Did anyone else find afternoon tea disappointing rather than enjoyable?

[PerkyOchrePeer]

Went to an afternoon tea today and didn't like it.It was horrible. I would have preferred sandwiches to rolls and the cakes didn't taste very nice, so I didn't eat them and I had a scone with cream and gem, but all in all, I wouldn't do an afternoon tea again.

Claridges afternoon tea is a really nice experience, as is the one at Fortnum and Mason on Piccadilly. Both places replenish everything and the service is excellent

THANK YOU. I read the OP, saw the username and was hoping someone would post what you did

I just can’t imagine going through life like this

Try the Ritz, you won’t be disappointed

IMO there’s afternoon teas and there’s afternoon teas all depends where you go. I’ve had great ones and some not so good and not worth the money

Yes! The only one that was remotely worth the money was the Tiptree place in Dedham. Delicious scones.

We've done one at home before with tea, sparkling wine, cucumber, egg mayonnaise and smoked salmon and cream cheese finger sandwiches, scones, clotted cream and jam. We got the posh tea set out and it was a lovely way to spend a rainy bank holiday!

I HATE afternoon tea

Ive been to a few, some very high end , and I think they are a way of parting idiots with more money then sense from their money

The ones Ive been on have been for birthdays etc, not organised by me

So afternoon tea - 2pm? So you miss lunch, and what do you get? A thimble of soup, a tiny sausage roll and 3 fingers of a sandwich

Then the scone

Then a pile of overly sweet cakes/ deserts , of which you eat maybe two, before you hit the sugar rush

Home for tea and the sugar rush is still killing you so tea is missed, and two hours later - bloody starving

Nope, and I turn down afternoon tea invites

That sounds lovely. 🤗

There are good and bad afternoon teas, as there are with everything.

I've had some incredible ones (The Ritz was just amazing. Also love the Harrods one) and awful ones (I'm looking at you spa at Woburn Center Parcs).

Bit of a you get what you pay for thing, for me.

I have only been to themed afternoon teas. The first was the Sanderson Mad Hatter with a friend. The second was at the Ampersand and was science themed.
I enjoyed it because of the company and the spectacle.

I love afternoon tea. Some are disappointing I agree but a good one is something else. Loved the one at the Ritz but I had one for my hen do which was really disappointing the scones were claggy and bland, and cold.

My great aunt used to do an amazing afternoon tea, all freshly made by her.

I hate afternoon tea! I can’t stand egg, ham, smoked salmon, cheese and pickle or prawns which seem to be the sandwiches of choice.
I hate bread that’s too claggy which it often seems to be.
I don’t really like loads of sweet stuff either.
The last one I went to brought out the sandwiches and then a huge platter of potato wedges, the Afternoon tea fans weren’t impressed but I was delighted!

I've had very good and plain awful. Sadly it's one of those 'call it afternoon tea, hike up the prices and serve sad bakery' scenarios for most establishments. The best, imo who get the balance right have excellent patisserie and not sad cakes, imaginative savoury and not sad sarnies!!

I actually love an afternoon tea but they are very overpriced for what they are. I also agree that there is always more sweet than savoury and im definitely more of a savoury girl. My favourite one i had included mini sausage rolls and quiches with their sandwiches. i often think i will just make my own but i never do, i think i would feel like i was in Downton Abbey if i made it at home!

Sorry i do think its a con. Its a way of hotels making money during their dead time. Id rather go to a show if im in town. However bettys is iamazing.

They're not my thing at all. I feel a bit sorry for DH as he's got a really sweet tooth and loves an afternoon tea but there is always way too much sweet stuff compared to savoury for me. Perhaps I'll save up and treat him to a really special one but are the ones at The Ritz etc still sandwiches then scones then cakes?

I agree so much! A mug of tea and maybe a scone is ok if you’re peckish but, really, one of these afternoon tea experiences spoilsmy appetite for a proper meal a few hours later.

I can’t stand all the clacking and “ooooohing!” about bits of fancy stuff cut into small shapes with goodness knows what colourful icing on top, stuffed with cream. Yuck. And if you get your money’s worth you feel clogged up into tomorrow. Plus they so often use very ordinary sliced bread, however grand the place.

Having said that, many, many years ago I went for an all you can eat at, somewhere rather grand in . It was many, many years ago and we certainly did eat all we could. I remember the chocolate roll. I no longer even eat that stuff, but I do remember it.

What I hate is that you’re supposed to have it as a fantastic experience when the reality is, it’s just a nuisance interlude in the day.

Yes, it’s the same. The tea menu is quite interesting and everything is good quality but it’s the same formula as all the other ones. I didn’t eat much but it was a nice experience. It’s around £90 a head, more if you have a glass of champagne.

i like them, if i can have a doggy bag and eat the cakes later

At our local bookclub - 10 to 12 of us in the pub on a Thursday morning - we found (and discussed at length) that elevenses was a much better "occasion" than afternoon tea.
The landlady puts out a couple of wedges from big cakes to slice and share, a plate of sandwiches(triangles, not fingers) and/or sausage rolls and tea and coffee from the bar. £25 all in. We please our savoury folks, our sweet folks and our cuppa with a natter folks.
Much prefer it to afternoon tea. Campaign for elevenses instead!

All the ones I've had have been very nice, but it could also be very poor if not done well.

It's not just about slapping a bit of ham in a processed loaf and serving some shop bought cakes.

I’m not much into sickly little cakes* or scones with clotted 🤮cream, much prefer the little sandwiches, but was once taken for afternoon tea at Browns, which is evidently the five star of afternoon teas. Asked for more sandwiches, rather than the cakes, no problem.

*OTOH I wouldn’t object to a piece of Victoria sandwich, or lemon drizzle, just not those sickly little jobs, thanks.

I went to a lovely cream tea at a hotel near me. The cakes were gorgeous and just the right size to not be sickly. The fruit scones were still warm from the oven. 😋

I agree that Wensleydale Creamery and Betty’s (we went to Harrogate) do Afternoon tea well. The more day to day cafes that cut up full size things into smaller pieces - not so much. And I don’t want a shot glass of jelly or chocolate mousse. I do want individual small things, lots of savoury fillings, finger sandwiches and a tea menu. Also, scones must be fresh and warm. Not microwaved.

They've definitely hiked their prices up now they are seen as an 'experience' rather than what they were originally intended (tea and cakes to keep you going until supper).

The Ritz has doubled in price since I went. £95 is ridiculous even for The Ritz.