What time shall I invite people for afternoon tea?

[Mushroomwithaview]

I'm a bit worried that if I invite people at 4.00 they won't be very hungry, but there will be a lot of food - sandwiches and cakes and cocktails.

Do I change it to a lunch or evening thing? But I feel weird inviting people for lunch or evening and then serving afternoon tea.

Do I make it clear on the invitation that there will be food? 4.00 is a weird time to eat.

How do I do this? How would you do it? What have I not realised?

I think 4 is fine. I wouldn’t eat much, if any, lunch if I was invited to afternoon tea.

afternoon tea at 4 is perfect. Feel free to clarify on the invite that food will be served.

Why not invite them at 3 or 3.30 to give more time for leisurely eating?

I'd say more 2/3 for afternoon tea. 4 is heading towards dinner for early eaters, food isn't generally served straight away so you'd be looking closer to 5/530 before you eat in my experience.

I’d say 2.30-3pm

2pm

Go for 3pm.

Anytime between 3-4 for afternoon tea .

First off, thank you for the replies!

I hadn't thought about 2 / 3....
To clarify - it's adults, not a child's birthday party. Does that change things?

I'd say invite for two, serve at 2.30.

Like Wibbly I would invite for 2pm and serve from 2.30

I think this is perfect

I think 2pm could be construed as a very late lunch. When I've hosted afternoon tea I've invited people for 3pm.

I agree with 2 for 2.30. That way they don't need lunch and can have a snack in the evening if needed. I do love afternoon tea but it is tricky fitting in around other meals.

I would say 3pm. Or arrive 2.30pm, eat at 3pm.

@Mushroomwithaview 4pm is absolutely fine, they're adults and perfectly capable of adjusting their lunch/dinner. 🥪☕ 🍰 Enjoy!

I suppose my worry with 4pm is it might turn into a long late thing... I think if people come at 4 they won't go home until gone 9pm. I wouldn;t mind if it was my party, but the person being celebrated would find that a bit much.

Okay - 2ish - everything will be set out - sandwiches, patisserie, cakes, tea and champagne. Decorations. Nice music. Birthday cake at 3.30. Everyone gone by 6 at the latest? I mean - I won't kick them out!!! But I think it will naturally end much earlier.

Sounds like a plan 😊🌼

3.30 or 4pm is fine. If I was invited I'd have a late breakfast and no lunch.

It’s better to let people know that you are serving an afternoon tea otherwise they might think that it’s only birthday cake and a glass of Prosecco.

Yes, good point. I'll make it clear on the invitation.

2pm and eat at 2pm I'll be able to skip lunch and dive straight into the tea and scones

I'd say between 2 and 3 for afternoon tea. If I wasn't having afternoon tea until 4 then I'd have had something for lunch and wouldn't eat much.

Earlier and I'd skip lunch in anticipation of sandwiches and cake!

I have my own afternoon tea each day...... a cup of tea and a scone or a slice of cake between 4.00 and 4.30.

4.00 is good. Just make sure your invitation states afternoon tea so they can ease up on lunch.