The Aviator Hotel - Farnborough

The Aviator Hotel - Sky Bar 13th July 2013

This trip was for the hotel not specifically afternoon tea, however once we discovered that they offered it, it would have been remiss not to try. The price is shown at £23 and we assumed per person but we were charged only £23 for the two of us (noticed after we had checked out and where on the way home), if it is for two then it is amazing value. If it is per person and it was an error then still excellent value but you may class it as a treat.

There is normally a requirement to book at least 24 hours in advance but when we asked in the morning, the team were very accommodating and said they could fit us in. Normally it woud have been served on the Terrace but the hotel had a lage wedding that afternoon that had booked the whole of it so it was served in the very nice Sky Bar, this is not second best but my photos do not do it justice.

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When we arrived there were a number of others having tea, the bar is a very relaxing bar and makes a very good setting for afternoon tea. The service from start to finish was first class.

We ordered the usual coffee for one and on this occasion tea is served a little differently  You are given a large shining pot of hot water and on the table is a very large selection of Clipper tea bags and you can choose which you prefer. I got three different types of tea from my one pot of water.

The tea pot was gleaming and kept the water very hot for the duration.

 

The detail was there throughout, including the matching bowl for the used tea bags, the sparkling cutlery and immaculate high quality linen napkins.

The food was served with the sandwiches on a plate and the cakes, desserts and scones on a modern tier stand.

The Sandwiches consisted of: Chilli cream cheese, Salmon and cucumber, Chicken and egg mayonnaise . There were dressed with rocket and came with two mini eggs. each finger had a good size filling and the breads were all made in house were exceptionally fresh and their own speciality breads. They were very very good indeed, the best yet!

The tier had a very good selection of cakes, mini desserts and of course scones.

The scones were warm and very fresh and came with a pot of jam to share and plenty of clotted cream presented with a strawberry on top.

We moved to desserts next as it was a very hot day and the mousse. There was a chocolate one that was great for chocoholics, heaven and  raspberry one. Again the presentation and the exceptionally high quality was there.

At this point we were getting quite full but in no rush, we were not going to leave anything (unlike some others that struggled. Onto the cakes, the mini lemon meringue pies were so tasty as were the macaroons and then there is the triangle. We had no idea what to expect with this but it is a sponge cake with pistachio cream filling. The time it must have taken to make this and slice and it stay perfect with it being squashed again showed the patisserie chef off to his best. The detail and the skill and of course the taste was simply perfect.

Overall this was first class in every which way, the service was exceptional and the bar manager was attentive, the food was of the highest standard and presentation second to none. If anyone is ever in the area and wants a fantastic afternoon experience, book in, allow time and enjoy. Plus they do fabulous cocktails.

The Aviator Hotel