Afternoon tea is a rip off largely aimed at ripping women off

[Coddy]

Somebody suggested this to me and I’ve never thought of it that way.

You don’t get very men going for afternoon tea do you? The Mark up on afternoon tea is absolutely enormous aside from staffing and cost of the building and stuff- it must be money for old rope for the businesses concerned. Specially the ones that charge over 50 quid ahead.

Are we being conned by the whole afternoon tea debacle?

(yes cake is nice I get that)

You are making yourself look a little silly. My friends and I met at university in London in the 90s and now are professional people living and working here. We do the occasional afternoon tea, as well as lunch, theatres, dinners etc. My family too. All these events have an appeal in different ways. Maybe you have not had a decent afternoon tea? I can recommend some?

The stuff about HRT, dresses and handbags make you seem a little bit out of touch and try-hard. Hope you can get less angry soon.

And this I've always assumed it was invented for those who can't afford a proper lunch is just a strange ignorant comment!

Anyway you posted for attention and I gave it to you! Snobbery is never a good look.

So much anger on this thread! Afternoon tea is not compulsory. Hope that reassures some of the people here 😏.

Got it in one

@BlueThursday

Try again champ.

This came into effect in 2009, but was a 2005 Act, so not only does it pre-date "Nutjob Nichola", it was a Labour Government Bill.

😂😂😂

Why on earth would I need to stop at motorway services to use the loo?
I live near lots of very nice places. Stately homes etc. none of them take an hour to get to.
I go, use the loo there, then come home.
I’ve never had to drive on a motorway to get to any of the places I’m been.
I live very close to the places I book.
That’s not to say I wouldn’t try afternoon tea somewhere where I was visiting for the weekend and staying over.
This idea that everyone has to drive for miles to get to anywhere beautiful is silly. Some people have beautiful places on their doorstep.

@Bjorkdidit I had afternoon tea at the Shard this week and had a great time. My provincial backwater is Manhattan 😂.

Not quite sure what's wrong with knocking back some Tattinger and eating your own body weight in sandwiches and cake while admiring the view of London?

My niece works in the Shard. I think I would like to visit her. Especially now cake is available there!
I will stop at motorway services if necessary. Ireland has the particularly excellent Obama plaza. A destination service station.

Ha yes you’d think it was law or something, like having to pay your taxes. I think an afternoon tea can be a great treat or present for someone, it’s just a question of whether the place you booked is giving you a good tea or not.

You must be on a deliberate wind up, no one is this unpleasant, obnoxious and snooty, are they?

Only on mumsnet can you find people getting so frothy and worked up about others having a sandwich and cake.

😂😂😂

Positively craving an afternoon tea now

"Upstairs at Annas" https://www.upstairsatannas.com

I've booked one for tomorrow, going to have the savoury one 😂

Ooooh all of those menu options look lovely and good value too.

Something may be deemed to be a rip off but if enough customers are willing to pay the asking price so be it.

That's your opinion.

Other people like it.

@Iwanttobeagranny what do you get for £10 a head please?
Sounds more like a cream tea than a full afternoon tea for that price surely?
If it's any good, I might pop along

Oh I can easily eat a whole afternoon tea. The whole 3 tiers no bother.

Shouldn't admit that on "competitive undereating a massive salad" MN though.

That is a bit of a trek for me from north Scotland. We do afternoon tea up north too you know.

@ShadesofPoachedSmoke I hear the royals are opening up Bakmoral for £150 for afternoon tea, the cheeky fuckers 😂

@RosaRoja I would definitely be pocketing a couple of Royal silver teaspoons for that price! Maybe a pepper pot too!

@ShadesofPoachedSmoke absolutely! Maybe that’s why they’re setting the price at that, keep out thx riff-raff 😂

Yes, it is a full afternoon tea, so excellent value, especially considering that a pot of tea and scone alone will probably cost around £6, but for £10 you get a sandwich selection, strawberries and 3 mini cakes too.

If you scroll down the link below, I think the picture will be for 2 people, but you can see that it is indeed a full tea.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/c/food-to-order/not-just-any-food/mands-brands/cafe

I suppose the main difference between what M&S offer for £10 and what the naice hotels serve for £30++++ is the nicer surroundings, not having to queue up at M&Ss glacially slow counter service, possibly unlimited tea and food and it being freshly made and nicer quality rather than shipped in from a factory and served fridge cold, which is my personal bugbear.

brioche fucking buns....

I had forgotten about the M&S afternoon tea. I had one a couple of years ago and it was amazing value. I wouldn't say it was as good as some of the big hotels or places like Bread Ahead, but it was still really enjoyable.