Tea at 4pm. Is this a meal or a scone and cuppa?

put a bottle of wine in you bag but expect tea and cake

I'm not in Scotland but would expect sandwiches, cakes and tea at that time.

What Riverwalk says. Maybe with a sausage roll or vol au vent as well.

‘High Tea’ I guess …

Isn't 4 a bit early for High Tea?

Cake sandwiches and tea. I think.

Tea, cake, sandwiches, or canapes and drinks. Either is fine, I'd guess.

High tea includes a hot dish, like fish and chips.

If it's some sort of party then I'd expect a substantial buffer of savoury and sweet things. Tea/coffee and probably alcohol too. Should be fun. Enjoy.

Riverwalk, yes, too early. We never had 'high tea' - only afternoon tea - growing up. It caused endless problems if we took friends home after school for 'tea'.

To us, it was/still is a snack between lunch and dinner (dinner - or supper - served around 7 - 7.30 pm). To other families, though, it was the main evening meal!

Riverwalk

Isn't 4 a bit early for High Tea?

Exactly, anytime after 5, I would hesitate, but at 4?

A bit early for alcohol?

Thanks everyone . A bottle in my bag won't go amiss.
I'll let you know

Germanshepherdsmum

A bit early for alcohol?

Fizzy alcohol perhaps eg Prosecco?

Or champagne if it's very posh 🥂🍾

well you know what a buffet is, somewhere you can graze along picking up nibbles.
so you'll get something to eat.
why do you need to know more than that.
i'd just be grateful to be eating. and cup of tea.
what does it matter. seems churlish to enquire further, as if making some kind of judgement.

4pm is tea & cake. However, go prepared with a bottle and olives, as it may extend to 6pm. 😉

Germanshepherdsmum

A bit early for alcohol?

For some, maybe.

Buffet was specially mentioned. I think that implies more than just tea and cake. Is it a particular celebration?

4pm, “you’ll have had your tea”

Well, I’m a ‘Southener’ so sorry about that, but I’d still ‘have had my tea’ by 6pm and be ready for a tipple or two ……… 😳

Tea and cake.

Why do I want to know? Welbeck I think it's the ambiguity. Should I be prepared to leave by 6 so they can prepare their evening meal?
Or, as many suggest, it's a party as a buffet suggests

A buffet can be light or heavy though. Having a big family of big eaters - we always had 'extras' in the minibus. Once, we were caught at a 'buffet style' wedding tucking into huge sandwiches and brewing tea with a camping stove - although we had parked as far away as possible!

I'd never worry about what time to leave, just follow the herd.

Gosh. A camper van parked nearby with back up grub? Great idea. I've noticed that our youngsters often have what they call a 'safety meal' before going out just in case the promised catering isn't substantial enough. An idea for you Grammaretto