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)

All the ones I have been to have provided so much food that I have taken some home in a box. I have never paid more than £25 for afternoon tea.

You could get a pub lunch for 4 people for £28?
Seriously! Where do you live?

The huge mark up guarantees exclusivity” in relation to some sandwiches and scones must be the funniest thing I’ve read on here.

Look, I know if I pay £100+ for afternoon tea I’m not going to be rubbing shoulders with plebs.

If I fancy seeing how the real folk live (which I do for time to time just to keep myself grounded) I go to Wetherspoons - just a sniff of the ale-soaked carpet and £3.99 roast dinner brings me back to earth if I feel I’m starting to disappear up my own arse.

Well not for me, I was far too hungry. It was more of a pile than an exclusive one.

At the Hilton mind you…😉

im curious to know where people are eating to get pub lunch for a family of 4 for £28 or three courses and bottle of wine for 2 for £60-90 mind you? Maybe £90 at stretch…

IME Afternoon tea has been ruined by the women who go demanding cake, cake and more cake!
I expect at least half a round per person of at least four varieties of sandwiches, a couple of mini quiches, bottomless tea, a scone with clotted cream and jam, and ONE piece of patisserie. Prosecco if it’s for a Birthday only - but then I remember the afternoon teas of the 1970’s and have always retained a nostalgia for those days!

It’s nothing to do with anything, but I feel I need to prove my credibility by saying I have seen all three Alvin and the chipmunks movies. And yes, occasionally I like McDonald’s

I can’t stand afternoon tea but my husband loves it. We recently met friends for weekend away and it was the 2 men that insisted on afternoon bloody tea which cost £160 for the 4 of us. That don’t even include a glass of crap prosecco. It’s so wasted on me as I don’t like any of the components. Sandwiches? Nope. Ditto cakes and scones, and indeed tea 😐

Not sure it’s aimed at women specifically but it’s definitely a rip-off.

@Ilovelurchers not surprised you don't like afternoon tea if you were having it with jizz on the cakes.....

Well that settles it. There’s four chipmunk films… I’ve got my eye on you now

99% of afternoon teas are shit. Not interested in sub Mr Kipling cakes on a flowery plate.

Scones are a particular issue for me. You simply should not be able to taste baking powder.

Only good one I ever had was at the Ritz.

Theworldie..... the Sunday lunch at spoons is no more 😔😔

books therapy

For 2 kids and 2 adults, yes.

an example of a few locals:
£5 per kids meal (once spot does unlimited squash)
2 adults meals anything from £12-£16 sometimes with a drink.

Wetherspoons you can very easily spend £20 on a meal for 4 (I know there’s snobbery on here about ‘Spoons but I like a lot of the food!)

So I should be trying The Ritz, and Claridge's. Any more?

The Wild Bean Cafe? There’s is good

My mum and dad loved the London afternoon teas I took them to for birthdays and anniversaries when they were in the 70s and 80s.

Claridges refilled our sandwiches more than once which pleased my dad who preferred savoury to sweet. It's posh but understated - my mum loved the loos (powder room?) with an attendant handing out towels.
We went to Fortnum and Mason shortly after the Queen reopened it was my mum's 80th and she told the staff and I doubt the Queen got better service than my mum. She is a huge cake fan and they literally filled a box with several slices of the different cakes for her to take home.
Mum loved having ciggies in the garden of the Goring Hotel knowing the Middleton family had stayed there for William and Kate's wedding.

Now dad's dead and mum has dementia those memories are priceless. But I always leave an afternoon tea feeling a bit sick after too much sugar!

Theirs

Never been to one. Wasted on me as don't drink tea or coffee. My parents have gone fur special events...usually it's 15-20 pp and they always come back with cake and scones...they view it as a bargain as it's a treat and in a beautiful setting and they get cared for...

My top 3 would be
Claridges
Dukes
Anywhere but the Ritz - so much a tourist thing they have sittings from 11am till 5. It's not right.

If you’re going to The Ritz I would personally spend the few pounds extra to get the 3 course lunch in the restaurant. Much better value IMO.

About 20 years ago, before I had this damascene conversion, I sent my parents to Fortnum and Mason and they were particularly underwhelmed, I can’t remember why

Slightly off topic but I once went for a cream tea and it arrived at the table with the sad little blatantly out of a packet

Wait for it ...

READY SLICED WITH THE CREAM AND JAM SPREAD ON

If I wasn't so passive aggressive I would have been outraged I tell you

Me and partner do afternoon tea often.

We did a more savoury one recently in borough market -£45 pp inc savoury items, then sandwiches then scones then cake.

We had to take the cake home!

So look for savoury options -they are available,