Every week our Holiday Hero Neil Simpson takes an in-depth take a look at an excellent holiday topic, doing all of the legwork so that you don’t must. This week: Extra-special afternoon teas for the Platinum Jubilee weekend.
Hotels and historic houses across the country are putting up bunting and laying on a series of rigorously crafted afternoon teas to rejoice the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
While some can be found only on the prolonged Bank Holiday weekend of June 2-5, others might be enjoyed all summer.
Tuck in: Pictured is the afternoon tea on offer at Elizabethan Manor in West Sussex
Elizabethan Manor’s afternoon tea also features a personal butler, a corgi and period costumes to decorate up in
The Queen was born in 1926 in her grandfather’s home at 17 Bruton Street, Mayfair, and the Athenaeum Hotel, a brief stroll away, has created a day tea based on ingredients with Royal Warrants.
Coronation chicken and other sandwiches are made with bread from the Queen’s favourite bakery, The Bread Factory in North London, while scones are served with Royal-approved Wilkin & Sons jams from Essex. Costs from £45pp (athenaeumhotel.com).
An excellent more lavish afternoon tea experience has been organised by holiday firm Oliver’s Travels.
Its Platinum Jubilee Package, available at a wide range of country homes equivalent to the Grade II-listed Elizabethan Manor in West Sussex, features a personal butler to pour traditional teas and serve sandwiches and cake, but you’ll even have a corgi running around and period costumes to decorate up in.
The Athenaeum Hotel has created a day tea based on ingredients with Royal Warrants. The offerings include sandwiches made with bread from The Bread Factory in North London and scones are served with Royal-approved Wilkin & Sons jams from Essex
Royally good: Opulent afternoon teas will probably be served all summer on the Shangri-La hotel on the thirty fifth floor of The Shard (pictured)
The Skyline Jubilee afternoon tea served on the Shangri-La hotel on the thirty fifth floor of The Shard includes scones, a regal strawberry gateau, a jubilee tart, fizz from the Nyetimber vineyard and an edible piece of architecture in the shape of a chocolate and raspberry Shard, the showstopper of the event with the waiter or waitress pouring over the dry ice
Packages cost from £390pp (oliverstravels.com).
High above the streets of London, with views of the celebratory Superbloom display of wildflowers being grown within the Tower of London moat, one other opulent tea will probably be served all summer on the Shangri-La hotel on the thirty fifth floor of The Shard.
The Skyline Jubilee afternoon tea includes scones and clotted cream, a regal strawberry gateau and a jubilee tart. It also comes with fizz from the Nyetimber vineyard in West Sussex, as was served on the Queen’s Royal Barge during 2012’s Diamond Jubilee. Costs from £75pp (ting-shangri-la.com).
On the Castle Hotel, opposite Windsor Castle, afternoon tea is served on an attention-grabbing crown-shaped cake stand
Glenapp Castle on the Ayrshire coast could have as many items on the afternoon tea table as possible in a mixture of gold, silver and Royal purple
On the Castle Hotel, opposite Windsor Castle, Union Jack cupcakes and jubilant macaroon sandwiches round off splendid teas.
Loose leaf teas are chosen by Darvilles of Windsor, supplier to the Palace since 1860, and sparkling wines come from the vineyard in Windsor Great Park. Costs from £30pp (castlehotelwindsor.com).
Glenapp Castle on the Ayrshire coast could have as many items as possible in a mixture of gold, silver and Royal purple. Scottish blackberry and lavender mousse is a favorite, while guests called Elizabeth get free champagne. Costs from £35pp (glenappcastle.com).
With Habitat Escapes, guests can order pre-made afternoon teas or hampers and blankets for their very own celebratory treat
At Cardigan Castle on June 2, guests will probably be treated to tea featuring slow-roast Welsh beef and horseradish mayo sandwiches, Victoria sponge and Welsh cakes. Costs from £15pp (cardigancastle.com).
Check right into a luxury lodge on the Lower Mill Estate within the Cotswolds, or at Silverlake in Dorset, and afternoon teas with cocktails are on offer across the Bank Holiday weekend.
Guests may also order picnic hampers and blankets for their very own celebratory treat. Costs from £269pp for 3 nights from June 3 (habitatescapes.com).
