It is said that the ceremony of taking tea began once upon a time during the early nineteenth century, when it was more usual to consume only breakfast and an evening meal each day. However the 7th Duchess of Bedford experienced some feelings of weariness during the mid-afternoon and so would partake of a light snack and a pot of tea. She began inviting friends to join her and usually held in the drawing room, it became a very fashionable and sociable affair. This was the perfect solution to the mid-afternoon slump, and so the trend caught on and is with us to this day.
Hotel Du Vin welcome you to join them in this ritual celebration of tea and its theatre, accompanied by delicate, charming treats of sandwiches, savouries, cakes and scones, all created and presented to excite the taste buds and gladden the eye. Afternoon tea at Hotel du Vin begins with a selection of mini savouries carefully prepared by our renowned pastry chefs. Their chefs love a twist on traditional favourites so you can enjoy treats including Severn & Wye smoked salmon and cream cheese on dark rye bread, egg and cress mayonnaise brioche sub, ham with Gruyère croissant, heritage tomato and tapenade galette, goat’s cheese and spinach quiche, followed by their selection of cream tea.
The Duchess loved a crumbly scone oozing with jam and cream, as we do. The cream tea took off in the West Country where the jam was always strawberry and the cream always clotted. Cream then jam or jam then cream? (The difference between a Cornish and Devonshire Cream Tea). Whichever the case, you get to layer it how you like it.
To top off your afternoon tea you’ll find a few sweet mini treats all topped off with homemade candy floss, infused with sweet fruit flavours and a choice of teas from Bird & Blend.
Afternoon tea is served every day, from 12pm to 6pm. The perfect time to indulge.
To book your table call 0121 794 3005 or visit hotelduvin.com.
