Afternoon Tea: Tale as Old as Time

There is a reason why the Tale as Old as Time afternoon tea has been fully booked since it first launched: IT IS AWESOME! I mean, so awesome that I have been recommending it to everyone as it is absolutely, hands down, my favourite afternoon tea of 2017 – maybe even ever! The afternoon tea actually premiered at The Kensington hotel earlier this year to celebrate the movie release of Beauty and the Beast. It sold out the first time, so the hotel decided to extend its run until the end of 2017. They’re even offering a festive version in December. My personal tip to you is to call the hotel directly to try to book there, as the various online booking systems still show fully booked until the end of the year.

We were very lucky to get a lovely table for two, and just in time to celebrate Editor, Rosie’s birthday! The beautiful period features and décor of The Kensington actually matches the movie and afternoon tea theme, and we cannot rave enough about the outstanding service of the Town House team. It’s also worth noting that you’re not time restricted; you won’t get kicked out after two hours, so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy this fabulous AT.

And it’s not just the AT offering that was sooooo good, it was also all the special little touches: Mrs. Potts and Chip china/ dishes and other characters from the story also make special appearances at your table. The whole setting is just

magical, made complete by really rather scrumptious food!

The delicious full menu includes:

Savouries

Bite size venison pie

Beef ragu & saffron arancini with lemon crème fraÎche

Cheese soufflé with roscoff onion pissaladière

A Selection of Sandwiches

Potted Argyle smoked salmon & crème fraÎche

Roast Devon red chicken & cranberry

Cucumber & cream cheese

Egg mayonnaise & cress

Marie’s Sweet Brioche Baguette

Apricot preserve & chocolate pot

Sweets

Vanilla & gold jelly

‘Try the grey stuff’ white chocolate mousse

Chocolate clock tart chocolate ganache

Spiced snow ball macaron coconut & chocolate

Speculoos dress marzipan

My fave was the ‘Try the grey stuff’ mousse served in the Chip cup. Or was it the savouries that arrived even before the cake stand appeared? The sandwiches were fantastic – fresh, soft bread and flavourful fillings. It was ALL terrific and you even get a Belle dress cookie to take home with you. The Town House team kept providing fresh pots of fine leaf tea to wash it all down.

I cannot enthuse enough about this outstanding afternoon tea, and I am on a waiting list to return for the festive version! Definitely an afternoon tea to remember, and to return to…

Town House Kensington, 109- 113 Queen’s Gate, Kensington, London, SW7 5LR

Reservations on 020 7589 6300 or visit: townhousekensington.com

Read more about our exciting afternoon tea adventures here!