Proper Tea Room, Manchester Cathedral

Proper Tea Thursday 17th April 2014

I popped in on my way back to the car from lots of business meeting that had started at 630am. I decided that I deserved a treat and as it was middle of the afternoon and I had no lunch it seemed a very good idea. I don't normally have afternoon tea on my own (I doubt many do), but I asked and it was not a problem for one.

The interior design has rustic charm with a vintage feel and is very welcoming. It's nice to have odd and quirky but with order and planned designed. I understand that NoChintz from Manchester's Northern Quarter came up with it. There was plenty of vintage music in the background and with it being a quiet time when I was in this was welcomed.

Anyway back to the food and drink, firstly there is an excellent choice of teas and they are all loose leaf. If you want to add a glass of Prosecco to it you can, but I stuck with the traditional tea at £16 per person.

The staff were very pleasant and the speed of service was excellent.

The first thing to arrive was the tea and presented with a timer and instructions for the desired strength. Loved the milk in the tiny milk bottle.

Then came the food, I will say at this point that had I known they were feeding the 5000 I may have re-considered having afternoon tea on my own. I did feel a tad piggish when it arrived!

                  

I am not sure that these photos really show just how large the portions were but I did take a box home with me!

The sandwiches were very fresh and were truly filled! Ham and Cheese and Chicken and Avocado were the two fillings and a total of six triangles.

As for the cakes what do I say, no small miniature versions here, full blown slices, not forgetting the home made fudge (which was awesome). The chocolate was flour free and soooooo good, the rainbow cake was moist and very tasty. There was a chocolate and raspberry torte, the traditional scone (not a small one either) with jam and cream (plus butter) oh and two ginger biscuits.

As I said I did take much home in a box and shared with hubby as there was plenty for two in a one person portion. 

I have to say that the food, the venue and the value for money was excellent however, the amount served was excessive and in some ways off putting. I do not like waste and to be honest I'm not the type of person that asks for a box but felt in this case that it was really necessary to do so. I don't believe such large portions need to be served, small versions of the cakes would be preferred by many I think and four triangles all different would be preferred personally.

It is a really nice place to visit and well worth it, but go very very hungry!

Proper Tea, Manchester Cathedral 

Georges, Worsley

Georges, Worsley 12th April 2014

Called in a couple of weeks prior and booked a table for four of us for a Saturday afternoon. No problem booking a table, and when we arrived it was quite busy with some parties including one with Bobby Charlton and a group of Chinese people.

We were seated immediately. We were booked for afternoon tea but opted for additional drinks, the service at this point started to be questionable. It took us a few goes to get drinks and eventually we did but then had to chase for the tea and coffee that went with the afternoon tea.

The food was quite prompt and to be fair it was very good with a good twist and the personal touch. At £15.95 per person not a bad price for the status of the restaurant.

The sandwiches included: Creamed Goats Cheese & Cucumber, Tea Smoked Salmon, Egg Mayonnaise with Cress, Honey Glazed Ham & Grain Mustard and Roast Beef and Horseradish. All beautifully presented and very fresh. Nice to have a selection of rolls too.

As with a traditional tea there were fresh scones and they were very good, served with jam and clotted cream.

There was a very good selection of homemade cakes and treats including millionaires shortbread, sponge cake, fruit cake, eccles cake and chocolate brownie.

                

Overall the food was excellent and good value for money, but the service was poor.  When the food was brought it was placed at one side so that two of the four of us had one of the tiers each and when we checked if that was one each she said yes, clearly it was not but we had to re-ask someone else when we eventually found someone that could help. It was to be shared between the four and should have been served as such. The young waitress really needed further training.

It took an age to get the bill (we had to ask 3 times), we had to work out where they had put our coats (in a hidden type cupboard) and get ourselves. All minor but really did let the experience down. This is a shame as having eaten here for an evening meal this was the opposite of previously.

The food and presentation is great and on this occasion the service did not meet what was expected in such an establishment. It was with friends but thankfully not a special occasion.

Georges, Worsley