The Terrace Tea Room, Oswaldtwistle Mills

The Terrace Tea Room, Sunday 19th January 2014

The first afternoon tea of this year and it was decided at short notice and where we wanted to go we couldn't as they were fully booked up. (One for February perhaps). After some Googling stumbled on this tearoom at Oswaldtwistle Mils Accrington,no need to book so we went along.

The Tea Room is quite new and modern and set in one of the outside sections (for want of a better phrase) rather than inside the main Mill. As it is part of the general area and is more of a cafe it is self service. The staff were noticeably very polite and smiley and when I went to order there was no problem with a coffee as well as a tea. Although no option was offered for a cappuccino or latte. The menu did say it was loose tea but it was actually a tea bag, but never the less it was a decent brew.

The crockery was of vintage style setting the scene for afternoon tea.

The afternoon tea arrived on a traditional three tier stand in white and nicely presented.

There were three sandwich fingers each and the brown bread was especially fresh. The fillings were, Tuna, Salmon and Cream Cheese and the traditional cucumber swerved with a small bowl of crisps.

The scones were quite small, much smaller than most places but there was plenty of jam and cream and they were very nice and again fresh.

We had just two cakes a carrot cake and a fruit cake both of which where fresh and very nice although hubby was not happy with the topping on the carrot cake. This is one of his favourite cakes but realy didn't like that bit of it, personally I liked it. 

The cost of the afternoon tea is £12.50 for two, and I think this was worth the money especially if you compare to going to one of the large high street coffee chains for coffee and cake only. It is not however a special treat or occasion. The surroundings are nice but it is in a shop!

Having done this blog for about a year I think my ratings may need to change a little to allow for the big differences between the top hotels and restaurants to the small cafes and coffee shops. At present until I think of a better way of rating, I give this three cups, but there is absolutely nothing wrong it is just not a special occasion venue and to be honest they are not trying to be.

The Terrace Team Room, Oswaldtwistle Mills

Last Drop Village Tea Rooms - Bolton

The Last Drop Bolton 30th June 2013

This afternoon tea was booked via the daily deal website Living Social. It dropped in my email inbox and I thought it was a good idea to try with it not being that far away from Rossendale.

The cost was £8.50 per person (a saving of £1)

When we arrived we were not sure where the tea was and naturally went to the hotel to discover it was in the village tea rooms on site. Very traditional interior decor as to be expected with the Last Drop complex. We had to book to use the voucher so we were expected and we could sit anywhere. The manager was very jolly and chatty and the service was efficient.

We were not offered any alternate options or asked if we were vegetarian etc and not offered any other teas. This option was a traditional afternoon tea with regular tea and we had to ask for one with coffee.

The Tea pot was very small with a bag and no extra hot water. Due to the size of the pot the tea was strong. I did ask for more hot water later and the teapot was topped up. The drinks were brought very quickly but due to the size of them they were almost finished before any food arrived.

Onto the food though, it was served on two large plates not a tiered stand, and there was plenty.

The bread was not the best, seemed very cheap and as you can see presentation was limited. The next shot shows it slightly more favourably but the lack of detail made the event nice but not an experience to want to do again.

The sandwiches included ham and mustard, salmon and cucumber, chicken in mayo and cheese and chutney. They were nice, the tarragon mayo was very nice it was a shame though to have a small amount of gristle in it. I am glad I had that one last as it was off putting.

As ever, we were served scones and a plate of desserts. The scones were warm but I suspect microwaved as the texture was quite doughy. A pot of jam each and a large portion of clotted cream to share.

The pots were lemon cheesecake, we used our tea spoons from our drinks to eat them with as we were not given any spoons. I did like these, I would say my favourite of the desserts. As hubby doesn't like cheesecake I had both.

In addition, we had carrot cake, chocolate fudge cake and coffee cake all of which were very moist. We couldn't eat them all and ended up taking some home.

Overall, it was OK, there was plenty of food but to me afternoon tea is an experience and it was the detail that let this down. The quality of sandwiches compared to others was not there and there was a  lack of finesse, the lack of spoons and the small tea pot, it could be so much better with minor changes.

The Last Drop is part of the Mercure group and at the same time as buying this voucher I also bought one for the Dunkenhalgh as part of the same group. It will be interesting to see how they do in comparison.

The Last Drop

Hotel De Rome, Berlin

English Afternoon Tea in Berlin Sunday 9th June

Last week our afternoon tea was a little bit special as it was in Berlin, Germany. I discovered the Hotel De Rome online and then found that they did a traditional English Afternoon Tea; it was too good to resist. I made the booking via email and had a lovely confirmation saying that we they had had reserved a nice table for us.

We arrived a little early on the day and arrived to see a number of Depeche Mode fans outside the hotel as the band were staying there. We had a drink in the Bebel Bar first and were then shown to the reserved table in the Velvet Room.  As for being a nice table it was very nice indeed in a beautiful room. There was just the two of us in the Velvet Room  and was exceptionally comfortable overlooking the fans and with an amazing piece of art - "As you enter the room, your eyes are drawn to the "Mensch im Holozän" (Holocene Man), a painting by Berlin artist Stefan Hoenerloh that depicts a fictitious street scene and helps foster the impression of being out of doors. The painter gives the facades of his buildings form with a meticulousness which conjures the atmosphere of a time now past into which the observer is permitted one frozen glimpse"

The service was as to be expected in a top hotel, first class. We were given a tea and coffee menu to choose from and there was a wide range of luxury teas available. On this occasion I chose the pfefferminztee - which came as fresh peppermint leaves, with refills, served in a silver teapot.

Silver Teapot

Fresh Peppermint Leaves

The food was served on a traditional 3 tier stand with sandwiches on the lower tier, scones and apple crumble of the middle tier and a selection of mini cakes and desserts on the top.

3 Tier Stand

There were eight finger sandwiches consisting of egg, cucumber and cream cheese, beef and salmon on white and brown bread. The bread was very fresh and the toppings were very flavoursome.

Excellent Fresh Sandwiches

There were two freshly made warm scones one plain and one with raisins. small raisin scone. There was plenty of clotted cream and served with five pots of preserves to choose from, Strawberry, Raspberry, Plum, Marmalade and Honey.

On the same tier were two individual apple crumbles.

Warm Scones with Cream and Apple Crumbles

Selection of Preserves

The top tier selection including a mini passion fruit mousse, cheesecake, mini cake, macaroon, sponge cake, and a dark and milk chocolate square.

Selection of Mini Cakes

Selection of Mini Cakes and Desserts 

All of the food was excellent and presentation was second to none. The silver service from the staff was first class and the Velvet room within the Bebel Bar was pure luxury. To have a traditional English Afternoon Tea in the German capital was quite something and the Germans certainly managed to do it in style and compared to the Radisson in Manchester, it was far superior.

I would highly recommend a visit to the Hotel De Rome for anyone in Berlin for afternoon tea, cost €40 per person and well worth it.

Hotel De Rome

Nutters Restaurant, Rochdale

Nutters, Saturday 1st June 2013

Another last minute booking for afternoon tea, we called the Friday evening and had no problem in booking in for 3:30pm the following day.

We arrived early as always and were seated in the modern bar area. The building is a 19th Century former hall and subsequent military hospital that has been renovated and is very impressive, both inside and out.

At exactly 3:30 we were shown to our table in an area that is similar to a conservatory with a great view.  The tables are all set with white linen and white matching crockery and then there was the paper based menu that seemed out of place, although it did have a nice, brief history of afternoon tea on the inside.

We opted for the usual traditional afternoon tea for two, one with tea and one with coffee. There are options for other teas and I understand that they will cater for vegetarians and other special diets on request.

Service was prompt and we were offered free refills when the drinks were served and we just needed to ask. As it happened, the two pots were very large and as such no refills were needed. The coffee pot was some sort of thermos cafetiere which was by far the largest that we have had and it did keep the coffee hot throughout - nice touch for coffee drinkers. The downside here was that the tea was in bags and not loose which was a little surprising for such an establishment.

The food was served on a three tier stand and there was plenty of it.

The sandwich selection consisted of smoked salmon and cucumber, chicken mustard mayo, goats cheese with red onion chutney (amazing) and salt beef with shallots (also amazing). The bread was very fresh and the fillings very tasty. 

The choice of mini cakes was very impressive as you can see. Two different slices of fruit bread each, a fruit tart, creme brûlée slice and a white chocolate eclair. All very fresh and exceptionally tasty.

We finished with the scones and at this point we were struggling, but we were in no rush and with plenty of tea and coffee to hand we carried on. (We did notice than some others were taking cakes home in a box). There are two mini scones each, one with traditional fruit and one was a chocolate chip one, both warm. I have to say that the fruit one was our favourite, the chocolate chip one wasn't quite there but we couldn't say why.

Overall the experience was excellent, just as afternoon tea should be and at £15 per person very good value for money. We were so full that there was no need for dinner later. Without a doubt I would recommend a visit here.

Nutters Restaurant

The Marriott Hotel, Broughton Preston

The Marriott Hotel, Broughton Preston, 20th April 2013

I decided to take my mum out for a treat yesterday and booked online yesterday morning for afternoon tea closer to where she lives.

Afternoon tea is our thing, sweet things are what my mum lives for, bearing in mind this is the person who had 17 sugars in her two cups of coffee!

This was for no other occasion than it was something to do.

Booked online and arrived with a few minutes to spare. The afternoon tea was to be held in the lounge bar, which is a general area accommodating hotel guests who are just having a drink. There is a really nice conservatory type area leading to the courtyard. When we arrived there were other ladies having afternoon tea and there was a lacking of tables and chairs there, yet plenty of space. The bar man was very helpful in bring a chair for us and would have moved the table around if I had not already done it whilst he was getting the chair.

The service was good with the tea and coffee being ordered promptly and it was not too long before the food was served. 

It was not on a traditional tier but never the less served on nice plates, with nice napkins and cutlery.

The selection of finger sandwiches included salmon (and plenty of it), cucumber (true traditional style) and cheese with lettuce and a hint of mango chutney. Both white and wholemeal bread used and very fresh. The only odd thing is there were three of each, not usual to get a number not divisible by the number of people eating. 

We have four mini cakes each, and these were not that mini :) plus a fruit scone each. The selection of cakes included a chocolate eclair  individual Victoria Sponge, Coffee cake and Chocolate brownie.

The cakes were very fresh and the scones were server with plenty of butter, cream and pots of preserve.

The tea and coffee were refilled without being asked which is always a nice touch. 

The two of us spent two hours there enjoying the food with a nice view of the courtyard and no pressure. The afternoon tea was just £10.95 each and was exceptional value for money.

The Marriott

Willows Restaurant at Barton Grange Garden Centre, Preston

Mother's Day Afternoon Tea

This trip out included not just me and hubby but also our mums. Booked a week in advance and at just £10.95 not bad value at all especially with it being Mother's Day.

The venue is very nice, you get to the restaurant through the garden centre and it is to the side of the river/brook. We were shown to a table in the corner overlooking the river so the position was great.

The staff there were very efficient and attentive as soon as we were seated. They made it very clear that tea and coffee was unlimited and to simply ask if we required more at any time. As it happens we didn't need to as they were quick off the mark at asking throughout the time there.

This was very leisurely and there was no rush which was appreciated. 

We had two tiered stands one for each couple. The sandwiches included, salmon and cream cheese, ham and Lancashire cheese. They were fresh and flavoursome.

The section of cakes included a mini fruit tartlet, Victoria sandwich, chocolate brownie, and a mini carrot cake. 

Not forgetting the fresh scone that was served with plenty of jam and cream.

The atmosphere being Mother's Day was very nice but I have no doubt that it is usually like that anyway.

On exit each of the mums (including me) where given a little pot plant which was a nice touch.

Very good value for money and would recommend at any time of the year.

Barton Grange