Afternoon Tea for Two

If you hadn’t heard, I LOVE Afternoon Tea, or at least the very concept of it as in fact I have never been... until now. Many small town cafes offer ‘Afternoon tea’ but let’s be honest its more about the experience on the whole that truly makes Afternoon tea, so I’d been saving my first time for somewhere special. Somewhere that would be filled with romantic notions of a time gone by. Somewhere that was classic, and refined.

I also love Twitter- a not so time gone by. So of course I happened to follow a great blog on Twitter- The Afternoon Tea Club. One day while casual browsing my news feed I saw they were running a competition for Champagne Afternoon Tea for Two at Crewe Hall. Well I was straight in there like a hawk. Weeks later, low and behold I won!

So I decided to treat my bestie for an afternoon of pure indulgence.

And wasn’t it just! Crewe Hall is simply a feast for the eyes in itself let alone the belly! A Grade 1 listed mansion dating back to the 1600’s. “It’s just like Downton Abbey” Nessa cried!

Inside was just as breathtaking. Gilded walls and decadent soft furnishings decorated every single room. We were shown into the Sheridan Lounge and were seated at a low table by the fire.

After settling in, we got down to business, as lets by honest here, while setting is of course a great deal, the tea and treats are what we really come for.

On offer was a vast selection of 12 different teas, from the oriental to the floral. Guiltily after having for so long wanted to come for Afternoon Tea, I hadn’t properly prepared, and had no idea where to start! So I plumped for cinnamon and ginger to begin, while Nessa went for Blackcurrant and Lavender.

They arrived in the quaintest tea pots, and even came with their own timers for optimum brewing time!

However soon my eyes were diverted to the towering tea stand that arrived at our table.

Oh. Baby!

We started with a selection of delectable English Sandwiches, followed by warm plain and current scones, clotted cream and the freshest fruit preserve.

Finally we moved (or should I say rolled) onto the cakes and pastries. Carrot cake, rich chocolate and orange tart, macaroons and the surprise of the day, while chocolate and champagne sponge.

We of course changed teas regularly threw out, opting for traditional blends such as Assam, to the not to traditional of Jasmine Pearls.

Finally to finish off the afternoon off we sipped contently on freshly popped champagne, whilst soaking in the atmosphere.

Never have I felt so well treated and looked after. It was a truly luxury experience and defiantly a well deserved treat after 4 long years of university. I think now I may have a taste for the high life, lady who lunches? Yes, I think I could get used to that!

If you want to find out more, I’ve popped Crewe Halls link here, and of course a huge thank you to The Afternoon Tea Club! Follow their blog, it’s good enough to eat!