Bertram's, Burnley, Lancashire

Bertram's Burnley 13th October 2013

Called on the Saturday for the Sunday to book a table for two and had no problem with getting a reservation. I have had afternoon tea once before here as part of a networking event but wanted to try it out for real as a treat and in detail with hubby. The cost was £13.95 per person so not the cheapest but not the most expensive.

We arrived early but this wasn't a problem (probably due to the fact that there were not many people there). We were seated by the window which overlooks the outside spa area with fields beyond. The restaurant is very relaxing, it is warm and quiet with relaxing music making it very comfortable. You are made to feel welcome and there is no rush.

We were offered tea and coffee as soon as we were seated and advised that the afternoon tea cam with a selection of sandwiches and cakes.

The tea was a very nice afternoon tea blend and was loose tea, on request there was no problem with getting further hot water to make further cups. The coffee was served in a small cafetiere with plenty of milk and sugar. More coffee was available at no extra cost.

The drinks were served with a small piece of home made flapjack which again was a very nice touch.

The food arrived and not on one two tier stand but two, we had one each. These tiers are incredibly heavy and made from slate, very nice.

As you can see from the photo the presentation is exceptional. There were four sandwich quarters, to egg and watercress and two ham and mustard. the bread was very fresh and of good quality. In addition, there was a very good parma ham focaccia and mozzarella and tomato crostini with tapenade.

The scone was a cherry scone served with strawberry jam in a nice little pot with plenty of fresh cream. The nice touch of having small spoons for different things was appreciated.

The deserts consisted of a chocolate and pistachio brownie, an expresso tiramisu and and raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake.

Overall this was a treat, I thought it was very good value for money and we were very full when we left. We certainly did not need to cook that evening. It is always surprising when you think about what you have in terms of four quarters of sandwiches and small cakes but it really was very filling. It was great to have refills of tea and coffee as you do need those extra cups when there is so much filling food.

The service was very good and the quality of the cutlery and crockery was very high, the attention to detail was there and that makes it special. 

Bertram's, Crow Wood, Burnley

The Hungry Duck, Ramsbottom

The Hungry Duck, Ramsbottom 29th September 2013

This trip was not booked, we turned up and chose the afternoon tea for two option from the menu. It is £8.50 per person or £14.50 for two and says a selection of sandwiches and cakes. The staff are very nice and we were attended to quickly.

We were served the tea and coffee quickly after ordering and it was OK, the tea was a tea bag not loose but a nice taste. The food is made to order so it does take time as expected, as afternoon tea should be an experience anyway this is more than fine. We were not offered extra tea of coffee as with some places but then again this is not as expensive as others.

The food was served on plain white matching crockery and a two tier afternoon tea tier and as for presentation again it was OK, nothing wrong with it but just didn't have the wow factor.

As you can see from the photo compared to other afternoon teas this is somewhat lacking. Don't get me wrong the actual food was excellent. I will say that the salmon sandwich was the nicest tasting that I have ever had. The other sandwiches were cheese and tomato and a lovely chicken with a tasty mayonnaise. The carrot cake was also very good indeed, lovely and moist but there was just one regular piece of cake not a selection of small ones as is usually the case.

As with the other food the scones were very fresh but they came pre cut with jam and cream already added. Some may like this but personally I like to add my own so that I can choose how much to add to it. The strawberry was a nice touch.

The Hungry Duck is a small restaurant/coffee shop in the centre of Ramsbottom. It is clean and welcoming but I would class it more as a coffee shop than a restaurant. The wooden tables and chairs are comfortable and for coffee and cake a great pit stop. The food is very good but for afternoon tea it is lacking that something that makes it a special occasion, I think it is a combination of the atmosphere and the presentation not having the wow factor when it arrives. 

If you are in town and looking for somewhere for something to eat or drink then I would say definitely go here as the quality of the food is very good. As for having afternoon tea here, it is one of the less expensive afternoon teas that we have had, but  for us not special enough. If you are looking for a special treat then there are other venues where for a little more you do get a true experience.

The Hungry Duck, Ramsbottom

Cloud 23 at The Hilton Hotel, Manchester

Cloud 23, Sunday 4th August 2013

We booked online on the morning and as with many the online booking lets you choose your time. there was plenty of availability even with short notice and we chose mid afternoon.

On arrival at the hotel it is quite grand in that you have your own lift that only goes to the 23rd floor and it has a personal attendant with the guest list.

Once on floor 23 the greeter is ready to seat you and it is all very nice indeed. We were fortunate as we were given a window seat and the views are something else.

We were offered a traditional afternoon tea with or without Champagne. The cost is normally £19.95 per person but at weekends has a £3 supplement per person. you are given a choice of teas and coffees to choose from and you do get refills as and when necessary. On this one occasion we opted for the Champagne version which is exactly the same but £10 per person more for one glass of rose with a strawberry. (Not worth it in our opinion but then we are not Champagne drinkers).

The service was excellent it cannot be faulted from start to finish.

The drinks were served first, the coffee was a decent size and the pot of tea and crockery all matched. It was a tea bag tough not loose tea.

The food arrived and as you would expect it was very nicely presented, but the sandwiches were far from traditional.

There was a tuna triangle, a couscous wrap, a chicken wrap and a mushroom tart. To be honest had I known that these were on offer I would not have gone. As it happens Paul and I shared but neither of us were overly impressed.

There was one small scone each served with a pot of jam each and a pot of cream to share and these were very nice.

For the cakes we had just three each and consisted of a chocolate macaroon, a fruit tart and a piece of coconut cake. All very nice but not out of this world. 

Over all the experience was very good mainly for the view and the service but it was far from value for money. Having enjoyed a number of afternoon teas this year from small cafes to top London hotels this one was good but not wow. The chef is obviously very talented but this is not a traditional afternoon tea but an alternate version, fine but have a more traditional one as well. I think everyone should try Cloud 23 but whether that is for afternoon tea or for a cocktail is another matter.

Cloud 23, Hilton Hotel Manchester

Brasserie Max at the Covent Garden Hotel

Brasserie Max at the Covent Garden Hotel - 27th July 2013

This visit was booked in advance as part of a weekend trip to London. It was booked online and they confirmed by telephone 24 hours beforehand. We were given 2 hours for the afternoon tea but we arrived early and the length of time is more than enough.

There three afternoon tea menu options, Traditional, Covent Garden and the Gentleman's Tea. There was only the two of and the staff were quick to say that we did not have to have the same we could mix and match. All of them are priced the same at £26 and on this occasion we opted for one traditional and one Covent Garden.

The service as you would expect at a five star hotel was excellent. We were seated immediately despite being early, we were offered water on arrival and a selection of teas and coffees. Our waitress was very friendly and smiley and even though this is a top hotel, it is not in anyway stuffy.

The teapot was large and the tea was loose not in a bag. As the food arrived were advised that we could have unlimited sandwiches and scones we just needed to ask. This was a first and when we had finished the lovely waitress came and encouraged us to have more so we opted for extra sandwiches but not scones. We were each given the same selection again.

Traditional Afternoon Tea

Four finger sandwiches on brown and white including: egg, cucumber, beef, and salmon.
Two scones, one plain and one fruit with strawberry, and raspberry jam and clotted cream. There were five mini cakes including: a fruit tartlet, mini eclair, walnut cake, lemon sponge finger,  and a chocolate sponge triangle with gold leaf.

 

Covent Garden Afternoon Tea

Four sandwiches but not as fingers including a tomato, basil and mozzarella bruschetta, crab, dill and avocado triangle, egg and watercress finger, and coronation chicken wrap. The same scones as with the traditional tea. The mini desserts were a passionfruit and mango meringue, fruit tartlet, chocolate opera cake, strawberry, Pimms and mint jelly (served with tiny pieces of cucumber), and peach and elderflower cake.

There was only one little thing that let this down and made this a five cup rating as opposed to a six and that was the tiered stand that the food was served on. It was plastic and with all the other fine crockery and cutlery this was so very out of place. It is rather odd that such a high establishment uses them but I assume there is a reason behind it. 

Overall this is a five star treat, the atmosphere of being there in Covent Garden with many others having afternoon tea, the exceptional service and the wonderful food, not forgetting the fact that you can have more and are encouraged to do so. I would highly recommend it and at £26 each one of the more expensive options but well worth it.

The Covent Garden Hotel

Leckenby's, Bury

Leckenby's, Millgate Shopping Centre, Bury 5th May 2013

Today's afternoon tea visit to Leckenby's in Bury was not our first choice, it was on the list but we had seen The Pavilion at Birtle, Bury and were hoping to go there first simply because at £18.50 per person it was to be the most expensive by far and should be amazing. I emailed the Pavilion midweek to book and having had to chase them for a reply discovered that although they open Sundays they do not serve afternoon tea on that day (the website implies they do) and they do not check their emails daily so best to call. A little annoying to say the least, do not advertise your email if you do not check it daily and why not offer afternoon tea when open? We would have been greatly put out if we had gone and then found that out. Some of us work 6 days and only have Sundays for treats. Anyway, their loss was Leckenby's gain and that got moved up the list and to be honest are very glad it did.

I emailed them at night from their website and got a reply the following morning to confirm a reservation. 

Today we arrived fifteen minutes early and were greeted and shown to the reserved booth that had been set aside for us.

The young lady that greeted us and served us throughout our visit was very good at her job indeed, very polite and efficient and notably made the right amount of conversation. Asked about our trip into Bury and what our plans where but then left us to eat.

It was an excellent start being offered traditional, champagne or a vegetarian afternoon tea. That is the first time we have been offered a vegetarian option, not applicable to us but a very nice touch and a simple but effective idea. 

The tea rooms are very traditional in style and decor with a suitable 1920/30's feel. It is very well presented with nice small booths and centre tables. Naturally, more than afternoon tea is served and there is a selection of traditional cakes, biscuits and drinks area available to buy to take away as well as eating in options. 

We ordered the traditional afternoon tea, as usual with one tea and one coffee. The latte was the largest standard size latte I have seen and served with a biscuit. The tea was presented in matching tea pot and was loose tea, not a bag. I had forgotten how flavoursome loose tea was and this was a very nice change and on request I was very kindly given an extra pot of hot water. No biscuit for me though.

The service was excellent with very little wait time; the afternoon tea was served on a traditional 3 tier stand with nice matching small plates.

For the first time on our afternoon tea visits the sandwiches were served in triangles and not fingers. This makes no difference at all to the quality or tastes just a presentation difference. We had four triangles each, with egg mayo, turkey, tuna and ham, and were offered any dressing should we want any. Both white and brown bread were used. Between each one were slices of cucumber and cherry tomatoes, a nice touch. The sandwiches were very fresh and very nice.

The second middle tier had the fruit scones, pots of strawberry preserve and two small dishes of fresh cream and there was plenty of fresh cream. We were also provided with a number of butter packets. The scones were very fresh and tasty.

The top tier had four mini cakes provided by Slattery’s, a carrot cake, chocolate cake, strawberry mouse in a white chocolate casing and a lemon mouse in a dark chocolate casing. Downside of not having the same of each double up leaves a dilemma of who has what. What a dilemma to have, we cut the 2 cakes on half and shared and I opted for the lemon mouse. As it happens Paul was full so I also had the strawberry mousse.

All very good, especially the lemon mousse in my opinion. The carrot cake was not the best in my humble opinion as it was a bit too doughy but it is always personal choice and this maybe the general preference of Slattery’s customers.

We spent about a hour in Leckenby’s and it is fair to say that we were very full at the end and that is the first time we have said that after any afternoon tea we have had recently.

At £11.95 per person I would highly recommend going to Leckenby's and it doesn't need to be for a special occasion just allow an extra hour when shopping. Well worth it.

The upshot is my mother would love it and it is one to take her too on another day.

Leckenbys