The Time I Found the Diamond of the Season…
Dearest Readers,
It comes as no surprise that the well heeled can be seen lazing the afternoon away trading the latest gossip while sipping brew and enjoying the sweetest of treats at afternoon tea all across the ton. With so many offerings to choose from one could hardly go wrong but the true diamond of the season is the Bridgerton Afternoon Tea at The Lanesborough.
The pinnacle of service and taste.
Once St. George’s hospital, the Lanesborough has a long and storied history in London first as the 1719 site of Vicount Lanesborough’s home. In 1733 the St. George Hospital operated in the home until it was demolished in the early 1800 and rebuilt as a 350 bed facility that opened by 1844 and ran until it relocated to tooting in 1970s. The Lanesborough was rescued, referbished and opened 1991. Today, as the diamond in the Oetker Collectionas, the hotel ‘s reputation for service, quality, and care is undeniable.
Destined to be the talk of the ton, the Lanesborough and Bridgterton are the season’s perfect match. Set in the hotel’s grand dinning room and served under the domed glass roof, the Bridgerton themed afternoon tea and the Lanesbrough bring together the whimsy of the Bridgerton Regency era and contemporary style and service.
The room. awash in soft blues, boasts bas-relief artwork meticulously cast from 250 different mouldings. Typically, the walls are adorned with Wedgwood Chine taking the Regency neo-classical feel over the top but are currently holding space for the Lanesborough Art Program -”a six monthly changing exhibition curated by our partner Art Acumen.”
Tea starts with the signature Pall Mall cocktail, inspired by the Regency area Gin Punch, this drink is the perfect blend of Hendrick's gin, Graham's Blend No 5 white port, and citrus, creating the perfect balance of sour and subtle sweetness. Its served in a high glass tea cup and accompanied with a tea strainer filled with dried hibiscus flower to give the drink its yellow to pink colour change. Lastly the drink is topped with a floating lotus flower -the national flower of India and nod to the Sharma family.
After the cocktail, the tea arrives. The Lanesborough has a lovely selection of black, green and herbal teas. I was taken by the specialty Bridgerton Tea blend, a rich and floral black tea blend with sweet tones of fruit and rose petals.
More than a finger above the crowd.
It would be a grave societal embarrassment to think all finger sandwiches are created equal. To date, this author has yet to find an offering better than the Lanesborogh.
The coronation chicken with fresh coriander is by far my favourite in all the the ton, followed closely by the Clarence Court egg mayonnaise & wholegrain mustard sandwich of dreams. There is a Smoked salmon, horseradish, watercress offering along with an organic cucumber, natural yoghurt, mint and a rare roast beef slider with black pepper, mayonnaise and onion seed. It can be reported that a second helping was spotted making its way to my table.
A sweet story.
A third helping of sandwiches and my story could easily end there but I begged off another helping and sat ready for the sweet patisserie creations.
Created by the hotel’s award winning pastry team and in collaboration with Netflix and Shondaland, each pastry tells a story through flavour parings and presentation. With names like The Queen’s Diamond, The Rake, A True Love Match, The Lady Whistledown, and All is Fair in Love & War eating the sweets is as fun as watching season two again, and again.
An absolute delight from beginning to end, The Bridgerton Tea at The Lanesborough is the must do tea of the season, but hurry as its only around for the social season. Book here
MONDAY TO THURSDAY: 2.30pm to 4.00pm
FRIDAY & SATURDAY: 12noon to 4.00pm
SUNDAY: 2.00pm to 4.00pm
DATES: 25th March to 1st September 2022
*Inspired by Bridgerton, created in partnership with Netflix and Shondaland