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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To Have a Mini Afternoon Tea Rant

150 replies

AfternoonTeaTotty · 08/12/2025 06:38

Disclaimer: complete first world problem, that goes without saying. Not at all important in the big scheme of things.

I was gifted an afternoon tea voucher for myself and DH by a very lovely and amazing friend who knows I love going out for afternoon tea. She's a wonderful soul and so thoughtful so would never say anything at all to her because I truly appreciate her. We went and had a lovely time because it was just special to sit and enjoy a quiet moment of calm and relaxation. But...

Has anyone else noticed how much places are taking the p@!? when it comes to afternoon tea now? Used to be lovely scones, nice slices of cake, decent sandwiches, lovely pot of tea and maybe a glass of bubbles if it's a special occasion. Yesterday it was tiny, tiny sandwiches with odd fillings, tiny strange combination micro cakes which were just weird and tea that I'm sure was Tesco red label tea bags. A glass of prosecco that tasted like a £5.99 bottle special. Scones were good to be fair. But if we had paid for it, it would have been £40 each for this experience, so £90 for two of us 😮

There was a table next to us, a group of ladies who didn't look very impressed with the food but were trying not to say anything. Their bill would have easily been £400-500.

I completely get that places are struggling with the cost of everything but surely it would easier and cheaper to do an old style afternoon tea. With slices of cake and straightforward sandwich fillings? Less time and less fiddly.

Has social media killed this off now because everything has to be Instagram worthy instead of tasty? Since when did they charge so much for so little?

Plus it didn't help that the guy tried to charge me for the meal when we left despite knowing we were there on a gift voucher. Tried to charge me £50 saying he'd give me a discount. That was until I gave him the hard stare and reminded him it had already been paid for. He tried to insist but saw he wouldn't get anywhere so caved. Cheeky F@#!?#

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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Treatingmyself · 08/12/2025 06:39

Where was it? This isn’t my experience at all.

CRbear · 08/12/2025 06:42

i would be disappointed with “ordinary”’cake I can make myself. I want the fiddly stuff! And I don’t need masses. Afternoon tea is a big meal. So the modern way suits me.

i do get pissed off with clearly defrosted (still cold in the middle!) sandwiches though.

Tutorpuzzle · 08/12/2025 06:49

Never mind a ‘mini’ rant, you should be having a bloody massive one on Trustpilot (or somewhere). It sounds dire.

random123456 · 08/12/2025 06:55

I think the issue is all the big chains getting in on afternoon tea - all the fancy combinations sound great, but are usually mass produced and not great.

one made well from scratch however, cant be beaten!

Original poster
AfternoonTeaTotty · 08/12/2025 07:01

CRbear · 08/12/2025 06:42

i would be disappointed with “ordinary”’cake I can make myself. I want the fiddly stuff! And I don’t need masses. Afternoon tea is a big meal. So the modern way suits me.

i do get pissed off with clearly defrosted (still cold in the middle!) sandwiches though.

Yes! I was trying to put my finger on why the sandwiches were not good. They'd either been defrosted or been in the fridge a long time. They were really cold.

Also I'm starting to realise the cakes were probably mass produced and defrosted too. Just too neat and uniform.

That's really disappointing considering the price!

OP posts:
Dollymylove · 08/12/2025 07:33

Another crazy must do/must have thats grown through social media. Lures people into thinking they are getting something good when really they are propable being royally ripped off.
Like the Christmas markets Ruinously expensive crap in cold damp miserable weather.
No thanks ill stay home and save my money 😅

Pinkwhales · 08/12/2025 07:57

I hate not being able to choose sandwich fillings in so many places. The small independent venues usually ask for sandwich preferences but not the "posh" places.

Whiskyfromsmallglasses · 08/12/2025 08:19

The last twice I've had one there has been far too many cakes and not enough savoury options

Worralorra · 08/12/2025 08:38

I’m with you, OP.

My ideal afternoon tea would be at least two rounds worth of freshly made sandwiches with 4 different fillings, a scone with clotted cream and jam, and either a selection of mini cakes, or a full slice of a gateau.

The last place we went to gave us a child’s portion of sandwiches between us, two scones and about 6 too many sweet and over processed cakes, when we had already politely mentioned that we would prefer more sandwiches than cakes, because DH has diabetes.

To add insult to injury, they figured out it was my birthday and presented me at the end with… another slice of cake! I took it home for DC.

Won’t be going back there!

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 08/12/2025 08:44

I went for a Mother’s Day afternoon tea 2 years ago.

We were served Tesco flapjack bites😒

Original poster
AfternoonTeaTotty · 08/12/2025 13:25

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 08/12/2025 08:44

I went for a Mother’s Day afternoon tea 2 years ago.

We were served Tesco flapjack bites😒

What! 🤯

Did you call them out on it?

How much did they charge you?

OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 08/12/2025 13:31

No we didn’t call them out. We were in too much shock!

£40 quid pp

The hotel was like something out of The Shining.

I try not to think about that event!

Cynic17 · 08/12/2025 13:34

£40 each is a bit on the cheap side, though, so the quality won't be high. I would expect to pay a minimum of £100pp for a decent afternoon tea (to include champagne, not manky Prosecco).

Justputsomeyoghurtonit · 08/12/2025 13:35

That's such a shame op.

I've just given my parents a F&M voucher and booked afternoon tea for them in January.

My mouth was watering looking at the menus. I've been there for afternoon tea before and it's exceptional.

I only want the scone at these things normally.

I hope they didn't microwave your scone too? That's a cardinal sin IMHO!

CoastalCalm · 08/12/2025 13:36

It’s worse on run up to Christmas I find as they use bought in mince pies etc , but my pet hate is places that think a doorstep sandwich , slice of pie and slice of cake is afternoon tea - it’s meant to be a special affair

MySilentLions · 08/12/2025 13:42

Cynic17 · 08/12/2025 13:34

£40 each is a bit on the cheap side, though, so the quality won't be high. I would expect to pay a minimum of £100pp for a decent afternoon tea (to include champagne, not manky Prosecco).

Edited

😂😂😂

Yes of course you would dear.

MySilentLions · 08/12/2025 13:47

I would def write a scathing review OP. It just sounds shit.

We are lucky to have a fab baker in our village who does an excellent afternoon tea in her nice cafe.
3/4 sandwiches, you can let her know in advance if there’s any fillings you don’t like or would prefer, choice of plain or scone of the day, with local farmhouse jam and around 4-6 cake pieces that are decent sizes not minis. All freshly baked by her, nothing bought in. Endless refills of good tea or coffee. £25 each. Add a glass of fizz for a fiver. Lovely. It’s very popular!

AlwaysTheRenegade · 08/12/2025 13:51

I remember in lockdown people started making afternoon tea boxes to sell on our local facebook, they were about £30, nothing looked homemade apart from the sandwiches, there were about 4 strawberries randomly chucked in and everything (including the sandwiches) was covered in icing sugar.

Original poster
AfternoonTeaTotty · 08/12/2025 13:52

MySilentLions · 08/12/2025 13:47

I would def write a scathing review OP. It just sounds shit.

We are lucky to have a fab baker in our village who does an excellent afternoon tea in her nice cafe.
3/4 sandwiches, you can let her know in advance if there’s any fillings you don’t like or would prefer, choice of plain or scone of the day, with local farmhouse jam and around 4-6 cake pieces that are decent sizes not minis. All freshly baked by her, nothing bought in. Endless refills of good tea or coffee. £25 each. Add a glass of fizz for a fiver. Lovely. It’s very popular!

Now that sounds amazing 😍

I must admit someone paying £100 per person for a few sandwiches and some cake makes me think they saw you coming 😂🤣

OP posts:
mondaytosunday · 08/12/2025 13:55

Yes I find that not enough sandwiches - they cut them down so much. And the cakes are all style no substance- only half of them are nice. The scones are usually the best part. Teas though - we’ve always had a lovely selection of good teas.

Original poster
AfternoonTeaTotty · 08/12/2025 13:56

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 08/12/2025 13:31

No we didn’t call them out. We were in too much shock!

£40 quid pp

The hotel was like something out of The Shining.

I try not to think about that event!

Edited

🤣😂🤣

OP posts:
BillieWiper · 08/12/2025 14:02

What is wrong with those dodgy sandwiches? I don't know how they think they can serve them defrosted?!

The fillings need to be normal stuff too, not hummus and weird spreadable cheese with random vegetables. They are way worse than the Tesco meal deal ones!

There should be egg and cress, posh ham with mustard, smoked salmon, and cucumber with cream cheese. It seems so basic but they just don't want to do it.

Throwmoneyatit · 08/12/2025 14:23

Cynic17 · 08/12/2025 13:34

£40 each is a bit on the cheap side, though, so the quality won't be high. I would expect to pay a minimum of £100pp for a decent afternoon tea (to include champagne, not manky Prosecco).

Edited

Ah. So The Ritz is too cheap for you. How terribly limiting.
Your local must be Cliveden House.

😂😂😂😂😂😂

PoorUncleBarry · 08/12/2025 14:32

The first 3 times I had afternoon tea at Celtic manor was lovely, everything fresh and good value (£40, not near Christmas time) but they changed everything. Now its pre-made dried out sandwiches with curling edges and mass produced cakes that taste stale and long life at the same time. Absolutely vile.

Bigpaintinglittlepainting · 08/12/2025 14:38

How do you all eat all that ??? I don't understand afternoon tea at all.

I can eat a round of sandwiches and a scone with everything at best especially if I have two cups of tea.

How do mange everything else I would be so stuffed !!!!

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