An Afternoon Tea with a Spring Twist…at One Aldwych

Whoever came up with the concept of an Afternoon Tea is a genius. Honestly, what could be better than tea and cake, with a side of Champagne, and a girlie chat mid-afternoon?

Nothing. That’s what! Tea. Cake. Bubbles. Gossip. A recipe for success in any language, for sure.

I’m often asked for advice on where to go for “the best afternoon tea in London”.  As with all recommendations, this is incredibly difficult to answer. It depends on your budget, your tastes and the type of venue you are looking for. An Afternoon Tea in a 5* hotel is going to be very different to that in a traditional tea shop, for example.

However, one place I never fail to recommend is Bake-a-Boo, the ever-so charming tea-shop tucked away in West Hampstead. I discovered this little gem as it was a stones throw from my old flat but it’s totally worth the trip, regardless of where you live. Why? Because walking in to the shop is a breath of fresh air. It’s full of vintage tea-cups and mismatched saucers; the soothing sounds of 50’s and 60’s Crooners drifts through the air; the service is warm and friendly and the cakes? To die for. Along with the best Victoria Sponge I’ve ever eaten…Zoe, the Shop’s Owner and Chief Baker, also offers delicious options for those of us who are gluten or dairy intolerant. You can’t even tell the difference, they are SO GOOD!

Zoe and I have become good friends over the last couple of years, so when I was invited to try the new season Floral Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych, I couldn’t think of anyone better to invite along to accompany me. OK, so it was a bit of a Busmans Holiday for her, but she welcomed the idea of someone else doing the baking for a change. Quite a treat for someone who’s usually nose deep in icing! (She keeps it glamorous though, the Domestic Goddess)

After phoning ahead to ensure One Aldwych could accommodate Zoe’s dietary requirements (they can – they will happily adjust the menu to suit your needs if notified), we arrived at the impressive hotel for this Spring treat in VERY unspringlike weather! Snow flakes drifted past the window and the expansive hotel lobby had a slight chill – but the lovely staff seated us away from any drafts and offered us Pashminas to keep us warm. They weren’t necessary, the hotel was cosy enough – but a thoughtful touch that was appreciated.

Over much girlie chatter and the sharing of recent stories (Zoe and I do love a story!) I enjoyed a Rose Petal Martini (Hendrick’s gin shaken with home-made Earl Grey, blue flowers syrup, ginger and lemongrass cordial and rose petal liqueur) and Zoe sipped a glass of Champagne. How very extravagant for a week day afternoon! We then settled in for a good couple of hours of chatter about boys and business and the deliciously fragrant sandwiches, scones and cakes that tasted as good as they looked. Before we knew it, we’d made our way through four pots of Jasmine Tea. FOUR. Tea-monsters, the pair of us.

While our menus differed slightly, both followed a similar theme. Every treat we ate (except for the clotted cream) was handmade on site, and all of the ingredients were both seasonal and as fresh as can be. Some were even foraged by the Chef and his team…admirable in this recent weather. For us, there was ample food and even after a couple of hours, we struggled to finish the last bites but, for those of you with larger appetites, you can order more sandwiches or cakes without a problem, they’ll happily top you up and keep you nibbling for ages!

You can see the full Floral Afternoon Tea menu here, but some highlights for me included the Chicken with Wild Garlic Mayo Sandwich, the Scones (especially with the plum jam and LASHINGS of clotted cream) and the white and dark chocolate marquise. Not forgetting the Martini, of course. That really was lush.

Zoe thoroughly enjoyed her version too…a definite thumbs up from the pro! We chatted and caught up, nibbling and giggling, and had a lovely afternoon. Eventually, after a couple of hours we left, full and satisfied, and braved our way out into the freezing temperatures of Covent Garden full of smiles and happiness.

I would definitely recommend the Floral Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych if you’re looking for an upmarket experience in a beautiful hotel. The staff were fantastic – knowledgeable, friendly and efficient, without being overbearing in any way, and the food and drinks were delicious. It’s a perfect post-shopping or late-lunch treat, and a brilliant way to catch up with a friend you may not get to see enough of.

Find out more information about the Floral Afternoon Tea here, and if you want to stay at One Aldwych – find out the best prices here or here at beautifully discounted rates!

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The hotel can be found at:

One Aldwych
London
WC2B 4BZ
Tel +44 (0)20 7300 1000