Fancy a Spot of Afternoon Tea?

This year has given us a fabulous excuse to eat lots of delicious goodies; Afternoon Tea Week is officially being celebrated between 12–18 August! The week will highlight the British tradition of Afternoon Tea and the fantastic choice of venues in the UK to enjoy it from quaint tea rooms, to 5* hotels, to countryside retreats, city boutiques and everything in between.

Afternoon Tea is a tea-related ritual, introduced in Britain in the early 1840s. It evolved as a mini meal to stem the hunger and anticipation of an evening meal at 8pm. It is usually composed of sandwiches (cut delicately into ‘fingers’), scones with clotted cream and jam, sweet pastries and cakes. Interestingly, scones were not a common feature of early Afternoon Tea and were only introduced in the twentieth century.

Afternoon Tea was initially developed as a private social event for ladies who climbed the echelons of society. It was only when Queen Victoria engaged in the Afternoon Tea ritual that it became a formal occasion on a larger scale, known as ‘tea receptions’. These receptions could have as many as two hundred guests with an open ‘at home’ invitation to visit between 4pm and 7pm, during which they could come and go as they pleased; this was the beginning of the Afternoon Tea as we know it.

Here in South Wales we are spoilt for choice for venues to indulge in a spot of Afternoon Tea, here are some of our favourite venues to spoil ourselves:

The Vale Resort

Celebrate something special or indulge in a little treat with a decadent Afternoon Tea at the Vale Resort. Enjoy a selection of Welsh themed finger sandwiches, traditional cakes and a nice pot of speciality tea or coffee from £35 for two Wednesday-Friday or £40 for two on a Saturday and Sunday served between 1.30–4.30pm. valeresort.com

Piglets at The Boars Head

Piglets offers a delicious Afternoon Tea from £14.95pp. With a wide choice of sandwiches and cakes, including a gluten free option. You can also enjoy a prosecco afternoon tea for £17.95pp or if Gin is your thing, they offer a great Gin High Tea for £21.95pp with a selection of 2 gins and a variety of mixers. For full details visit their Facebook page.

Bradleys Coffee Talbot Green

Bradleys offers Afternoon Tea from £15pp which includes a selection of sandwiches and cakes, fruit and unlimited tea and coffee! For a £2.50 surcharge you can swap tea and coffee for one of their luxury drinks or specialist teas/coffees — well worth a visit! bradleyscoffee.co.uk

The Polkadot Teapot

This lovely tea room in Llantrisant offers delicious and speciality Afternoon Teas on beautiful vintage china. From £12.50pp they offer freshly prepared finger sandwiches, warm home-made scones, a variety of delicious cakes and pastries and a choice of tea, coffee or a soft drink. More details and a full menu can be found on their Facebook page.

Lanelay Hall

Traditional Afternoon Tea is offered in the luxurious surroundings of Lanelay Hall for £20pp. Goodies on offer include a selection of finger sandwiches, home-made scones and a selection of miniature cakes. You can also add a glass of prosecco for £25pp or have a half bottle of champagne for £32pp (shared between 2). For a full menu visit lanelayhall.co.uk.

The Deli Pontyclun

At the Deli Pontyclun Afternoon Tea for £15.95 per person includes a wide range of finger sandwiches and freshly homemade pastries and cakes, served on bone china crockery, together with an assortment of speciality teas to choose from. If you’d like to bring your own wine/fizz, feel free, corkage is included. thedelicatessenpontyclun.co.uk