Library Lounge @the Marriott County Hall - a real treat !

Library Lounge @Marriott County Hall
Some of the Afternoon Tea Ladies set off for a shopping trip to London just after the Christmas jollities and despite that we all agreed we had eaten and drunk far too much over the last few weeks we thought we could manage to eat and drink a little more,  especially if there was tea and bubbles involved. 

We had walked the length and breadth of Oxford Street in pursuit of a particular Radley Handbag and Ted Baker purse (neither of which were found) but the girls did buy some shoes and boots, and I got my Dior make up set I'd been after so all was right with the world. 

Set on the South Bank, next to the London Eye, the outside of the Marriott hotel was very impressive and charmingly decorated for Christmas. The decor inside was very grand, wooden panels, and the pictures on the wall reflected its history of being the seat of the GLC with political satire comics and so on, and had a feel of a gentlemen's club. 

We arrived at 4pm for our 4.30 tea but  were very foot weary and thirsty so hoped we could go in - and sure enough they were more than welcoming and showed us to our table. The Library Lounge room is beautiful - literally in a library with little alcoves between the bookcases where the tables are set out. 

Little tip -ask for a window seat and you have a fine view over the Thames. We hadn't asked and it was busy so not possible to change - we were put into what they called the "gossip table" - very private but felt a little dark we did do a little bit of shuffling of furniture so that we were all looking towards the window and the bright lights.

We were offered the Twinings tea selection with jars to look at and smell and we asked a very helpful waitress to suggest what we might enjoy - I had a late assam and K chose a fruity tea. 

We had booked a free flowing bubbles tea and were delighted to discover it was a Codorniu Brut Cava that we would be drinking - and I don't think our glasses were EVER less than half full, so attentive was the bubble pouring !  

The tea was hot and plentiful too - served in delightful vintage looking china with a tea strainer and sugar tongs ( I do love a sugar tong ). 

So , onto the food - our amuse bouche was brought which was a little mini trifle - we decided to save it to go with the sweet course as our tiered plate had arrived and headed for the savoury sandwiches, but as you can see the candy floss topping had deflated somewhat by the time we got it ! 

It's always a testing point of good service when we get to sandwiches as K really can't stand vinegar or anything pickled or mayonnaised (is that even a word?) but they went and checked and brought her another plate of suitable sarnies without question. 

We had some delightful old favourites (smoked salmon, cream cheese and cucumber, beef and horseradish) and a seasonable treat of turkey and cranberry, all of which were very very tasty and generously filled.

scones - warm and crunchy topped

More tea, more bubbles and we were ready for the scones; beautifully wrapped in a heavy linen napkin and still warm, we had a savoury and sweet scone each. I think the savoury scone might have been my favourite item of the whole tea chive and lime with a creme fraiche topping to spoon on top and a crunchy cinnamon topped scone with clotted cream and jam. The jam WAS in a pot, but was a large pot of designer jam rather than a tiptree special.  C had another scone they were so lovely ! 

gingerbread lollipop

mince pie anyone? 

Then the patisserie ... well I'm not entirely sure what we were eating although I must stress this is more to do with me not remembering (more bubbles madam?) than the very careful explanation - but all so pretty and delicious fruit tarts, mini mince pies, stollen, snowflake macaroon and gingerbread lollipops. 

It was incredibly relaxed and every single member of staff was not only on the ball with service, they were really charming, and seemed to actually enjoy their work. 

We felt it necessary to have coffee (hic!) before we set off and although we had already paid our very reasonable bill , they happily brought us cappuccinos and continued to top up our glasses. 

We chatted with the delightful Romanian manager of the lounge who told us how they change the menu regularly according to the season and events - so we decided we must come back to try a non festive tea - and next time sit in the window! 

Coffee and MORE bubbles

At 6.39pm  the fire alarms went off and the whole hotel was evacuated - very calmly and efficiently. We had to leave Cava in our glasses undrunk (oh the horror)

Hopefully it wasn't a ruse to stop the 3 sozzled ladies in the Library Lounge running them dry of bubbles - but I did feel sorry for the people outside in the street in their dressing gowns as it was chilling down a little bit! 

We loved this tea and at £39 inc free flowing bubbles was extremely good value for money, as not only was it quite delicious,  there was no fussing about extra costs for sandwiches or coffee and they served decent bubbles too. 

Definitely a place for a celebration or small group outing - i liked that there were no big groups there (they have other rooms) which can sometimes spoil a quiet tea. 

Great Job Library Lounge !