Afternoon tea is a rip off

[Yeahyeahyeahyeahyeahh]

Or maybe it's just the ones I've been to?
£25 per head- tea, coffee and water. Sandwiches, sausage rolls and crisps, and cakes with a couple of biscuits.
The scones were from Costco as I used to work somewhere that sold the exact same ones. There was the equivalent of about 2 Sandwiches each, very basic plain fillings too.

I expected so much more for the price, haven't been to many afternoon tea places so maybe this was just a bad one?

Exactly about the sweet to savoury ration. Sweet food for my appetite should be a couple of mouthfuls at the end of a predominantly savoury meal. I love just a petit four or two, or a piece of baklava.

I don't think we can include the Ritz in discussion of what is 'typical'.
I'm not saying it isn't worth it for a treat but definitely not typical.

Betty's website still says 29.95 and I went there earlier this year (it was luvverly btw... Would recommend 😂) does the 45 include the prosecco option maybe?.

If it was 25 including prosecco I would expect quite a budget version to be fair.

I paid £31 per person at The Ivy and was blown away. It was far too much to eat, the showmanship was excellent (dry ice on one of the desserts and a sparkler on another) and unlimited tea and coffee refills, with an excellent selection. The variety was great, and almost too many, very clearly freshly made sandwiches. Then a whole tray of desserts and scones with cream and jam. I think it really depends where you go.

I know it’s not typical, my point is about you get what you pay for.

When we went to Reeves (just over a year ago) it was something like £18 for both of us!

I want to go there! Can you pm me details?

£45 at Harrogate according to the website and that’s the only option. Maybe otter branches have the cheaper option.

Me too - I much prefer nice little savoury sandwiches to the usually sickly sweet cakes. You can keep the scones and yucky clotted cream, too.

if you want a real afternoon tea, you need to go to Claridges. Simply delicious and you’ll go home full for the £125 price: (including champagne)

Thanks justasking111, that explains the supposed Welsh for a microwave;
Popty Ping

I’ve been to The Ivy (not London) a couple of times for afternoon tea, that’s about £35 and you get plenty - 3 finger sandwiches, 2 scones, cake, creme caramel, chocolate bombe and a small box of truffles. Unlimited hot drinks, which you can mix and match.

I would be really interested in an Afternoon Tea in that Shard building in London. Yes, very expensive. Didn't manage to get my husband out of his cave yet though, like a bear 🐻. But, imagine the view! 😵‍💫

I'm sure it's lovely but using the phrase 'real' is a bit silly. Clearly that's the most expensive, luxurious end of the market.

Everything else is not pretend.

Surely it's just a figure of speech meaning "excellent and exactly as it should be".

It’s the Assembly House in Norwich. Worth every penny in my opinion!!

https://www.assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk/

@Allseeingallknowing

I went to one at Selfridges a couple of decades ago, which was very good and Reid’s Palace, Madeira which was quite posh. I’ve had far more cream teas than afternoon ones though.

There's only one place that does afternoon tea in our area and it's at a posh castle. I guess you pay for the setting. I haven't been, since it's £80 per head.
Might have to try it when I'm back in the UK.

I was treated to one once, and I'm sure it was very expensive for what it was, but I'll always remember the kindness of the person who treated me, the ambience and the lovely presentation. The food was nice, but I hardly recall it, it wasn't really the point of the exercise!

Makes sense - like Popty Ping! Love Conwy - will look out for both places next time we go.

This thank you. @ThatCyanCat

We do say popty ping 😂

I've had some mediocre afternoon teas and some fantastic ones too 🤷‍♀️ strangely one of my faves was Bella Italia, we only went as it was a gift voucher but actually was really nice and they did little mini pizzas with it which were delicious. But otherwise, I find independent places better than chains - there is a spa near me that do a really good value 1/2 spa day with afternoon tea included which is amazing. DH and I go most years for our anniversary because it's such great value. The wedding venue DH and I got married in also does fantastic afternoon tea. Unfortunately I can't go to either this year for our anniversary as I'll either be in hospital delivering DC2, newly discharged with said DC2 newborn or if I'm still pregnant it's all fairly pointless because of my GD, afternoon tea would be a big nono 😂 (we're going to go with DC2 when they're a newborn, during the day when DC1 is in nursery and DH is on pat leave, I can't wait lol)