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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be shocked at the price for an Afternoon Tea?

236 replies

Writerwannabe83 · 11/08/2016 14:50

It is my friend's birthday on Saturday and a group of us (about 15) casually agreed a while ago that we'd go out for Afternoon Tea at a local restaurant. I had never been to one before, wasn't too sure what it was all about so I just agreed to it.

Today I received the Menu of this Afternoon Tea we are having and for some finger sandwiches, a cake and a cup of tea it's £20 per person Shock

Maybe I live in a little bubble but that sounds crazy? This restaurant is going to get £300 out of us for supplying some sandwiches and some cakes?

The menu comes across as very pretentious and is written in such a way that by the designer throwing in some posh words and an over exaggerated description of a bit of lettuce it makes people happily hand over £20 for such 'luxury'.... Grin

The tea is "loose leaf" apparently - what does that even mean? Am I going to get a cup of tea with foliage floating on the top it? Grin

I can have a ham and mustard sandwich, a cake and a cup of tea at home for a lot less than £20 Grin

But anyway - I just needed to vent.

I'm obviously still going to go as it's a good friend's birthday but I think it will be the last time I commit to an Afternoon Tea Grin

It's my own fault really for agreeing to it without actually fully knowing what it was Grin

Maybe I'm just not posh enough for such things Grin

Can people tell me about any Afternoon Teas they have experienced and how U I'm being because actually I'm in for a treat that is well worthy of £20 Grin

OP posts:
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Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 11/08/2016 15:35

I genuinely do feel more positive about it now after reading these replies. My sister, who is also coming, has told me not to be so grumpy Grin

OP posts:
Artandco · 11/08/2016 15:36

I actually really fancy another afternoon tea now at the Royal garden hotel. Yum

BarbaraofSeville · 11/08/2016 15:37

I paid £30 in total for afternoon tea for two in a lovely manor house type place. A meal out to a similar standard would have cost at least that amount if not more and it replaced lunch for us on that day.

It was lovely, and we were stuffed after half of it (it wasn't quite as dainty as you normally get) and they boxed the rest up for us to take home. There were the sandwich selection, scones and cream and 4 little cakes each.

Yes you could do it a lot cheaper at home, but it is fiddly to get all the variety and the cakes are usually a very good standard that you couldn't really buy unless you have a naice bakery like Bettys to hand. Or you could go to the effort to make them all yourself - they are much better than what is on supermarket cake counters, even Waitrose/M&S.

There's also the experience and very nice surroundings - there's sometimes a piano player. M&S Cafe does afternoon tea for £6.95, which is very good value considering it is over a fiver for tea and a cream scone there, so it's less than £2 for the sandwiches and little cakes, but the atmosphere and surroundings are awful and all the food it chilled rather than freshly made as you would hope for a 'real' afternoon tea.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 11/08/2016 15:37

Oh God I'd just have to boycott any stupid establishment that has a menu just for men!

LifeInJeneral · 11/08/2016 15:38

It does seem pricey on the face of it but it is usually very yummy and if you think about cocktails for example they can be anything from £6-£10 (more if you are fancier than I), if you made them at home the price per drink is probably less than a quid but you don't mind paying the premium when you go to a nice bar

LunaLoveg00d · 11/08/2016 15:41

I can have a ham and mustard sandwich, a cake and a cup of tea at home for a lot less than £20

Course you can. But you're not running a business and supplying staff, crockery, posh cake stands etc.

I love the treat of afternoon tea. You usually get two different kinds of sandwiches, scones and a couple of little dainty cakes. Loose leaf tea just means not in a teabag. You're paying for the service, the experience, the not having to make it yourself. I have a friend who constantly moans and complains bout the cost of eating out or having a drink in a bar. Either pay and enjoy it, or shut up and stay at home.

squoosh · 11/08/2016 15:46

Either pay and enjoy it, or shut up and stay at home.

Amen.

LivingOnTheDancefloor · 11/08/2016 15:46

Most places won't refill the food, just the tea.
I went to a lot of afternoon teas when I moved to the UK (and every time someone visits, as they see it as a local tradition they want to experience). £20 is on the cheaper end - but could be really nice, price is not always the best indicator.
My advice is to skip lunch so you are really hungry for the afternoon tea, especially if they refill the food!

StealthPolarBear · 11/08/2016 15:47

Mcbassy I hope that's tbe "after" shot?!

squoosh · 11/08/2016 15:48

I think only the very high end places keep bringing food top ups.

knowler · 11/08/2016 15:48

Years ago I had tea at Claridges (v special occasion). It's now £58 and if it were the same as before, i would pay this! It was absolutely delicious and I was so full afterwards I felt ill (my mark of a good meal Grin) It's also a fantastic occasion (or should be) and feels a bit special or different to a normal meal. I really enjoyed and would do it again, but it's personal choice - it would all be too faffy for a lot of people.

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 11/08/2016 15:55

Either pay and enjoy it, or shut up and stay at home.

I would far rather pay and still moan about it Grin Grin

OP posts:
KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 11/08/2016 15:57

Do the men have to drink their ale from dainty tea cups?

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 11/08/2016 15:58

I think most people would be quite surprised at how little restaurants make on food once the staff/rent/ electric and gas etc have been paid. They have got to make a profit as well at some point it's not like they're doing it for love.

WanderingTrolley1 · 11/08/2016 15:58

There's a tea shop locally and afternoon tea is £15, here in Birmingham.

I'm not overly impressed, to be honest, and, where's my b*stard crusts?!

NE14T · 11/08/2016 15:59

I've just read the menu and tbh I can't see why you thought you'd get a sandwich and bit of cake?! There's tons of food listed!

GingerbreadGingerbread · 11/08/2016 16:03

The last one I went to at The Connaught was £65 a head but I think that included champagne however they bring you very good sandwiches on loads of different luxury breads, cooked savoured, very good patisserie cakes and fancies and it's as much as you can manage its always too much. It's a special occasion treat. For £20 it probably will be bog standard finger sandwiches and a couple of nice cakes with scones and cream. It's a special occasion thing and when done properly is excellent.

TimeforaNNChange · 11/08/2016 16:03

I think most people would be quite surprised at how little restaurants make on food once the staff/rent/ electric and gas etc have been paid.

you mean some people do actually make a bit of money out of it eventually? You're not just giving me false hope, are you?

squoosh · 11/08/2016 16:03

I would far rather pay and still moan about it

Well wait until you've got home and then moan to your heart's content.

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 11/08/2016 16:03

NE41 - which menu did you read? The one I put up a picture of?

That's not the one we are down to be having, the one we are booked in for is finger sandwiches and cakes.

OP posts:
Northernlight22 · 11/08/2016 16:04

I've paid a lot more for afternoon tea - like others have said, definitely see it as paying for the experience and have fun!

BarbaraofSeville · 11/08/2016 16:04

Shouldn't have looked at this thread. I really want afternoon tea now, or at the very least tea and scones with clotted cream and jam but am trying to lose a bit of weight and afternoon tea is probably the least diet friendly option there is.

There's probably more calories than many meals in all those sandwiches, cakes and scones.

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 11/08/2016 16:05

It's just so not my scene Grin Grin

OP posts:
pearlylum · 11/08/2016 16:05

Good on them.

If there are mugs willing to pay then that's up to them.

FeckinCrutches · 11/08/2016 16:06

Loads on there, stop moaning Grin

To be shocked at the price for an Afternoon Tea?