We all love a good Afternoon Tea. The perfect pick me up for the afternoon, it was first brought to popularity in the 1840’s by Anna Maria Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford. She was one of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting, she became despondent at the void between lunch and dinner. Being born into riches and privileges will do that to you! She requested that some tea, bread and butter and cake was brought to her room in the late afternoon, an afternoon ritual was born.
Needing very little encouragement to find yet another occasion to squeeze in a cup of tea and a some cake, the upper classes fell in love with the concept and it soon spread across Britain.
British people have long enjoyed a good cup of tea. The national brew, it has formed part of the British identity since the 1600’s. However, when Anna first started the Afternoon Tea trend, it was far from the drink of the people it is now! Imports of tea were heavily taxed, procured through the East India Company who maintained a monopoly of the trade, meaning that only the very wealthy could afford it. With an import tax of 120% there was even a striving black market for tea. This prompted pressure on the government to reduce tax on it to 12.5 per cent, a move that encouraged the nation to replace gin with tea as the go-to breakfast drink! Well, I for one rue the loss of gin breakfasts! That would have made for an interesting start to the day!
There is much debate on menu and etiquette when it comes to Afternoon Tea. It shouldn’t be too heavy, hence the crusts being cut off. Cucumber sandwiches are almost always a given! But what else? Something sweet, something savoury and something rich.
But what to eat first? These days Afternoon Teas are far from the daunting Victorian high society etiquette minefields. And there aren’t any real rules when it comes to the food, but a standard afternoon tea menu comprises a tier of sandwiches, a tier of cakes and one of scones or teacakes. But you could also throw in pastries, petits-fours or biscuits.
Luckily many afternoon teas now include a glass or two of fizz. While it might not quite be the gin breakfast, that addition is most welcomed, making Afternoon Tea a very popular way to both start or end your trip to toon. For shoppers it is a great way to end a busy day of hitting the credit card hard, and for people wanting to get an early start for a night out it is the perfect way to avoid that awful sleepy food coma feeling of eating too much before a night on the booze.
So are you salivating for an Afternoon Tea yet? We’ve made our definitive list of the best Teas in Toon. We have included the best both boozy affairs and civilised sips, giving you the perfect mix of hedonism and high society. So, in no particular order, here is our definitive top ten…
No28
Newcastle city centre’s finest hidden gem no28 has been a popular choice for a night out for those ‘in the know‘ for a good few years now, but it will come as a surprise to many as a choice for a cracking Boozy Afternoon Tea. And we do mean boozy!
You get a glass of prosecco on arrival to get you in the mood and it does not end there! You get a teapot of Cosmo with the main event. Yes, a teapot!
Another teapot of Espresso Martini to wake you up and then a chilled Limoncello to freshen you up at the end. And if you can still walk after that you can hit the shops!
No28 Afternoon Teas are available Monday – Thursday 5-8pm, Friday 12-8pm, Satuday 12-6pm, and Sunday 12-6pm.
Priced at £34.95 per person it is great value, especially when you consider the number of alcoholic drinks included!
We love no28 for food as they do really good grub without the fuss and their staff are always super friendly and helpful. Being bang in the middle of Newcastle, on Nelson Street just round the corner from Grey’s monument makes it a great place for an Afternoon Tea if you are planning a day out in town hitting the shops.
You can find them on Facebook here.
Hotel du Vin
This magnificent Edwardian building on the banks of the famous River Tyne makes for a stunning location for an Afternoon Tea.
Coming in at £29.95 per person it isn’t the cheapest but the Afternoon Tea includes all of the classics, as well as a good vegan selection.
For special occasions or boozy days out, Hotel du Vin offers a selection of champagnes and cocktails.
You can find them on Facebook here.
Leila Lily’s
Leila Lily’s award-winning rosette bar & restaurant, is an opulent and refined venue situated on the iconic Grey Street in the heart of Newcastle City Centre.
Their Afternoon Tea’s stunning looking and are reasonably priced at £25 per person for one with a pot of tea, and a £6 or £9 charge for a glass of prosecco/champagne options. You can also get non-alcoholic and cocktail versions.
They do great Vegan and Vegetarian menus for the Afternoon Teas too.
You can find them on Facebook here.
Jesmond Dene House
Jesmond Dene House’s amazing location and stunning Georgian listed building makes for a great spot for an Afternoon Tea. A haven of peace and tranquillity, with its beautiful wooded valley following the river Ouseburn. Perfect for a leisurely walk after some delicious sandwiches, scones and sweet treats.
Afternoon Tea is available at Jesmond Dene House Wednesday – Sunday, 1pm – 4pm.
Prices from £32.50 per person.
This is a great venue for people wanting to make a real occasion of it!
You can read our review of Jesmond Dene House’s Afternoon Tea from August if you want to know more!
You can find them on Facebook here.
Pleased To Meet You
Please to Meet You’s Afternoon Tea is available Monday – Friday 12noon-5pm, Saturday 12noon – 3pm, Sunday – 12noon – 2pm.
It is reasonably priced at £19.99 per person for Tea, £21.99 for with a Glass of Prosecco and £23.99 with a Glass of champagne.
They also offer a Gentlemen’s Afternoon Tea option with Scotch Egg, Sausage Roll, Pork Pie and Northumberland Nettle Cheese Scone.
You can find them on Facebook here.
Malmaison
By the banks of the Tyne, Malmaison makes a great venue for an Afternoon Tea.
Available Friday to Sunday 12:30-3:30pm.
You can choose from a Classic Cream Tea for £16.50 or for £29.50 a re-imagined Mal Afternoon Tea, complete with slider, Thai crunchy sticky beef and sesame wrap, egg and cress roll, prawn cocktail, scones, Victoria sponge, meringue, chocolate tart and a sundae.
You can add some sparkle for £36.50 or a cocktail for £39.50 (all inc).
You can find them on Facebook here.
Gino D’Acampo
At £29-£41 depending on your drink choices this Afternoon Tea is definitely more the luxury afternoon tea experience. More aimed at special occasions, baby showers, hen parties and celebrations. But the stunning surroundings overlooking the River Tyne do make for a good time.
The deli selection includes bruschetta and gourmet sandwiches, freshly baked buttermilk scones served with strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream followed by sweet treats such as chocolate cake with Ferrero Rocher.
You can find them on Facebook here.
Cafe 21 at Fenwick
Bang in the heart of Newcastle’s best shopping Cafe 21 at Fenwick is a very popular choice, offering Traditional, Confectioner’s and Champagne afternoon tea, served daily from 2pm. The perfect refuel for those looking to shop till they drop!
You can find them on Facebook here.
The Vermont Hotel
The Afternoon Tea at The Vermont Hotel is truly amazing! With its beautiful decor and superb views the venue makes for a great lazy afternoon snack while you and your friends put the world to rights! The food is the perfect mix of indulgent but yet light, and makes for a great experience.
What we really loved about this Afternoon Tea was the options. If you just want a Cream Tea, with its scone, jam and butter and a cuppa, then you can get one for under a tenner. Or you can go for the full Traditional Afternoon Tea for just £22.95. Want to make it a boozy affair? Well then you can too.
They also have a Gentlemen’s Afternoon Tea complete with Burger and Fries. And for the little ones there is a children’s Afternoon Tea, so they don’t feel left out!
You can find them on Facebook here.
Six at Baltic
The view from Six at the Baltic is amazing but is the Afternoon Tea? Our verdict, yes, it certainly does not disappoint!
Available 2pm to 3pm Saturday and 12pm to 3pm Sunday. You have a choice of Classic Afternoon Tea, Prosecco Afternoon Tea or Champagne Afternoon Tea. Coming in at £27 – £37 depending on your choice it certainly isn’t cheap but the food is divine.
The portions are actually very decent and for an Afternoon Tea it is pretty filling.
You can find them on Facebook here.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our Top Ten list and for now that is it. But don’t let that stop the fun! Head over to our social media platforms and let us know what you think is the Best Afternoon Tea in Newcastle.