Cream Tea @Bills in Berkhamsted

163-165 High Street
Berkhamsted
HP4 3HB

http://bills-website.co.uk/restaurants/berkhamsted/   

Cream Tea at Bill’s is advertised with cakes and warm fruit scones, served with Bill’s strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream, served with a large pot of tea of your choice (7.95) or glass of Bill’s champagne (10.95)

Because there was no sandwiches this wasn’t technically an afternoon tea , but it was afternoon and there were scones so we feel it counted ! 

First thing that impressed us was the restaurant itself – I’ve been to a few Bills around but not this one – in fact last time I was in this building it was a fish restaurant but it was all different - all wood panelled and quirky , with lots of little nooks and crannies and some very splendid chandeliers and an appealing looking outside terrace. 

It was pouring with rain the day we went – would have been lovely to sit outside. The staff were also polite and helpful (and made me feel very old – they were all so YOUNG !! ) showing us to our table and offering us the choice of champagne or tea as soon as we sat.  We decided in the interests of research it should be both of course.

Then they brought our tray – well to be honest I doubt I could have eaten any sandwiches the cake selection was so generous ! The scones were warm and huge, fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside with lavish helpings of cream and jam.  Then we had to tackle the cakes which were no less than four varieties to experience each – a strawberry tart, carrot cake with vanilla frosting, chocolate Brownie and a marshmallow creation.  All were delicious, but I especially loved the marshmallow one as it was a bit different and lovely and light.

Our tea came in a trendy old battered tin tea pot which kept it beautifully hot.

We also loved the music they were playing the afternoon we went –  it was like the soundtrack to our youth, late seventies/ early eighties soul and funk tunes that had us shazaming away, singing  along and chair bopping . We should point out that we were the only people in that section of the restaurant !!!

We thoroughly enjoyed our tea and it's astonishing value when you think what you pay in, for example, a coffee shop chain for a coffee and a cake, at £7.95 each (without the champers) it really is remarkable.

I also spied some delicious summer cocktails that are luring me back to try over the summer holidays when I have more time and can find a driver ....

Great job Bill's !  

Now how about throwing in a few sandwiches or savoury items and I’m your slave ……????? 

The Swan Restaurant at the Globe

The Swan Restaurant at the Globe
Well it's been a few weeks,  as had a glorious holiday in Crete (if you follow me on Twitter you would have seen some of the amazing beaches, views and meals we enjoyed) so had lots to do to get ready for holiday,  and then lots to do when I got back – including a Hen Do straight after we got back !
The afternoon tea at the Globe was part of the activities planned for the Hen Do day – we'd done Burlesque dancing in the morning and were more than ready for our tea by the time we got there.
I have been in the past and loved their theatre menu so had high hopes for their tea – especially when I saw a tweet about a free glass of bubbles with any tea in June or July! 

From the outset the staff were utterly charming and helpful, even though several of the hens had bowed out of the tea last minute , they didn't move us from the semi private room that had been booked so we had an amazing view overlooking the Thames, St Pauls Cathedral and the entrance to the theatre.

The crockery was all pink and blue wedgewood style (I wasn't rude enough to pick up the cup and check if it was real!) and the table was beautifully set with white linen napkins. 

We were offered prosecco at £6.50 a glass and I did enquire cheekily was that the free one they had tweeted about – the waitress wasn't aware of the offer but the lovely manager came to talk to us and said that was a special offer from www.afternoontea.co.uk when you booked through them . 

But what a fine gentleman – when seeing my crestfallen face he said he would honour it and treat all of the ladies to a glass!

They also have an offer of bottomless prosecco for £18 which was tempting but we also knew we had the rest of the hen do to get through so decided it was maybe not a good idea. 

There was a really good choice of teas – I had a liquorice and peppermint tea which was scrummy.

Loved the sandwich course – as well as the usual finger sandwiches we also had little rolls and canapé style smoked salmon bites. So pretty that they are now my header for my Twitter Page ! 

The scones – just admire this plateful … warm, crispy outside, soft and fluffy inside with lashings of cream of jam to go round. 

And lastly the sweet round … including a huge macaroon, a raspberry and peach panna cotta,  a fruit tart and a mini éclair.

We didn't manage to finish all the food there was so much of it, with lashings of tea as required, and the hens all agreed it was fabulous.

Thank you to the staff at the Swan for helping to make the bride to be's (centre back row) day so special.

 

Afternoon Tea at the Chesterfield Mayfair - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Guest Blogger Maggie Richards

The Afternoon tea girls went to this hotel about 5 years ago (before writing this blog and sadly no photos ) and had the then Chocolate afternoon tea which was delightful, chocolate scones, chocolate tea and even a bag of pic 'n' mix sweeties to choose from jars to take home which was great ! 

The theme now is Charlie and the chocolate factory and my friend Maggie was lucky enough to go for Afternoon Tea  at the Chesterfield Hotel Mayfair for a friends birthday and was kind enough to report back .

"To begin we were each given an 'Everlasting gobstopper', which had a berry taste and changed colour about 4 times which was fun. We chose to save it until the end just in case it did last forever!!

We were then presented with a pink drink with a stilt straw,  'Fizzy pop', which was complete with popping candy.

Fizzy pop with popping candy

Then we enjoyed the sandwiches, they consisted of chicken & almond, salmon, cucumber, ham & cheese, and egg in a lovely pesto bread.

Then we each had a fruit scone and a chocolate scone, which was interesting with cream and jam!!

Loving the look of that pesto bread...

Finally the cakes were all themed from the book, including: bubble gum éclair (which really did taste as it suggests), blueberry macaroon, fizzy lemon cake, orange oompa lumpa cupcake, golden egg, fruit tart and of course a Wonka Bar.

We enjoyed all this with a flavoured tea of our choice (I had rosebud tea), but some friends had chocolate tea which actually was quite pleasant. And a glass of bubbly!

We were offered free refills of all food, but it was more than enough.

At the end Willy Wonka (Irish?) presented us all with a Golden Ticket, which would be opened if we returned for another tea, and may contain a free night's stay or entry to the chocolate factory or something smaller.

It was a really fun day and I saw children enjoying the kid's tea too! "

Looks amazing Maggie!! Are you not tempted to open the golden envelope ???? Not sure I could resist!