A Sweeter Afternoon Tea at The Lancaster

Of all the English things to do, Afternoon Tea has to be one of the most rewarding, I mean, there’s tea, cake, sandwiches, champagne and all presented in a neat little stack for you to tuck into. There’s something slightly indulgent about it too, taking the time out, on an afternoon to sip champagne and just eat. It came as no surprise therefore that I jumped at the opportunity to do just this at the Lancaster Hotel when we were invited down to sample the new Afternoon Tea menu.

The revised menu is inspired by the recent winter honey harvest, a nod to those hard working bees that are on the roof of the hotel and feed on the lime trees at Hyde Park.

We were greeted by a friendly waiter, who was happy to explain the food and drinks as we sampled, as well as accommodating the serving to suit our pescatarian and allergy needs. Which included a smoked salmon sandwich, egg and wild cress sandwich, a piquillo pepper and hummus sandwich along with a warm coronation chicken tartlet and roast beef with horseradish, which was a standout!

The new editions to the menu included honey glazed scones, pear and honey cupcakes, and dark chocolate and honey lollipops. The honey certainly added a sweet tang, which I must say certainly got us nattering on what a great addition it was. The honey scone was a firm favourite! The non-honey sweet bites were also divine which included a pistachio and amarena cherry slice, raspberry tart with vanilla custard and lemon macaroons.

The menu boasts a particularly impressive array of teas, inspired by the Oriental Restaurant from which they are served. We sampled the Pai Mu Tan, known as the “King of Teas” and the Egyptian Mint, both were delicious, and were offered in plentiful amounts, which we happily sipped away at during our sitting.

In the end, despite our champion efforts, we were unable to finish all the cakes. Luckily for us however, these were then placed into a charming little cake box, for safe keeping on the journey home. That’s desert for later sorted!

The afternoon tea is served in the lounge room, and with its deep red fabrics, dark woods and white tablecloths, it retains the English traditions you would expect.

Lancaster London Afternoon Tea starts at £30 per person
From 2pm – 5.30pm

Lancaster London

Lancaster Terrace

London

W2 2TY

Written by Polly Robin
Photography by Nyla Sammons