Easthampstead Park
Off Peacock Lane
Wokingham RG40 3DF
eastpark.co.uk
0118 974 7576
Afternoon tea is a British tradition. What could be better than a chance to catch up with a good friend, and enjoy sandwiches, scones with butter and jam, and some sweet pastries?
The idea of having a light meal and drink late afternoon or early evening was introduced to England by Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford.
Anna’s lifelong friend Queen Victoria enjoyed the same pastime so much that she granted it Royal approval, after which its popularity soared.
Being one of my favourite pastimes, I was very eager to sample the new quintessential afternoon Tea menu at Easthampstead Park in Wokingham.
Having undergone an extensive multi-million-pound refurbishment over the past few years, Easthampstead Park has changed a great deal, and is well worth a visit for this alone.
On approach to the hotel we made our way towards the main house, set in more than 80 acres of picturesque countryside.
With afternoon tea options being somewhat limited in the Wokingham Borough, this hotel really is a relatively unknown hidden gem.
I was worried about taking my children and my four-year-old niece with me, however I was very pleased to be told that children are as welcome as adults.
On arrival, we were greeted by very polite reception staff that showed us the way.
We were shown to our seats inside a very dramatic, luxuriously decorated room, although we did have the option of sitting outside on the terrace overlooking the stunning manicured gardens.
Our amazing attentive waiter Fabio seated us, and we were offered a choice of eight varieties of tea, or some coffee. Other drinks are available, and my children opted for orange juice.
For those who want something with a bit more sparkle, there is also a variety of wines and Champagne that can be purchased separately.
Myself and my two children opted for the Lady Evelyn Afternoon Tea priced at £35 per person. A vegan option is available for the same price.
My four-year-old niece chose the children’s afternoon tea, which is £20.
Napkins were laid on our laps and our table was adorned with three beautiful birdcage tiered cake stands filled with sandwiches, cakes and scones.
The presentation was immaculate.
The Lady Evelyn Afternoon Tea featured elegantly hand cut fingers of white and brown bread. Fillings included egg mayonnaise with watercress, smoked salmon with dill cream cheese, honey roast ham with wholegrain mustard mayo, and roast beef with horseradish.
They were fresh, flavoursome and were very quickly devoured.
Portion sizes were perfect, and enough to satisfy the appetite of my forever hungry teenager.
Moving onto the eagerly anticipated pastries, and delicacies.
The Victoria Sponge was light and fluffy with the perfect amount of jam and cream. The double chocolate Brownie was everything a brownie should be, and more, with a crunchy outer and gooey rich middle.
The passion fruit cheesecake was tangy, light and melted in your mouth and the tropical coconut mousse dome consisted of a delicate pastry bottom and a light and airy domed mousse sprinkled in coconut.
As if this wasn’t enough there was a whole tier of freshly baked mini scones accompanied with strawberry jam and clotted cream. These were delightful, not too filling but just enough to savour the flavours.
Every single item on the birdcage platter was devoured. During this time, we were continually topped up with fresh steaming tea and soft drinks.
My four-year-old niece couldn’t believe she had a whole afternoon tea to herself.
This was her first encounter of this very British tradition. Her sandwiches were a mix of freshly made finger cut sizes of strawberry jam, cheddar cheese, ham and tomato and egg and cress.
She saidthey were yummy and the bread was lovely and soft.
The top tier of her platter comprised gooey chocolate cookies, chocolate brownie and a Victoria sandwich. The Chocolate cookies were a big hit.
Finally, just so she didn’t miss out, she was treated to one of the mini scones with jam and cream.
The portion size was generous for a child and the presentation was just as perfect as the adult version.
After we had finished our afternoon tea, we took a walk around the beautiful grounds.
The children played badminton on the beautifully manicured lawns whilst I relaxed and enjoyed the views.
Mine and my family’s overall opinion of the full afternoon experience was an “Excellent” gastronomic experience.
The presentation of the food was commendable, the food itself was fresh, indulgent, flavoursome and plentiful.
The service was outstanding and the location and building was stunning.
If you are looking for a high class, sumptuous, fairly priced afternoon tea in beautiful surroundings, I would highly recommend Easthampstead Park.
Booking is highly recommended, either by calling: 0118 974 7576, or logging on to: eastpark.co.uk/dining/afternoon-tea/
