 odd years I've had enough.

My sons took me out to dinner last weekend. Just me. It was lovely. As is lunch, afternoon tea with female company.

What?? Doesn't it depend where you go for your afternoon tea? Me and partner (male) love going to our local cake shop. It's £27.50 and lovely - 4 different sarnies, scones with cream, butter and jam, and about 5 lovely cakes. All baked on the premises. He's not from the UK and is completely charmed by the old fashioned china and cake forks. 😂