Festive Afternoon Tea

[Bonesofache]

I've been hearing a lot about these recently, had no idea they existed as a thing until this year. Any tips on where to find a good one i.e. what does a good one entail? Just mince pies and gingerbread instead of scones and sandwiches or is there something else to them?

We bought delightful Christmas afternoon tea hampers from Daffodil foods
last year , they were 26 pounds delivered and they were so well received by the recipients
Sour dough crumpets
Mince pies
Fruit cake
Butter
Cheese
Teabags
Clotted cream Gingerbread liquer flavour
Shortbread
easily enough for four people and so delicious
www.daffodilfoods.co.uk/
l don't work for them btw lol

We went to a place called Lucknam Park near Bath and it was amazing, we had:

Smoked salmon sandwiches
Turkey and cranberry sandwiches
Pork and apricot sausage rolls
Warm stollen
Scones
And three mini patisserie things one that looked like a bauble and one that looked like a Christmas tree

It’s not just about the food. It’s about the whole atmosphere. The one we went to last year had such lovely decorations, carol singers and a gorgeous smell of spice and pine.

The one at the Ritz has a choir singing Christmas carols.

Do you have a Betty’s near you? They do an amazing festive afternoon tea and the tea rooms are fabulously decorated.

I didn't realize you wanted an afternoon tea experience OP. I thought it was hampers my bad.
In southeast Wales there is a beautiful hotel called The Angel that does the most divine afternoon teas .
Also the Celtic Manor in Newport off the M4 and a very beautiful country hotel in Crickhowell called Gliffaes .

My elderly Aunt who lives alone more or less missed Xmas last year as very ill for over a month with Covid. When she had recovered it was mid January. My sister made her a Xmas cream tea. She spread bread with cranberry jelly instead of butter and filled with finely sliced turkey. Crust chopped off and made into small fingers. Fingers of homemade Xmas cake with plenty of brandy in. Cookies with pinch of spice in made in Xmas shapes like a star, bell, Xmas tree etc. and iced. Cup cakes with green butter icing swirled up and decorated with tiny gold balls and star on top made to look like decorated Xmas 🌲. She also had a homemade minced pie and clotted cream. Tea set was vintage bone China and she had cake stand and bread and butter plate to match. She boxed it all up and took over to my Aunt. She had the Xmas cream tea with my Aunty and her neighbour who was invited over and my sister left them extra for next day too. Aunty loved it.

I think Blenheim palace and waddesdon manor do Christmas afternoon tea if you’re anywhere near. You can book it with or without the lights trails.

Ooh if people can say where these amazing sounding festive afternoon teas are that would be fab, they're making me hungry!

Oh wow! I was already thinking of booking the Blenheim Palace lights trail, I might have to bok the festive tea as well now.

Moor Hall Hotel www.moorhallhotel.co.uk/christmas/festive-events/christmas-carols-and-afternoon-tea-2/

Thanks for the ideas. It has made me realise that the decorations and surroundings are probably going to be the most important bit to make it feel festive. Listening to carols etc while you eat sounds amazing!

Madmrsevans ... I like your suggestion and will save it as a lovely for for my mum.

We do a festive afternoon tea, it kicks off our 'season' and we do it with both my parents and DHs parents. They dont often mix throughout the year so its noce to bring them together.

We first did it in 2016 to celebrate being pregnant with our first baby. We love it and go to a different place each year.

But we LOVED the place we went to last year so I might break the rule and go again! Oakley Hall in Hampshire :)