Ah Afternoon Tea Week, the annual week-long celebration of the nation’s favourite (and tastiest) past-time. Now an excuse to indulge on tasty delicacies and a good old cup of tea over a chat with friends, afternoon tea was first established almost 200 years ago. So, what better way to celebrate this national institution than raising a cup, spreading a scone and enjoying an afternoon of dessert-sampling?
Taking place between 9 and 15 August this year, we round up the most scrumptious spas to visit during Afternoon Tea Week.
Elements Restaurant at The Spa at Carden
At The Spa at Carden, guests can continue their pamper day with a champagne afternoon tea post-spa treatment. Located right on the spa premises, the Elements Restaurant won’t just serve healthy light bites and divine sweet treats, but also stunning views over the Spas Award-Winning Spa Garden and rolling Cheshire countryside. Using locally sourced ingredients, diners can refuel after their stress-free spa day on the likes of traditional flavoured finger sandwiches, colourful macaroons and homemade scones. They can cleanse their palette in between savoury and sweet bites with either a freshly brewed cuppa or glass of Carden Park Estate Reserve bubbly, which is harvested on the grounds.
Afternoon tea starts from £25 per person and spa days start from £135 per person.
Titanic Spa Bistro
As the UK’s first ever eco-spa, the afternoon tea at Titanic Spa Bistro is no exception to conscious living. Staying true to their sustainable roots, the Titanic Spa Bistro uses in-season local produce helping to keep down food mileage while benefitting the local community. With a thriving dedication to healthy post-spa day cuisine, this afternoon tea menu changes alongside the seasons. In summer, guests can expect fruity sponge cakes and berry jams, whilst come winter they’ll be tasting spiced sweet treats and Christmas themed hot drinks.
Afternoon tea starts from £12.95 per person and spa days start from £85 per person.
Spa Lounge at The Spa at Bedford Lodge Hotel
In between treatments, guests at The Spa at Bedford Lodge can continue their relaxation with a luxury afternoon tea in the spa lounge. Spa-goers can sit back soaking up the sunshine while they indulge in dusted scones, delicious sweet treats and perfectly filled finger sandwiches. Then they can wash it all down with an herbal tea or for something a bit more boujee, opt for a refreshing glass of bubbly.
Afternoon tea starts from £23 per person and spa days start from £135 per person.
Armathwaite Hotel and Spa
No ordinary afternoon tea, Armathwaite nods to traditional offerings while putting their own creative spin on all-time favourites. More cosmopolitan than your usual British afternoon tea, the teas available here have been imported from all over the country, from Kenya to the Himalayas. But still paying homage to its original heritage, the Armathwaite Hall afternoon tea offers fruit scones with clotted cream, bitesize salmon tarts and mini savoury pastries, paired with a mouth-watering selection of sweet bites. If guests are after something a bit stronger than tea or coffee, they can instead treat themselves by upgrading to the champagne afternoon tea. After a morning revitalising the mind, body and spirit in the spa, this is the perfect spot for guests to relish in their inner world a little longer, all while overlooking the picturesque Lake District.
Afternoon tea starts from £26.50 per person and spa days start from £145 per person.
The Oak House at Moddershall Oaks
Nestled on the edge of Moddershall Oaks’ private lake, The Oak House serves a beautifully crafted afternoon tea with an even more stunning backdrop. Available to both spa guests and the public, this afternoon tea is packed with flavour and diners can be sure to expect inventive twists on best-loved classics. Sandwiches range from beef and horseradish to sundried tomato and pesto, while the sweet cakes include a mini lemon meringue pie and a tiramisu espresso cup. Brand new to The Oak House, there is now a vegan edition of the afternoon tea where some of the light bites include almond cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches, banana loaf with coconut yoghurt and a vegan chocolate brownie. All ingredients are organic, locally sourced and in season and there are champagne and vegan prosecco upgrades available.
Afternoon tea starts from £22.95 per person and spa days start from £95 per person.
Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa
With an exclusive feeling of relishing in your own little world, the recently renovated Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa is the islands only hotel. Its new design reflects and complements the beauty of the island’s nature and wildlife, while providing an intimate wellbeing retreat. After a day of treatments, spa-goers can round off their secluded spa break with a sumptuous afternoon tea at the Oran Na Mara Bistro. As they soak up the 360-degree coastal views of Loch Fyne, Cowal Hills and Staffa Island, diners can enjoy an afternoon of indulgence with traditional scones and cream, sweet cakes and a selection of warming teas.
Afternoon tea starts from £45 per person and spa access starts from £25 per person (plus extra for treatments).
→crerarhotels.com/isle-of-mull-hotel-spa
The Tea Room at The Midland Hotel
As Manchester’s very own multi-award-winning city-centre spa escape, The Midland Hotel is perfect for city-lovers who wish to escape the hustle and bustle for a while. An undoubtable highlight of the hotel is their Tea Room, which is truly dedicated to afternoon tea and popular among the city’s social scene. Suitable for any foodie, The Tea Room has six options available: traditional, royal, gluten free, vegetarian, vegan and even a smaller children’s menu. While each offering is quintessentially British, they all take a fresh approach. With a selection of sandwiches from coronation chicken to honey roasted gammon and a range of dessert treats including dark chocolate orange Jaffa cake and a duck egg custard tart with berries, a visit to The Tea Room is an afternoon of true indulgence.
Afternoon tea starts from £28 per person (and £13.50 for children) and spa access starts from £30 per person.
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