City and Country Hotels
27th July 2010
Whether you're a day-tripper or holiday-maker, taking afternoon tea in one of The Tea Guild's City or Country Hotels is the ultimate way to spend an afternoon.
As well as indulging in an array of delicious tea-time treats, these Award of Excellence-winning venues are also the ideal places to visit for an entertaining day out - many combine culture, history, beautiful views and delicious afternoon tea - in one.
Bingham, Richmond
The former home of Lady Anne Bingham is now the chic, modern Bingham hotel, which serves an Award of Excellence-winning afternoon tea.
The riverside location is ideal for al fresco dining and guests can watch the River Thames glide by as they indulge in an array of foodie delights. The menu includes tasty sandwiches (such as cucumber; free range egg and cress; organic smoked salmon and honey-roast ham and pommery mustard), classic scones served with clotted cream and a selection of handmade fruit preserves and an array of cakes and pastries such as Valrhona chocolate and cardamom cake, summer fruit tart, spiced carrot cake and pistachio macaroons. The excellent teas on the menu include organic Maojian green tea (a clean, grassy brew with a 'palate refreshing finish,') 'light, graceful' rose buds and classic Assam and Earl Grey varieties.
Apres-tea activities include exploring nearby Richmond Park, visiting the famed Petersham Nurseries or simply strolling along the riverbank - the gardens lead directly to an old tow-path.
61 - 63 Petersham Road, Richmond TW10 6UT / 020 8940 0902 / www.thebingham.co.uk
Manor House Hotel, Wiltshire
As the first winner of The Tea Guild’s brand new Top City and Country Hotel Award, The Manor House Hotel is truly the ultimate venue if you’re looking to spend a special afternoon taking tea in a British hotel. Afternoon tea in hotels is consistently popular and Nicholas Roullier, Food and Beverage Manager at the hotel, believes the tradition is a great way to "socialize and celebrate occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries and family reunions." Manor House Hotel has found the perfect formula as our anonymous tea inspectors were awed by the high standards of service as well as the "supreme" scones on their secret judging visits.
Combining afternoon tea with a day out is the perfect way to spend a Summer's day. Nicholas' favourite activities in the hotel’s vicinity include "wandering around Britain's prettiest village, Castle Combe," a trip to Castle Combe race track and visiting the magnificent Westonbirt Arboretum. If you’d prefer to base yourself in one place, guests at the hotel can stroll around 365 acres of gardens and woodland and even take tea (in the form of a picnic) by the Bybrook River, which flows through the grounds.
The superb tea menu includes excellent descriptions of the individual brews, their flavour, brewing times and provenance – there is a tea for every taste! Our favourites include Assam Choice Estate (described as a "black tea from the Rani Satrupa estate in Assam… delicate and slightly sweet, with a hint of Swiss chocolate. These exquisite black tea leaves grow in a shady valley surrounded by the Himalayas") and Green Blossom ("smooth green tea leaves bound together with chrysanthemum flowers that create a floating flower as it infuses. This artisan crafted Chinese display tea… yields a buttery finish…")
As well as the full afternoon tea (with finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and an optional glass of champagne) guests can also order a simple cream tea (with scones) or an indulgent cream tea and cakes (currently classic chocolate, lemon wrapped in white chocolate and red berry tart are on the menu.)
And on August 30th, Manor House Hotel is holding a night of open-air theatre when A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed under the stars. Starting at 5.30pm this gives guests the perfect opportunity to indulge in afternoon tea beforehand!
The Manor House Hotel & Golf Club, Castle Combe, Nr Bath, Wiltshire, SN14 7HR / 01249 784812 / www.manorhouse.co.uk
Ashdown Hotel, East Sussex
Keep your fingers crossed for fine weather and take tea on the sun-trap terrace of this Award of Excellence-winning country house hotel. Previously a convalescent home for injured World War I soldiers, a university and nun's novitiate – as well as being a stately home! – Ashdown Park is an elegant venue for afternoon tea.
If you're planning a trip with children, younger family members will love the Winnie The Pooh-themed afternoon tea which includes 'hunny' sandwiches, Rabbit's carrot sticks, Roo's fruit salad, a Kanga cupcake, Tigger's sponge and Owl's popped corn. Meanwhile adults will adore the classic set afternoon tea (which comprises traditional finger sandwiches; scones served with strawberry preserve and a selection of scrumptious cakes, tea breads and pastries) all served with a delicious selection of teas.
After tea, if strolling around the hotel's immaculately kept gardens and lawns or walking the woodland trails isn't enough, guests can indulge in a luxurious spa treatment or take in a round of golf on the 18-hole golf course. On August 30th the hotel is putting on an afternoon of gourmet and musical delights - your tea will be served on the lawn (overlooking the lake) while a live band plays jazz.
Wych Cross, Nr Forest Row, East Sussex RH18 5JR / 01342 824988 / www.ashdownpark.com
Pennyhill Hotel, Surrey
One of The Tea Guild’s newest members, Pennyhill Hotel is elegantly decorated and the 123 acres of parkland surrounding the hotel provide the perfect location for a day out - culminating with a scrumptious (and Award of Excellence-winning) afternoon tea. Taken on the terrace, if you’re lucky with the weather!
The menu offers several set teas and a wide array of brews - including Margaret’s Hope Darjeeling 2nd Flush, Oolong, Organic Dragon Well Green Tea and classic Assam and Earl Grey blends along with fine finger sandwiches, scones and a selection of mouth-watering cakes and pastries.
Sports fans would be advised to combine their trip with a visit to nearby Ascot, Sunningdale or Wentworth while the sights of Windsor castle are a mere twenty minutes away. If you'd rather stay on-site (quite frankly, who wouldn’t?!) take in a genteel game of croquet or a game of tennis (complimentary to residents).
London Road, Bagshot, Surrey GU19 5EU / 01276 471774 / www.pennyhillpark.co.uk
Swinton Park, North Yorkshire
Walking on the moors in a popular pre-afternoon tea activity - it’s the ultimate way to work up an appetite for Swinton Park's Award of Excellence-winning afternoon tea!
Take your tea in the impressive drawing room, chic bar area or al fresco, alongside the River Ure. You could catch sight of the park's deer herds or watch a croquet match in full swing. Alternatively views of the beautifully tended gardens provide an attractive vista.
If you're visiting the area, choose the Wensleydale Tea which is served with local Wensleydale cheese and fruitcake and your choice of teas form the wide selction (which include the 'floral' China Rose, 'light and citrus' Ceylon, 'distinctive and smoky' Lapsang Souchong and gemstone-inspired Blue Sapphire loose teas.) All cakes are freshly-baked at the hotel and the preserves are locally sourced from one of the villages on the estate.
Ripon, Masham, North Yorkshire HG4 4JH / 01765 680900 / www.swintonpark.com
The Angel
This Welsh hotel - formerly a coaching inn - has cleverly managed to create a busy, bustling feel while guests still feel totally relaxed and unrushed. The ambience - and, of course, the delicious afternoon teas - have scored The Angel a prestigious Award of Excellence for the past three years running!
Afternoon tea comprises a selection of sandwiches (Black Mountain smoked salmon; marinated cucumber and cream cheese; home-cooked ham and egg mayonnaise and cress) which are followed by warm scones served with strawberry jam and your choice of clotted cream, whipped cream or butter. Finally a selection of freshly-baked pastries (made by in-house baker, Sally Lane) or a bowl of strawberries (depending on which menu you choose) is the perfect ending to your meal.
Abergavenny is known as the 'gateway to the Brecon Beacons' and visitors can experience all the famed hill walking area has to offer. The handy 'doggy bags' provided for any uneaten cakes are perfect for taking on a post-tea walk (and the contents are ideal to revive you if you start to flag on your journey!)
15 Cross Street, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire NP7 5EN / 01873 857121 / www.angelhotelabergavenny.com
Turnberry, Ayrshire
This Scottish hotel with stunning sea-views only recently joined The Tea Guild but already it's been given a prestigious Award of Excellence. Tea is served inthe elegant Grand Tea Lounge and it makes the ideal activity after a day in the hotel's spa, on its golf course, horse-riding or touring the historic local area. The menu changes regularly to accommodate the seasons.
Turnberry Resort, Maidens Road, Turnberry KA26 9LT / 01655 331000/ www.luxurycollection.com/turnberry
The Palm Court at The Balmoral, Edinburgh
With a wonderful city-centre location, afternoon tea at the Award of Excellence-winning Palm Court is the perfect day to round off a day spent shopping and sightseeing in Scotland’s historical capital city. From the elegant boutiques around Princes Street to the breath-taking views from Edinburgh castle or perhaps an edgy comedy show at the Fringe Festival, the city offers a huge range of activities - all of which are perfectly accompanied by afternoon tea. The luxurious Palm Court, the focal point of which is a glistening chandelier, is a stylish venue for tea and your meal will be accompanied by the dulcet tones of the hotel’s harpist.
But what about the food? Start with a variety of finger sandwiches, including Scottish smoked salmon, cucumber and milled pepper, plum tomato and chives, Cheddar cheese; Scottish beef with red onion marmalade and egg mayonnaise with cress. These are followed by a choice of scones: fruit, heather honey or mini chocolate scones are all on the menu, served with Devon clotted cream and a selection of preserves. Finally your sweet tooth will be satisfied by a piece of traditional Balmoral shortbread or freshly-baked pastries such as Dundee cake, classic sponge or chocolate tiffin. All washed down with an excellent selection of teas, of course!
1 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2EQ / 0131 556 2414 / www.thebalmoralhotel.com
The Quarterdeck at the Nare, Cornwall
Celebrating its first Award of Excellence, this seaside hotel is perched above the glorious sands of Carne Beach. Its perfect position means it’s the ideal place to go for aseaside day out, culminating in afternoon tea! As well as the beach below, the coastal path, leading to views of Gerrans Bay and Nare Head, offers a great place to stretch your legs, before or after your tea-time treats.
Guests can indulge in a classic Cornish cream tea in the drawing room and, in fine weather, afternoon tea is taken on the glorious terrace with stunning sea views. There is a lovely array of set menus to choose from (We like The Captain’s Tea, which includes a smoked salmon sandwich, glass of champagne and strawberries and cream). Sandwiches include roast chicken with sun-dried tomatoes and basil mayonnaise, home cooked ham with homemade grape chutney and West Country Cheddar with red onion marmalade. The local sweet specialities include hot buttered toasted saffron cake and Cornish farlings. All are served with English-grown tea from the nearby Cornish tea estate of Tregothnan.
Veryon, Near Truro, Cornwall TR2 5PF / 01872 501111 / www.narehotel.co.uk
The River Bar at The Lowry, Manchester
The judges of The Tea Guild's Top Country and City Hotel award praised The Lowry for it’s 'serene' atmosphere and chic, modern décor and bestowed a coveted Award of Excellence on the venue. Ideally situated for visitors to the international city of Manchester - with its buzzing nightlife, arty scene and world-class shopping – afternoon tea at the hotel is the perfect activity to incorporate on your trip.
Served in the sleek, contemporary bar or on the terrace overlooking the wharf, afternoon tea comprises sandwiches (including honey roast ham with wholegrain mustard; free range egg and watercress; and Lancashire cheese with tomato), freshly baked fruit or plain scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserve followed by a selection of mouth-wateringly fresh pastries and sweet 'fancies.'
These foodie treats are washed down with your choice of loose-leaf teas. Organic Downy Tip Green Mao Jian ('a lovely, clean tea that suits all occasions'); Earl Grey ('refreshing and sweet with citrus charm') and a ('balanced and full') Afternoon Blend are all on the dedicated tea menu.
50 Dearmans Place, Chapel Wharf, Salford, Manchester M3 5LH / 0161 827 4000 / www.roccofortecollection.com