Hotel du Vin Blog

I can’t function without a strong brew the minute I open my eyes – but I must have it in a tea cup with a saucer. Unbelievably I’m a novice and have only once ventured into the world of afternoon teas, and that occasion was for a particular charity event at which we had to dress in a 20’s to 40′s theme and have our pictures taken in sepia. Thankfully my wardrobe’s full of items from every era and always a pair of red Mary Janes, so I was pretty well suited and this was the ideal way to spend the afternoon for me. I enjoyed it thoroughly, leaving me with the one thought that ‘I must do this more often’.

Other than this, my eclectic collection of retro cups and saucers continues to take over my kitchen, coupled with my mission to bake the perfect jam sponge. But until recently, I had nowhere that fully accommodated my desire for cake and tea served in exactly the right way. Attention to detail is the most important ingredient of a well created afternoon tea.

Now, at Hotel du Vin, we like to think we’ve created the home of all afternoon teas. It’s perfect set up is the place to meet and treat my family and friends to an afternoon tea.

Hotel du Vin has opened up a whole new world of traditional and unusual afternoon teas. The tea cups and saucers are dainty and truly satisfy my belief that tea should always be drunk from a tea cup and saucer – a mug is sacrilege and should be reserved only for builders and Ovaltine – no offence to anyone.

A good afternoon tea should be a celebration, something to take time over and savour the perfectly formed, delicate finger sandwiches, creamy scones and fluffy, light jam sponge. From the perfect, well brewed breakfast tea to a fruity flavoured infusion, or even a glass of Champagne for those extra special Saturday afternoons, this is a tea haven.

From now on, as often as possible, after the lunch time crowds have drifted or as an alternative to lunch, you should head to du Vin. I’ll be there, in my Mary Janes, for tea cup in hand, slice of jammy, iced cake in the other. Crusts, most definitely not.