The Afternoon Tea Awards 2018 reveal the best afternoon tea in Britain…

There’s little we love more in the UK than a good old afternoon tea. And afternoon tea’s have taken an upgrade from just a scone with cream and jam. In light of afternoon tea week (13-19th August) we’ve rounded up the list of winners from this year’s Afternoon Tea Awards 2018.

Held at the Hotel Café Royal and hosted by leading afternoon tea booking site afternoontea.co.uk, the afternoon tea awards 2018 recognises the best afternoon tea service and creativity from some of the UK’s finest hotels, restaurants and tea rooms.

The awards, judged independently by industry experts including Joanne Todd, Helen Vass, Emma Sturgess and Martin Chiffers, look at all aspects of the afternoon tea experience from booking to departure, with a strong focus on the food, drink and service.

Sponsored by leading international luxury tea company Newby Teas and the multi-award-winning Champagne Lanson brand, the Afternoon Tea Awards 2018 announced the winners in the following categories:

Best Traditional Afternoon Tea

Coworth Park, Ascot Set in stunning surroundings, Coworth Park serves a delicious afternoon tea with classically British flavour combinations inspired by the seasons. Described by the judges as “faultless, with an ambience that was lovely and intimate”. They also praised it’s “exquisite pastries” and “airy, light and fluffy scones”.

Best Contemporary Afternoon Tea

Rosewood, London Winners for Best Contemporary Afternoon Tea for the second year running, the Rosewood London’s Art Afternoon Tea, inspired by the London Art scene, puts a quirky spin on this mid-afternoon British tradition. Served in a mirrored room, the judges described the Rosewood’s afternoon tea as “utterly perfect and very sophisticated” with inspired pastries and an “ambiance that is relaxed, creating a calm grandeur.”

Best Tea Service – The Langham, London

Serving afternoon tea to the cream of London society since 1865, the dazzling Palm Court at The Langham, London, delights guests with a bespoke version of the afternoon tea tradition. Describing the tea service at The Langham, the judges said: “There is an impressive selection of high quality tea blends, paired with food. The tea sommelier was superb; passionate and knowledgeable, offering personalised recommendations and explanation throughout the experience.”

Best Children’s Afternoon Tea

Fortnum & Mason, London No longer just for adults, Fortum & Mason demonstrate just how afternoon tea can be the perfect treat for children too. Aimed at children 4-10 years, the judge’s described the Children’s Afternoon Tea at Fortum & Mason as “just the right size for a child” and looked “very pretty and appetizing, but not too serious.”
Hot chocolate, fruit juice or milk are offered as alternatives to tea and for those children with smaller appetites, a beautifully presented take home box is provided for left overs.

Best Themed Afternoon Tea

The Ampersand Hotel ‘Science Tea’, London A one-of-a-kind experience inspired by its South Kensington neighbour – The Science Museum – this interactive tea serves up a mix of exciting and curious dishes, from jams served in petri dishes, to chocolate spacemen and dinosaur biscuits. The judges described the Science Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel as “a creative feast” that “made having afternoon tea a really fun experience, executed really well, being both jovial and luxurious at the same time.”

Awards of excellence were awarded to carefully selected afternoon tea providers who demonstrated an exceptional level of service. These fell into two categories: ‘Highly Commended’ and ‘Commended’.

Keith Newton, Managing Director of AfternoonTea.co.uk, host of the Afternoon Tea Awards, said:   “This year our team of judges have visited venues in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and were impressed by the high standard of Afternoon Tea being served across the country. “These are the only Afternoon Tea Awards to judge the entire customer experience, from arrival to departure, with a strong emphasis on food, tea and service.

“Over the past year chefs have demonstrated flair and creativity with their Afternoon Tea menus. Combine this with high levels of service and Afternoon Tea continues to be the perfect experience for all occasions.”