10 OF THE BEST JUBILEE AFTERNOON TEAS

There is nothing quite like sitting down for afternoon tea, the warming tea blends, sweet and savoury treats. In a year that celebrates Her Majesty becoming the first British Monarch to reach the Platinum Jubilee milestone of 70 years of service, there is even more reason to indulge in a spot of tea or raise your champagne glass. With celebrations happening up and down the country, why not commemorate the jubilee in some of these amazing locations? Whatever your mood, we bring you some of the most beautiful places to savour every sip and scone…

Dubbed ‘Mayfair’s best sitting room’ The Promenade, at The Dorchester, on Park Lane, will make you feel like a star, with the atmosphere created by the friendly and attentive Dorchester staff to match. With grand Corinthian marble columns, gold adorning both sides and quilted chesterfield sofas to recline into, it is the perfect place to allow the hours pass by. Guests will be treated to the sight of masterful bouquets created by florist Philip Hammond, featuring The Dorchester Rose from Meijer Roses of Holland, that arrived in 2020, and was seven years in the making. There is a resident pianist playing from an extremely broad repertoire, including film classics, and theatre, for you to sway along to. The Dorchester’s Afternoon Tea is a true blend of East meets West, you will be able to enjoy a range of savoury finger sandwiches on artisan bread, using the best of English produce, with tea fusions taking you on a sensory journey.

→ Starts from £80 per person, dorchestercollection.com

Take in the lavish surroundings of the Berkshire countryside, overlooking the landscape and the beautiful gardens of Cliveden. Served in The Cliveden Dining Room Monday to Saturday and in the distinguished décor of The Great Hall on Sundays, wherever you are, you will be surrounded by period beauty. Guests can feel like royalty with the Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea, curated by Executive Chef, Chris Hannon, that consists of favourite dishes from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. A perfectly prepared selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with homemade jam and clotted cream, miniature delectable bite-size cakes, and delicacies including Queen Elizabeth’s favourite, chocolate biscuit cake. For something slightly more extravagant, the Champagne Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea includes a glass of Laurent-Perrier with your classic afternoon tea experience.

→ Starts from £45 per person, clivedenhouse.co.uk

Famed for their delectable Fat Rascals, that brings visitors from both near and far, Bettys will leave you spoilt for choice. With the option of five heavenly tea rooms across God’s own county, Yorkshire, the two biggest tea rooms being in Harrogate and York, Bettys is truly an institution. Served in the Imperial Room in Bettys Harrogate, and the Belmont Room in York, you will be transported to a bygone era, within the atmospheric art deco interior, inspired by the Queen Mary ocean liner. Available are an ever changing range of treats, for the seasons, with afternoon tea classics such as scones. Some elements are reimagined such as coronation Yorkshire chicken. There are vegetarian, vegan afternoon teas too, as well as Pink Champagne and Prosecco Afternoon Tea, if you are in a celebratory mood. We did say you would be spoilt for choice! For the Queen’s 70th Jubilee year, Bettys Bakery have crafted a wide range of Jubilee inspired treats, fit for royalty, to enjoy anywhere, including Jubilee Champagne Macaroons, Jubilee Chocolate Teapot, a new Dundee Cake presented in a keepsake tin and a Jubilee Gift Box with Corgi biscuits.

→ Starts from £28.95 per person, bettys.co.uk

Situated in the heart of the Grade I Listed Royal Crescent in the historical city of Bath, The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa is a fine example of sweeping, curved 250-year-old Georgian architecture, overlooking the perfectly manicured lawn of the Royal Victoria Park. In their award-winning restaurant, The Dower House, you can indulge in a piece of the Bridgerton experience, as the façade of the Royal Crescent served as a filming location for the Netflix show. With the finest selection of aromatic flavours from Ronnefeldt Teas, with a diverse range from Golden Assam to Rooibos to accompany your Royal Crescent Classic or Vegetarian Afternoon Tea, you can converse freely, without the worry of later being the subject of Lady Whistledown’s revelations. For the Jubilee, guests are invited to The Royal Crescent’s Jubilee Garden Party on the Thursday to commence the June Bank Holiday celebrations. Also available, the chance to dine like a Queen with their Jubilee Joy package, including a two-night stay in either a luxurious room or suite, a special Jubilee-themed cocktail, a six course tasting menu on one night of your stay and champagne afternoon tea on one afternoon during your stay.

→ Starts from £39.50 per person. Jubilee Joy package: prices starts from £530 per room per night, in a Deluxe double room, based on a two-night package (Wednesday 1st June until Monday 6th June), royalcrescent.co.uk

If you know your Matisse from your Picasso, or generally have a keen eye for art, look no further than Sketch. Composed of four restaurants, one with three Michelin Stars, Sketch is akin to an Alice in Wonderland of culinary adventure. The Gallery Room, where afternoon tea is hosted, is adorned with a millennial pink backdrop created by designer India Mahdavi. It has hosted work by a range of artists, including Tracey Emin and David Shrigley, and is the perfect place to sink into the comfort of the sumptuous scallop-shaped seats, while snapping photos for your Instagram. Sketch has exclusive seasonal menus for Mother’s Day from 25–28 March and Easter from 15–18 April. A French spin on the British tradition, your tastebuds will be revolutionised, with potential offerings of bergamot macaroon and truffle brioche bun sandwiches.

→ Starts from £69 per person, sketch.london

Although Goodwood is the location for the Festival of Speed, there will be no rush taking afternoon tea here. In fact, there is so much time, you can actually take a tour of Goodwood House and have afternoon tea. Set within a glorious 12,000-acre Sussex estate within the South Downs National Park, Goodwood is one for the countryside dwellers. After walking through the magnificent Front Hall to the Ballroom where tea is taken, surrounded by one of the finest art collections in Britain, it will be hard to leave without the tour. Goodwood’s afternoon tea uses organic estate grown and reared produce, which is available in the Farm Shop to bring a piece of Goodwood home. There is the Adult Tea, including Goodwood Ale Fruit Cake, and Passionfruit & Raspberry tarts, with generous portions, leaving nearly all with a slice to take away. The Children’s Tea can satisfy the fussiest of eaters, with lemon meringue tartlets and chocolate brownies, just to a name a few.

→ Afternoon Tea & Tour of Goodwood House is £29 per person (adults) or £10 per person for 4-12 year olds, goodwood.com

A stone’s throw away from royal haunts such as St James’s Palace, and of course Buckingham Palace, Dukes offers a selection of traditional sandwiches, handmade patisseries, fruit and plain scones, plus 'cake of the day', all freshly baked by the in-house Pastry Chef. The Drawing Room sets the scene, overlooking a tranquil courtyard garden. Dukes London has partnered with The East India Company to offer a range of delicious, aromatic and refreshing fine loose-leaf teas and infusions. They also offer a special MarTEAni Afternoon Tea, to celebrate the hotel's legendary martinis at Dukes Bar where James Bond’s creator Ian Fleming, a frequent visitor, sought inspiration for the character’s favourite drink. Vegan options are offered as well as a Little Dukes and Duchesses Afternoon Tea, for the little ones in your life. A unique Jubilee Package is available, with a stay in their Junior or One Bedroom Suite. You can be treated to champagne in your suite on arrival, English Breakfast served in either their Great British Restaurant or the comfort of your suite, a Jubilee afternoon tea served in The Drawing Room and a classic Jubilee picnic to enjoy in the royal parks in addition to access to hotel’s health club and Dukes Bar.

→ Starts from £35 per person, for the Jubilee Package a Junior Suite the daily rate is £960 and for a One Bedroom Suite, the daily rate is £1,050, packaged based on a minimum two night stay for two guests, dukeshotel.com

Surrounded by the romanticism of antique shops on Kensington Church Street, evoking a Richard Curtis film ambience, is the Candella Tea Room. Its interior reflects charm, with a range of vintage tea ware, and painted panels. The Candella’s Afternoon Tea has a choice of traditional sandwich fillings, with subtle modern twists, such as freerange egg mayonnaise and chives brioche bun. With freshly made scones, you can opt for the classic plain and raisin scone or explore lemon and blueberry or chocolate orange scones. There is also a choice of a Contemporary Afternoon Tea selection. To satisfy your sweet cravings, Candella has an extensive list of popular tea blends such as Lady Grey, a black Ceylon tea with sun ripened orange peel and Thai lemongrass, and bergamot oil. From mango mousse, encased in an almond cake sponge, to pistachio opera gateau and bite sized macaroons in flavours including Earl Grey. With so much to try, why not buy a blend to take home from the tea shop?

→ Starts from £18.95 per person, candellatearoom.com

Guests have been gracing the Thames Foyer, enjoying the world-famous afternoon tea at The Savoy, since it opened in 1889, honouring the British tradition of afternoon tea that stretches back to 1840. The Savoy is the perfect spot to be enchanted by London’s thoroughfare of the bustling Strand, balanced by the calm of the River Thames. Home to the concept of the dinner-dance, The Savoy’s afternoon tea extends itself to introduce a sociable and warm atmosphere into your experience. An enchanting glass-domed atrium, with an ornate stained-glass cupola, allows you to bask in the natural light from above, where below is the enchanting cast metal gazebo, housing a grand piano. Each menu has been highly curated for you to experience a range of flavours, with patisseries that are described as tempting works of art.

→ Starts from £65 per person, thesavoylondon.com

Trace back history with The Goring, where Queen Elizabeth held her Coronation dinner in 1953. The Grade I listed hotel is a firm Royal favourite. Within walking distance of Buckingham Palace, to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, there cannot be a more suitable venue to enjoy any day of the week. There is lots to look forward to, including a Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea, which will include sandwiches such as Clarence Court egg and cress and Smoked John Ross salmon with caper and lemon to name a few. There will also be a special recreation of The Queen’s Coronation Menu dinner, which will see dishes such as Cornet de Saumon Fumé. Other treats include a Jubilee Fizz champagne cocktail by barman extraordinaire Tiago Mira. For those more horticulturally inclined, there will be a chance to admire a garden installation of The Queen Elizabeth II Rose by the award-winning Harkness Roses, and a Royal dressing up box for the little ones who can see the return of Teddy the Shetland Pony.

→ Starts from £60 per person, thegoringhotel.com

In celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubileee between 1 June–18 September 2022 you can slide into 20 million new blooms in the Tower of London’s moat.

London will be abuzz with things to do and places to see. Buckingham Palace is re-opening its State Rooms in July, while the Royal Mews, with its coaches, carriages and stables, will unlock its doors in May – plus, don't miss the Gold State Coach used by the Queen for her coronation in 1953.

The festivities and fanfare will come to a head on one weekend: 2–5 June 2022, with pomp and pageantry and a Thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians will come together in the traditional Parade to mark The Queen's official birthday, usually held on the second Saturday in June.

Words| Tallulah Rushaya