To dislike afternoon tea?

[Watermelonsugarcube]

I’ve never had an afternoon tea I’ve enjoyed - can’t work work out whether I’ve just been unlucky and never had a good one, or if they’re always just crap in general.

Admittedly I don’t have much of a sweet tooth so that’s probably skewing my opinion, though I’d like an actual good selection of sandwiches rather than 3 microscopic bits of sarnie with boring fillings.

Then who actually wants to eat 2 scones followed by a massive pile of cakes? The last one I had included cake pops. Cake pops I tell you - is it 2004? Sorry, I digress.

I always feel like I have to eat this massive pile of cake, because I’ve paid for it and am tight, then come away feeling sick from sugar overload. (Not a competitive mumsnet underrating boast btw, I could eat my- considerable- bodyweight in chips etc).

Hardly a shocker that people have different preferences I realise, though I have so many friends and family member who absolutely rave about it - I can’t be the only one!?

I absolutely love afternoon tea - I fully recognise why people might not, but I do find the comments that people want more sandwiches surprising. I can't think of anything that's a better example of 'why on earth am I paying someone else to make this' than a sandwich!

I’m with you, way too much sweet stuff. Plus I’m dairy free so usually also end up with vegan sandwiches as the default option.

The last one I went to (a very expensive London hotel) claimed it was dairy free. However, the hour I spent in their toilet towards the end suggested it was not and that put me right off.

I think what you need is a Farmhouse High Tea (it may not be a real thing, but it's what I loved when going to my Granddad's) - loads of savoury items and not just a packet of sausage rolls and a pork pie; proper game pie, pate, herb roasties, pickles, cold roast meats, freshly bakes bread and salted butter, huge mugs of tea and then there's a slab of fruit cake or bread pudding, scones and fresh fruit, together with a glass of Gold Top poured from a jug covered with a cloth that's been kept in the larder so it's cold if you don't fancy another cuppa.

YABU for making a sweeping statement implying that ‘afternoon tea’ is generic across the board. You’ve not had the right ones perhaps! Plenty of excellent savoury options out there. I like the themed ones for special occasions - the Alice in Wonderland at the Sanderson hotel was beautiful and we also loved Cruella at the Lansdown. The Rosebury in London did a Japanese one that was wonderful. They’re not all stoge and an overload of cake, although many are and I’m not a fan of those sorts. They’re a very mainstream thing nowadays which is nice I think, something out there to suit most people one way or the other.

They can be a bit wheat heavy but a really good afternoon tea is gorgeous. More savoury than sweet, high quality food and really fresh. And you can have them at 12.30pm if you want.

Some are boring, stale, luke warm and overpriced though!

Sickening, really? How dramatic over a bit of cake.

Well I've managed to get to late thirties with never having had one. They've always looked shite tbh so have always given them a hard swerve.

I agree! And the worst is when people serve it as the main meal at a wedding, a couple of tiny sandwiches and pieces of cake to last all day just isn't enough substance in my opinion!

I quite like an afternoon tea - although I usually end up bringing some of the cakes home as it's usually too much.

Lately though afternoon tea just seems to be an excuse for venues to charge twice as much as they usually would for sandwiches and cake. £20 + per person seems to be pretty normal now even at fairly mediocre venues.

I've tended to skip going for afternoon tea and just order off a normal lunch menu. A sandwich and a cream tea at a much less rip off price.

I’d like it if it wasn’t so horrifically overpriced.

The galling thing is that it requires little skill to put it together, you could genuinely make something just as nice (if not nicer) at home.

£25+ for three measly sandwiches and a shit-tonne of cakes.

If it was a reasonable tenner, perhaps I would enjoy the experience more.

I love an afternoon tea (mostly if I make it). I have had a couple of really good ones though when going out for them. Some that came with wraps, tiny brioche rolls and sandwiches. I'm often disappointed in the sandwhich selection coz I'm a bit fussy and they often do quite traditional fillings.

The cakes are always amazing though I'm not that in to scones but put some jam and clotted cream on them and I'll have a go!

I had one at a Church local to me recently.
£5
Absolutely gorgeous.

Hate them as I’m a simple lady. I only like plain cheese or ham etc so the whole thing is a waste of time for me. Sometimes the cakes are awful.

YANBU, Iagree that it falls at an awkward time but ok if replacing a meal.
I had a lovely one at Betty's years ago before it became such a massive thing, gorgeous sandwiches & scones.
The worst one was at a local hotel, I swear the scones were Asda Smartprice or similar. MIL 'treated' us to it for our anniversary...with a Groupon voucher of course!

I like the idea of afternoon tea, but as the OP says, too many cakes. The best we gave had was at Sharrow Bay in Cumbria, which was all homemade cakes and different to lesser teas. My sister, took her friend to Claridges,( she is pretty well off) and it looked really good. But, the standard tea, no thanks.

I like the idea of them, but in reality there is just too much flour and stodge and I end up getting bloated and feeling blah.

A cream tea though.... Best meal ever.

Love it. You don’t have to eat it all. They’ll put anything you don’t eat in a box for you.

I’ve had a few really good ones. However, they are generally RIDICULOUSLY expensive.

When we were planning our wedding (super low key, only 10 of us) I considered afternoon tea for afterwards. It was like, £30 a head 😱
Fuck that, we ended up at a Michelin star restaurant for lunch, 3 course meal, £33 a head (obviously drinks on top). I know which one I’d rather do!

I don’t dislike them as such, but find them a bit over rated. And yes would also prefer all savoury food.

I suspect I’ve never had a really good quality one though 😂

I have always been disappointed too and I have a really sweet tooth. Thinking about it, one day I am going to make my own!

Personally, if I had to and it was healthy, I could live on cooked breakfasts and tea!I have enjoyed tea in the cafe in Liberty in London which has delicious sandwiches and a choice of fruit or plain scone. You get several cakes but they’re only tiny. They serve until 6 (I think) so sometimes I have had this before going to a concert nearby,

Afternoon tea is just so awkward. Too long after breakfast. Not long enough after brunch or early lunch. Too close to dinner.

If you feel too full afterwards, I would just not eat the sandwiches.

l love cake in any shape or form and could happily have an afternoon tea if cakes and no sandwiches.

A good afternoon tea is a gift from the gods.

Yanbu, no interest in afternoon tea, would
rather go for a lovely lunch in the actual restaurant.

It’s too much (boring) sugar and carbs.