Tea Reviews:  United Kingdom

Claridge's Hotel, London, England

Visited: October, 2001
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Preparation: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This was a supreme pleasure. The staff and service were beyond compare. They went over the top to cater to us. The weather was frightful and we were late for the theater. The Hotel had their Rolls take us the few blocks. The food was wonderful, and there was plenty of it. I wish there was such a place in the states!
Reviewer: C Byrd Add your review   

The Dorchester, London, UK

Visited: February, 1999
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: A brisk walk from the Hyde Park Corner Station is The Dorchester, London's opulent hotel: 1,500 square meters of gold leaf and 1,100 of marble gild! What a perfect setting for Afternoon Tea! I felt like royalty from the moment I walked in. If it's the "right" season and you are bundled up, do check your coats and bags -- you'll feel so important! And women, the Ladies' Room is so lovely, you simply must check it out -- marble walls, a skirted dressing table, linen hand towels.
The Promenade, where tea at The Dorchester is traditionally served, has a variety of seating options including luxurious sofas at low tables and wingback chairs at side tables. The setting is one of elegance: marble columns, heavy wall tapestries, gold gilt mirrors, silk and linen fabrics, and huge planters filled with green palms and extravagant flowers.
Our server, Carleen, was Austrian, and very knowledgeable and kind. The table was set with a beautiful Wedgwood china service, including a matching hot water pot. Sugar was Demerera cubes. The linen napkins, which Carleen placed in our laps, were embroidered The Promenade. Tea strainer, sugar tongs, and knife and fork were heavy silver.
As our tea, we chose The Dorchester Blend. It was good (but unremarkable) and available for purchase. I am glad there was a hot water pot on the table as I prefer my tea on the weak side and the tea leaves were left in the teapot.
The tea food -- besides being absolutely stunning in appearance -- was excellent. Sandwiches included smoked trout; salmon; egg salad; cucumber; and chicken. The scones had a "dinner roll" quality, two were plain and two contained raisins, and were offered wrapped in a linen napkin upon a separate plate. Of course, jam and clotted cream were also offered. Desserts were The Dorchester's signature fancy white chocolate "parcels" wrapped around amaretto cherry mousse; miniature coffee "éclairs;" coffee and chocolate torte; almond and fruit tartlets; and orange citrus cake.
The sandwiches and desserts, laden on large, heavy (looking) silver trays and served with silver tongs, were presented by the servers, table by table. It was hard not going for seconds (or thirds or fourths) of everything!
Price of Afternoon Tea at The Dorchester was £19.5, which included the service charge. Please don't be intimidated by what you have just read. Yes, it was quite elegant and grand, but everyone there made us feel very comfortable and relaxed. I highly recommend Afternoon Tea at The Dorchester. You will never forget it. I haven't.
NOTE: If you plan on visiting The Dorchester for tea, you might want to call a week or two in advance to secure a reservation.
Reviewer: Tea Lover  Add your review

Fortnum & Mason, London, UK

Visited: October, pre-1998
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Good.  Service: Good.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: My husband and I enjoyed tea in the ground floor room at Fortnum and Mason. Although it was a few years ago, we had a much different experience than the previous reviewer. The room was attractive, seating comfortable and the food delicious. I enjoyed salmon and cucumber sandwiches and we had lovely desserts. It was a respite from shopping for gifts in the busy food hall at the end of a European trip. Of course we took home Queen Anne blend tea.
Reviewer: Scooter  Add your review  

Visited: February, 1999
Tea: Good.  Food: Good.  Service: Fair.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: We had tea on the fourth floor of Fortnum and Mason on a very busy weekday afternoon. We got off the elevator and walked into one very large room which was filled with tables -- and filled with people! I would describe the atmosphere as busy, but there did seem to still be that spirit of relaxation present.
There was "bench seating" around the perimeter of the room's walls, and this is where we were seated for tea. NOT my favorite style of seating. There was a grand piano in a far corner of the room being played by a man, and at one point he treated us to "Tea for Two!"
Our table was set with plain china (I can't even remember what it looked like, so it obviously didn't make a big impression on me). On the table were two tea strainers, a small milk pitcher, and a sugar bowl of Demerera sugar.
For my tea, I ordered the Queen Catherine blend. The server brought a hot water pot along with the teapot, as the tea was not decanted. The food arrived on a three-tier tray. Sandwiches were cream cheese and chive; smoked salmon; chicken salad; cucumber; and prosciutto. There were four scones on the tray and, though plain, were delicious. Strawberry jam and Devon cream were served alongside. Desserts were a fruit tartlette; chocolate tarte (very, very good!), and a cake which looked like a Dundee cake.
For the price of Afternoon Tea here -- 16 pounds (NOT INCLUDING service charge!), I was quite disappointed, and especially with the quality of service. They were very busy that day, but I have a feeling it's probably always like that. Our server never returned to see if we cared for more tea, nor did she describe our food to us. She did not even pour our first cup of tea.
Of course, Fortnum and Mason is a shopper's paradise, so next time I think I'll stay downstairs, shop -- and skip Afternoon Tea.
Reviewer: Tea Lover  Add your review 

The Ritz, London, England

Visited: May, 2005.  Reviewed: November, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: OH MY! What a delight! I celebrated my birthday while in London earlier this year and a small group of us thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in The Palm Court. Everything from the doorman greeting us on our way in to the pianist playing happy birthday for me was excellent. I will cherish the memories of The Ritz for the rest of my life!
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Myrtle Add your review  

Visited: October, 2001
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: My husband and I thought the experience was absolutely lovely. The setting was superb and the service was outstanding. It's a bit pricey (it translated to about $90 for the two of us), but it was worthy every penny. The food and tea were beyond words and there certainly was not a shortage of either. For anyone going to London, my recommendation is go to the Ritz and indulge yourself!
Reviewer: greeneggs7@hotmail.com Add your review  

Parched Tea Bar, Manchester, England

Visited: August, 2008.  Meal: Cream tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: Parched is definitely tea Heaven, with a modern layout, well located in the middle of the Modern Arndale Centre Market in Manchester City Centre. It is definitely service with a smile and the cream tea I had was excellent quality-there is a such a variety of teas to choose from, 60 in fact including loose leaf teas and tisanes. I am very partial to the fresh peppermint tea, its a good way to relax after a hectic day in the city, and am looking forward to a good pot of rooibos tea next time I'm down. I must say I do enjoy a good toastie but there are also bagels and fresh delicious sandwiches to choose from. Yes I do look forward to my next visit and the friendly, personal service. Marcy seems to know all her regular customers by name which is rare these days.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Smilindude  9/08 Add your review