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

Who's complaining? The OP wasn't actually complaining.

She started a frankly nasty thread to sneer at other women and gay men.

Yes I think that probably is being a misery. Up to you of course if you never want to eat out anywhere nice or inventive. I don't agree it's being "conned".

Someone else complained about tasting menus. The amount of effort that a good kitchen puts into a tasting menu is phenomenal. I'm a good cook but there's no way I could replicate what a restaurant like say The Peat Inn does. And that's before factoring in the cost of labour and buying the ingredients.

Same with afternoon tea. I'm a good baker. I could replicate some, but not all cakes and patisserie but again the cost in time and ingredients needs to be factored in.

There's a nasty, sneery tone to many posts on here. There's the scolding of women choosing how to spend their money, the sneering that any men who like afternoon tea are "Chris Martin" types. (I assume that's meant to be an insult but why escapes me)

And the completely baffling and bonkers one that any man enjoying afternoon tea must be gay. Obviously being gay is neither here nor there but there's a whiff of homophobia there- a whiff of "real men don't do that". Can't remember which posters went down that route but it's an unpleasant take.

ooops 'being'

Of course it is their choice. But then should not complain about 'bieng conned'- is my point.

Just make afternoon tea and invite friends around! Bake some cakes and scones. Have a lovely afternoon with friends. Perhaps raise some money for charity.

Seriously, though, I didn't know this was a thing. I've been for champagne breakfasts and bottomless brunches but when I want afternoon tea I just go to a tearoom and order tea and a scone with clotted cream etc. That never costs £30.

I don’t get afternoon tea and would rather a pint down the pub any day. However if ‘ladies’ are choosing to spend their money on this shit then surely that’s their choice. There must be demand for it for prices to be so high.

You don’t get very men going for afternoon tea do you?

Could they be....at work? 🤔🤣

I know loads of straight men who like tea, cake, sandwiches etc. They really enjoy going out for it. Granted my DH is not one of them, so I tend to go as something nice to do with my mum, but maybe you just don't know men who like nice stuff?

Agree

afternoon tea is bullshit

Indeed. Silly women with their girly afteroons out. Imagine us spending money as we choose.
I've even bought a handbag!

Well the OP asks whether we are 'being conned'?

If people agree to pay ridiculous prices for such 'luxury' goods or services - then they will continue to be 'conned'.

I buy good quality stuff, butas I don't like being 'conned'- I don't buy luxury products where you pay for the brand, for instance, and not necessarily quality. If that is 'being a misery' - so be it.

Depends where you go and what you order. A fancy hotel in London has huge overheads, and that is what you are paying for. Not the finger sandwiches.

I had Afternoon Tea once. A man bought me a gift certificate for my birthday.

I've never purchased it. Loved it. Love the concept.

Women being frivolous apparently

Despite many posts on the thread about mens buying habbits apparently women are the only silly giggly little airheads being ripped off because they aren't intelligent enough to work it out

Not really. But therrvare some real miseries on this thread.

Not just that. My husband is teetotal. He is a big fan of The Dome, Edinburgh afternoon tea. The last time we were there was a Sunday afternoon with our adult son, one of my husband's nieces, one of his nephews and nephew's wife and their toddler.

Out of that group one is completely teetotal, one, my son, might as well be for how little he drinks, one wasn't drinking because she was breastfeeding and one was a toddler. The Dome was a perfect venue.

Excessively ridiculously expensive rip off prices- I am quite sure you understood what I meant.

What would stop?
Purchasing goods and services?

Afternoon Tea was £15 per head at the last place I went for afternoon tea.
Choice of fillings in our freshly made sandwiches, unlimited tea (or coffee if you preferred), 2 scones each (with jam and clotted cream - and she brought us some more clotted cream when asked), 3 very tasty cakes each (which we had to take home as we were full after the sandwiches and scones). Delicious. Would have been excellent value for money (although I didn't pay).
I didn't feel ripped off at all and nor did dh, who, despite being a man, also enjoys an afternoon tea.

Love afternoon tea. The two places I tend to visit both charge £25, which I think is excellent value for a nice selection of home-made goods.

Gay men have better taste

Afternoon tea, bags, shoes, fancy restaurants, face creams, and so much more. They are only a rip off if you choose to buy them.

If we stopped agreeing to being ripped off... it would stop. Perhaps!?!

I used to enjoy going for Afternoon tea with my wife.

The Swan next to the Globe Theatre does a great savoury afternoon tea (called a Gentleman's Tea ) -

Welsh rarebit, cheese scones, sausage rolls. Last time I also had mini fish and chips. Was brilliant while viewing out over the Thames.

They also do vegetarian, vegan, non-gluten, nut free so something for most.

Our local garden centre does a great Afternoon Tea with their own bread and cakes. Another winner.

I've never spent any where near £15 in macdonalds