There is something about afternoon tea that is inherently luxurious. Taking two hours in the afternoon to sit and eat little sandwiches with the crusts cut off is for me the pinnacle of “how the other half lives”.
So when I was invited to the five-star Great Scotland Yard Hotel, just off Trafalgar Square, to try their afternoon tea, I jumped at the chance. I brought my mum with me – because who deserves a nice afternoon tea more than your mum?
The Great Scotland Yard’s afternoon tea is inspired by Floris London perfumery, with delicate notes of floral scents designed to elevate our afternoon tea beyond the ordinary.
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Even when I entered the hotel I was struck by its elegance and glamour. The foyer is full of white and black marble, lit in soft but seemingly expensive tones.
The staff were all very friendly and took us to the lounge, where afternoon tea was held. Our servers brought out menus full of different teas to pair our meal with – the wide selection stretched over several pages.
I chose a Rooibos tea, which later proved to be perfect for cutting through the sweetness of the desserts, while my mother chose an Oolong tea which was beautifully light with a subtle sweet taste. While sipping our tea we could sit and enjoy the atmosphere of the room.
It felt spacious and private, even though several other couples and groups were also dining at the same time. Soft, calm jazz played over the speakers, and the light pouring in from the windows overlooking the street added to the gentle atmosphere inside.
It was very soothing and I immediately found myself relaxing and sinking into the conversation, catching up with my mum until the tasty course arrived, beautifully presented on a three-tier stand.
Our server introduced each delicacy to us and recommended eating the hot items first – a zucchini, arugula and lemon quiche and a caramelized artichoke and cheddar Yorkshire pudding. Both were lovely, although the Yorkshire pudding really impressed me – the richness of the cheese thickened by the caramelised artichoke like a mixed sauce only revealed by cutting into the Yorkshire pudding.
This course also featured three sandwiches, all beautifully symmetrical – coronation chicken, smoked salmon with caviar and horseradish, and egg truffle mayo. The sandwiches weren’t particularly special, and the bread was just on the right side of being dry. At £59 each (or £70 with champagne) I felt that high standards were not only warranted, but expected.
Our first course finished, the bleachers were removed and once again we could sit back and enjoy the peaceful silence of the room. Something about afternoon tea encourages slowness, which in central London on a Wednesday afternoon is something I’m not used to.
But one of the best things about the experience for me was how relaxed everything was. There was no rush from the servers, no time pressure to leave our table or to drink our tea too quickly. This, too, gave afternoon tea an added sense of luxury that is especially powerful in our increasingly busy lives.
Next up was another three-tiered stand, this time full of desserts, and the all-important scones with cream and jam essential to an afternoon tea. My mum loves a scone, and no doubt loves cream even more, so she went straight in – and her opinion could make or break the whole afternoon tea.
She opted for a plain scone – two plain and two raisin scones were provided, tucked into a white napkin to keep them warm – and layers of cream, jam and then some more cream for full effect. The jam had a hint of rose in it, which I would normally be wary of, but this jam was sensational.
And my mother agreed – they met her very high demands with flying colors. I dove in and completely agreed with my mother’s verdict. The rose added a subtle exoticism to the fairly standard strawberry jam, and together with the perfectly baked and fluffy warm little scones made for a perfect combination.
We then decided to try each of the amazing confections, starting with baby pink rose, lychee and pistachio mousse. This really impressed me, with the pistachio biscuit base creating a perfect counterpoint to the sweet, delicate mousse. But what really made the delicacy sing was the subtle layer of raspberries placed just below the surface of the mousse, adding a perfect sharpness.
On the second level we also got a choux of strawberries and white tea, which was basically a very fancy profiterole. The final dessert was a petit gateaux of ylang ylang, almond and honey, which was very sweet but sweeter at the same time.
Cracking it open and seeing it perfectly split, with the honey oozing out, added to the fun of it all – because afternoon tea isn’t about seriousness either. We had a great time and left beaming, although it could also have been the sugar rush.
At £59 per person for standard afternoon tea, rising to £70 to add champagne, Great Scotland Yard’s offering isn’t cheap, but is pretty standard for afternoon tea in central London. For example, afternoon tea at the Ritz starts from £75 per person, while the Savoy’s afternoon tea menu starts at £80 per person.
For more information about the Great Scotland Yard Hotel and to Book afternoon tea, click here. If you feel like booking a luxury stay, try Booking.com or Hotels.com.
Do you have a story for us? Email anna.willis@reachplc.com.
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