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)

Plus women over a certain age are obviously manipulative beeeetches.

Had afternoon tea on Friday. DH, DD and myself. Every table was mixed with both male and female. Paid £22.50pp. Had to bring the brownie and Victoria sponge home with us as we were too full - so recommend Bluebell Tea Rooms at Battle right next to the Abbey. Can also recommend the Fourteas in Stratford upon Avon which is themed around WWII and Amberley Castle. No idea ho much Amberley is as it was a birthday present but a stunning venue - best pot of camomile tea I've ever had - had to have it topped up it was soooo good

It’s clear my joke didn’t land, so that’s on me.
But I did think that the “so the menz are paying 👏🏻” made it clear that I was joking about women getting their own back on the patriarchy.

So women are giggly and think prosecco is naughty do they? You're the sexist one op.

I see myself as the Stephanie Beecham of afternoon teas
like a carb - stunning but evil

They do Di

its the law

Don't be ridiculous why are you assuming they are reliant on a man and whats with the "boomer" shit

We've always done afternoon tea. Even when 'courting', though we tended to do tea dances. Even now we sometimes feel like the youngest at a tea dance.

When the girls were little they loved going for afternoon tea.

If you're using it as a means of socialising you could always do your own afternoon tea. Get the china and fancy plates out that you never use, do your own cakes and sandwiches.

You actually need to go top end and pay closer to £100 for a good one. With champagne, obviously, and definitely not Prosecco. The tea at Claridge's is fantastic, and good VFM considering the surroundings, level of service and constant refills of both tea and sandwiches. Plenty of men there, too.

Snort

@KoolKookaburra scroll back

It’s a choice. Very often people are paying for the experience of sitting in a high end establishment. I wouldn’t care about afternoon tea in the local pub, but I might enjoy having afternoon tea at the Ritz.

High end establishment always makes me think about some kind of posh brothel

I think there are a lot of people on this thread and don’t “get” afternoon tea, which is fine. Or maybe you’ve had a rubbish one.

But I don’t understand the faux “why do people go for afternoon tea”? question.
I mean, people who go to football matches, or eat McDonald’s twice a week or spend large amounts of money on niche hobbies like warhammer or buying everything Disney themed etc I find hard to understand. But I also think everyone is different and enjoys different things. I certainly wouldn’t start a thread questioning why people like McDonald’s.

Also if you have disposable income you are going to spend it enjoying yourself. Afternoon tea feels like an indulgent treat (if you go to a nice establishment).

If you are the type who prefers getting your monies worth like McDonald’s or an all you can eat buffet, have at it!

https://strawberryfieldslifton.co.uk/

I am going again soon.

Peak mumsnet

I don’t think you are understanding the point of a British afternoon tea.

Yes you’re right I know about it being a choice, but it’s just so oooh and giggling all oooh afternoon tea and Prosecco and why don’t they do an all you can eat pie and mash buffet

Or she’s very very right and I don’t want her to be wrong

You do realise that the cost is for a lot more than just the food don't you?

I am going to have a lovely afternoon tea with my family in a 5 star hotel in central london and very happily paying £60 per head.

For a start if they only charged £15 or £20 per head it would be just as crowded and unpleasant as the rest of central london. The huge markup buys exclusivity and a quiet calm environment precisely because not everyone wants to spend that kind of money.

Secondly a lot of the money is paying for the environment - the generous and comfortable high quality furnishings and decor - a place offering the same food without the markup doesn't have as much budget for these things.

Thirdly some of the markup is going to much higher levels of staffing than cheaper places - I don't want to be served in a rush by someone who is dealing with the needs of 5 other tables. I want the staff to be serene and calm because they aren't stressed or overworked and their only duty is looking after myself and my family. Obviously that boosts up the wage bill.

I fully expect that the food will be several steps above what we could buy in the Marks&Spencers cafe too of course but I am not judging thr cost solely on the basis of the food.

And I disagree that its aimed at women. It's certainly aimed at people with refined tastes and very high standards but there are plenty of men who come into that category.

I’m all for value for money…but I can’t see how an afternoon tea is any more of a rip off than going for dinner.

At £30- £50 quid a head, you can eat until you are stuffed full over a couple of hours. The more expensive one usually include unlimited Prosecco and definitely unlimited tea and sandwiches.

i went to one in 5 star London hotel ( was about £50 a head) they keep
refilling your cake and sandwiches all afternoon.

you get to sit in a beautiful venue and chat to friends.

I think £50 a head for food and booze in a 5 star hotel isn’t bad.

i took my 2 DC to McDonalds and spent about £50- I hardly ate anything! Sat in a depressing outlet with a view of an industrial estate, had to wipe the grease and spilled salt/ ketchup off the table myself.

Admittedly three of us ate for price of one, but I would rather go a 5 star hotel once than McDonalds 3 times.

£50 in McDonald's on 3 of you?!

Bacon is quite British. Or a proper ploughman's lunch. I prefer more substantial food.

This is close to my response.

My STBXH is always taken in by the promise of an afternoon tea. He seems to think they’re amazing.

I don’t think it is just a ruse for women. It’s just an overpriced thing that seems to have been fashionable for a bit.

No worse than paying £16 for avocado on toast because it’s ’brunch’ though. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Maybe that’s why you’re avoiding them and going budget-end. That’s your mistake.

Get your best Sosander get-up and imitation Louis Vuitton on and get to Claridges. Then you’ll see what it’s all about 😉