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.

The best one I’ve had was when I took DM to Claridges for her 70th. Otherwise they are disappointing and expensive. The sandwiches always seems stale as do the cakes and scones.

Another good one was at Ipswich Football Club with work, but my opportunity to go there again is limited. 🤣

We had an excellent afternoon tea at Amberley Castle. It was a Christmas present and there were good sandwiches and loads of savouries, as well as very light cakes, macarons etc. We took a doggy bag home. The Millstream in Bosham was another good one.

The one that missed the mark entirely was at a branch of the Ivy. Too much faff over the presentation, but entirely underwhelming food.

I have offered afternoon tea to friends at my home a few times.

A typical one has sandwiches, quiche and scones, strawberry trifle, chocolate truffles plus lemon drizzle cake. All home made.

My local Salvation Army do a fab coffee morning with wonderful home made cakes. As a lapsed Christian I have been to loads of church events and still cook in a church once a week for a food project. That’s where the best cakes are at church coffee mornings. The project I volunteer at is run by a retired home economics teacher, we have a retired chef, my parents ran a restaurant. The only people that volunteer there love cooking and it shows.

I agree. It always seems like it should be such a treat but I end up feeling bloated and sick from too much stodge. I’d much rather just go for a cream tea, or German style Kafffee und kuchen (my sister lives in Germany and the cake is on another level)

When it was my 50th, some of my friends delightedly announced ‘we’re taking you for afternoon tea at the Ritz’.

I had to feign delight whilst thinking ‘ffs’.

It's just so bland! I seek strong flavours and always feel they taste of nothing. The scone with jam and cream is OK but everything else can get in the bin.

I don’t really like cake or sandwiches particularly so afternoon tea is not a treat to me. I’d rather have a proper meal.

I think so many places don’t bake anything fresh on the day anymore. That’s the key difference to making it good. I’ve worked in catering all my life and I’m so disappointed by eating out now. Everything is cooked days before and re heated.

That sounds lovely.

I love an afternoon, and cream, tea.

Nicest cream tea I had in a long time was at Dover cliffs 😋

Is this the afternoon tea for your friend’s birthday, which you moaned about endlessly before you’d even gone?

It was your friend’s event. It wasn’t about you. If you don’t want to go to an afternoon tea, don’t go. This is a non-issue.

They're so overpriced and you never get enough cream.

I love the whole performance of it. But wish they’d double the sandwiches and halve the cakes, as there’s always a couple I don’t like and the scones are sweet too.

My bank balance will be!

Never liked the sweet stodginess in the middle of the afternoon. Completely ruins the rest of the day for me. However, during a touring holiday in Sri Lanka, The Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya was on another level as you got different ‘courses’ of teas to match the savouries and cakes. It was amazing, as was the setting.

I like it, but not enough to pay nearly £100 for it, especially as I don't drink tea!

There are some places that do an all savoury afternoon tea, though, for those of you who would rather skip the cakes.

have had several very average and overpriced afternoon teas from independent tea rooms. The best afternoon tea was at the Ivy in Cambridge. Everything looked as amazing as it tasted and they got the balance right.

We went to Bettys in York afternoon tea, it was fabulous very high quality. Would recommend.

I much prefer a filled roll and a Belgian bun from Greggs.

I’ve been for afternoon tea in a few places

ive never had sandwiches I don’t like, these are swapped out - you are asked or just tell them

ive never paid for extra tea - the tea is replenished frequently and if you want extra plates of sandwiches, scones or cakes these are also replenished free of charge

f&m also have a sweet trolley with further desserts and again these are included in the after tea- I think we had about 6 different pots of tea here between 2 of us

langhams was my favourite for presentation and they came round with a large tray and silver served additional sandwiches and cakes

i think it’s going to depend where you go for afternoon tea as to what the quality is like

WaneyEdge I liked Claridges as the tables were slightly closer together and that made the people watching so much better. The staff were wonderful and the champagne much cheaper than other places 😂

They can be hit and miss. Some are dry and flavourless, others are lovely. No two places do the same afternoon tea.

I love afternoon tea, but not at anywhere cheap. It would be a false economy. Me and my friends go now and then and have a lovely time. Definitely agree though that I also would prefer more sandwiches than cakes!

Afternoon teas are rubbish. Never again

I love an afternoon tea but its difficult to get right. It depends how much you spend on what you get. I research before booking anywhere and only have one disappointing one.

The sweet to savoury needs to be the right balance. I've never had rolls, only finger sandwiches.

I find themed ones tend to be alot better than bog standard ones. They but more effort in.