Crazy Bear English Afternoon Tea

The Crazy Bear Beaconsfield

Old Town, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire HP9 1LX

A big birthday celebration for my friend Helen’s birthday – she has been before (see her GuestBlog here) and I've had the dim sum tea in Fitzrovia but she was keen for the ladies to experience it.

When you arrive it feels a bit like going into the Wonderland rabbit hole – its décor is amazing - full of crazy wall hangings and stuffed animals everywhere. 

The bar area was very shiny and very busy (It was a Saturday -  every table packed) but we were quickly shown to our table by one of the attentive staff.  I think  this was in the marquee which looks like it could be open in the summer onto the pool area.

This was great – each table had a heater, low sofas, lot of cushions and throws and fabric draped walls  and more wild ornaments and we were immediately brought our champagne, which is always a good start to any occasion I feel!

We were then invited to order our tea with a choice including the usuals:  Assam breakfast, Earl grey, etc but also some flowering teas : amaranth, osmanthus, jasmine and lily, and some fresh leaves -  whole chamomile flowers, Lemon Verbena, fresh peppermint leaves etc. I ordered a flowering amaranth , Helen had a fresh peppermint and others had coffee as they don’t like tea so everyone was happy. I did love my cute glass teapot.

Our tea stands arrived – not especially fancy plateware considering the surroundings, but very artfully arranged food.

We did love the sandwiches – not just the shape but the generous filling – due partly I think to their shape – but very flavoursome. Everyone had their favourite from Coronation chicken, (my least favourite – never understood the concept - sultanas and cold curry ???) ham hock with grain mustard mayonnaise,(my favourite)  egg mayonnaise with watercress, smoked salmon with herb mascarpone (close second for me )

Very good quality of moist bread too.

The scones were good, but as often happens being brought at the same time as the sandwiches,  weren’t warm anymore and we were slightly disappointed not to have homemade jam rather than small jars but they did pass the TeaLadyRebz test of crispy outside and fluffy inside so could almost be forgiven for the jam pots. 

There was a fine selection of pastries and mini cakes  the chocolate cake with the gold leaf was delicious, and the fruit tart with super fresh sweet berries was a winner for me. Although one pair of the group had to ask for more cakes as theirs had melted under the heater, this was brought willingly and apologetically. 

as they were...

Spot the cupcake  Brulee effect! 

One small silly thing was when we asked for our leftover cakes to be boxed up ... they came back like this... 

.... which is a bit of a shame as a cake box isn't too much to ask for . 

We did go on a Group On offer so can't expect to be a totally 5 star experience, but the staff, although busy, were very efficient fun and helpful. The place has a very relaxed feel as well as having  very comfortable seating.  However I was glad we weren't in the bar which looked lot less laid back and comfortable to have tea in.

As at the Fitzrovia branch the toilets need a special mention - all mirrored and sparkly floored - with a shared basin area with the boys toilet - no peeking ! 

I would definitely go again - next time in the summer and would LOVE to stay the night sometime - the postcards we were given of the bedrooms look amazing. 

Thanks Crazy Bears - we had a lovely girly afternon ! 

A Chocolate Affair at the Rubens Hotel at The Palace

Rubens Hotel, 39 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0PS

http://www.rubenshotel.com/food-and-drink/afternoon-tea 

I was lucky enough to have been bought this tea as a birthday gift by my son who was keen to find out what this was all about, and wanted to join me for a proper posh tea. So we figured sitting opposite the Royal mews would fit the bill, and on a sunny but cold February Thursday, we met after work in Victoria station and trotted the few minutes’ walk to the hotel.

Unfortunately for them there are huge roadworks going on outside which is such a shame as the restaurant does indeed look over the entrance of the Royal Mews, we were shown to our window seat and given our menus for choice of tea and drinks by the very charming Maitress D, and if you could ignore the diggers and dumpers out of the window it was a charming spot to take tea!

The tables were really well set with white linen, silverware and ribbons, with comfortable armchairs and sofas to choose from. There were a few others also having Afternoon Tea which did cause a bit of delay in us ordering but we weren't in a rush and they were very polite and apologetic. We ordered our tea – I went for a chocolate and hazelnut blend and my son asked for green tea – we also decided as it was a late birthday treat to ask for cocktails, so also ordered a Cosmopolitan and a Mai Tai. The staff were, (unlike our last slightly disappointing afternoon tea hosts) very concerned about whether we had the tea, cocktails or food first - we decided on having tea first then cocktails, which were very delicious and very strong.

When the tea was brought I was persuaded to try mine with a bit of hot milk and a lump of brown sugar and a promise – if you don’t like we will change it – and it was actually lovely – it tasted like a liquid Ferrero Rocher.  

The Afternoon Tea stand was brought along and explained - very traditional and beautifully presented.

The sandwiches were Egg and Cress, Smoked Salmon, Ham and Mustard, Cucumber and Cream Cheese and a Chicken and almond bridge roll. We were really impressed with the sandwiches – very generous fillings, and very good quality fresh moist bread and to my delight were offered more sandwiches without asking. We declined,  as the scones were calling and my son had lunch before he came (as he’d thought there wouldn't be much to eat!!)  but I was tempted to ask for more of the chicken roll and the smoked salmon. 

The scones were small but very fresh with the requisite crispy outside and fluffy middle with plenty of clotted cream and jam to spread.

I did then move to breakfast tea with my pastries which were mostly delicious. The theme of the tea was "A Chocolate Affair" and that was a key ingredient all of the choices, chocolate éclair with coffee cream, orange and chocolate cupcake and so on.    Although I wasn't keen on the dark chocolate meringue tart,  my son loved it, I adored the chocolate and pistachio millefeuille and both of us really enjoyed the dark and white chocolate mousse with passion fruit glaze …oh wow !

Sadly I have to say the cakes did defeat us: we did sit for a bit in the hope we would find inspiration to eat more but alas no -  they kindly packed it in a box for us and we took it home where my husband enjoyed the selection very much.

Overall this was a very splendid affair – we had a nice chat at the end with the manageress who was interested in why my son chose to bring me there and also in other teas I had been to- she told us they were changing their tea next week as they do regularly and would be offering the “Royal Tea” from next week. Sigh, so many teas so little time !

This felt very special and the ambience,  décor and service were spot on.  We also enjoyed watching the comings and goings at the Royal mews – all the Bentleys and blacked out window cars going in and out.

Definitely one to recommend if you are visiting Buckingham Palace or fancy saying you have taken afternoon tea at the palace. 

Feb 2016

Back at Conrad St James again .......

22-28 Broadway, London, SW1H 0BH

The second of my teas this month was back to Conrad St James in Westminster. This is my 6^th visit to this hotel for tea – taking along four friends, two of which were totally new to afternoon tea but rather liked the idea of posh sandwiches, great service and the free flowing champagne. We went on a Saturday, a first for me and it was much busier than any other time I've been.

We arrived a little early and they said our table wasn't ready so we happily sat in the bar and ordered drinks – very helpful gin suggestion of Monkey 47 served with sliced plum and fevertree tonic which I hadn't tried before (delicious)

No sooner had we received our drinks, then we were whisked into our table in the food area of the bar. It’s the table I've sat at twice before but this time seemed very dark and the lights above it were blue – a couple of my friends are migraine sufferers and said that the blue light was already affecting them, so we asked to move. 

They were very understanding and moved us back into the bar area, set our table nicely and gave us the tea menus – we chose our tea and then were suddenly served with champagne (we still had our G & Ts )  very quickly followed by our tea so we had 3 drinks in front of us not quite knowing what to sip first …

g and t and champagne and tea 

There was a young lady playing the harp in the corner of the lounge 

The tiered plates were as delightful as ever a great selection including: smoked salmon blinis with caviar and crème fraîche

Mini stilton tartlet, Prawn cocktail with marie rose and lovely finger sandwiches - the roast beef ones were so delicious we asked for extra, and this is where it started to unravel .....

They said it would take 10 minutes to prepare - we said fine we could wait , but then they brought the warm scones. By the time our extra sandwiches arrived (much more than 10 minutes later ) and we'd eaten them, the scones were cold, so I asked if they could be reheated, which they did, but do feel they should have thought of this themselves. 

As ever the scones were perfect and the mixed berry curd quite exquisite. 

The Cakes and pastries were a joy to behold and to eat ... were weren't sure what we were eating but it was all amazing : 

The magic mirror
Salted butter shortbread, yogurt cream, frosted blueberries, sugar shards
Snow Queen's sceptre
Chocolate & pearl sponge, praline ganache dipped in chocolate, snowflake lace
Palace snowflakes
Blackcurrant and cardamom cake, crushed glittering meringue, silver snowflake
Blackberry kisses
Crème patisserie & blackberries

Snowstorm
Coconut cream, mint macaroon, candy floss

We were the last sitting at 5.30 and for the first time in all my visits here I felt rushed, we were told quite firmly when it was our last champers top up, and the bill was brought without us asking for it. 

I do know it says on the website that a sitting is 90 minutes, and we were there still at 7.30pm  and appreciate the free flowing champagne can't go on after the 90 minutes, but for the price £55 (I notice its going up to £65 in Feb ) plus 12 1/2 % service, and the cost of our G and Ts - the bill was over £72.

I've paid this happily in the past (both here and at other places) and for the amount and quality of food and drink it's still good value , but Afternoon Tea is about the experience and the service and sitting with friends over a lovely meal - it just wasn't quite there this time for me. Perhaps going on a Saturday is not the best day when the staff are busy and tired ? 

Laura Ashley The Manor - Afternoon tea in the Cavendish Restaurant

Barnet Lane, Elstree, Hertfordshire, WD6 3RE

Well it’s been a sorry old January weather wise but although very busy with the day job and trying very hard to get to the gym and have a dry January, still had time to try out a couple of afternoon teas.

This was the first of them – not far from where I live and a perfect Friday afternoon treat on a miserable cold day. The outside is very impressive, with tudor gabling (is that the right word? ) and wooden frames – and on arrival a blazing fire and comfy sofas in the reception.

It is a hotel and did look very welcoming – very friendly reception staff, and beautifully decorated. We waited for our friend on the sofas in the reception area and read the newspapers provided, feeling very chilled already.

When we were shown into the dining area we were  captivated by the gorgeous looking room – the wallpaper and all the crockery were so tasteful and a gorgeous view out of the window – it was dark but the lights of London were all below twinkling away, sadly was impossible to get a good photo with my phone but did make us think we should come back in the summer for the view.

 We were immediately offered the Twinings box of teas – I do enjoy sniffing the different flavours - and asked for recommendations -  I chose the superfruity tea.

When the food arrived it was of course presented on gorgeous Laura Ashley plates on a silver tiered frame.  

They had also made a good job of alternative sandwiches for my vegetarian companions – imaginative fillings rather than just cheese and egg and a couple of little sweet rolls and tartlets.

non veg choice including mini quiche, smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel , egg mayonaise, tuna and sweetcorn. smoked chicken brioche

Veggie choice - just as delicious! 

The warm scones (huge amounts for 3 of us !) were just right, crispy outside, fluffy inside,  served with lashings of jam and clotted cream and a choice of plain or fruit. 

We struggled to eat that many scones !

The final course of pastries was great, but my only criticism would be that there wasn't three of everything but two of some and one of others so we ended up trying to divide them and that made a bit of a mess !

Super fruity tea and mashed up pastries 

But would find it hard to fault the service or ambience - we of course outstayed our welcome and they were setting up for dinner by the time we left but we were never made to feel rushed. 

Great tea, very reasonably priced, (£24.95) no good for the diet but excellent for the soul ! We will definitely be back .