afternoon tea at the ritz

Thanks for that granjura I'll give it a try next time I go to London.

For my 60th birthday my DD treated me to tea at The Langham, just opposite Broadcasting House in Upper Regent Street.

Years ago in the 60's when I started work at the BBC I worked in The Langham as it was then offices used by the BBC and a few other broadcasting companies. It was fascinating to see how the dreary offices where I started work had been renovated to be the luxury hotel as it started its life. My DD had explained to the Hotel that I had worked there and they gave me a tour of the building. It was a very strange experience to be back in the building that held lots of memories

My friend was taken to Betty's for her 70th birthday recently and loved it. Her very young grandchildren tucked into everything,and hoovered up what the adults didn't finish.

For a first class afternoon tea Betty's of Harrogate is hard to beat, though obviously it can't boast the ambience of the Ritz.

For a lovely tea and cakes event, my favourite is the café at Liberty's after a good snooping around that wonderful shop - almost a live Museum

It is fatal to recommend places isn't it Frank? If your friends have a horrible time they always make it sound as if it's your fault. I always say "Well we loved it but I don't know what it's like now"

I went for tea at the Ritz about 20 years ago and it was excellent.
With regards to hotels / restaurants if they are good if asked if I would recommend them I would give the answer '' it was good at the time we went''.

Frank

Hope you enjoyed it. I have not been to the Ritz but we booked afternoon tea at the Savoy for my youngest daughters graduation meal as the time was so awkward it was too late for lunch and too early for an evening meal! The food was great, the service even better, and there was a pianist playing lovely music the whole time. We sat on plush sofas with a big coffee table instead of a dining table? So comfortable!

A lovely memory and so glad we did it as I have since been diagnosed with diabetes so although I can eat a scone sometimes cakes and puddings are a no no.

Never been in the Ritz but have had 'tea' in Fortnums. Its the service which is wonderful.

Tell us about the food - never mind the clothes! Was the cake nice?

Glad you enjoyed it.

Well, we were at the Ritz yesterday and it was simply wonderful. I wore an outfit I bought at a super designer boutique in Lincoln with a white linen jacket and felt like a million dollars. Thanks for all your advice, much appreciated !

feetle, I don't remember Le Mazot from the '60s, so perhaps it wasn't there or had morphed into something else. I'm sure that if it had been there, someone would have introduced me to it. Curry lunch on Sunday at the Norfolk was another expat tradition. The curry was a decidedly 'European' version!

Wear what you feel comfortable in. Smart casual works well. I have been fortunate enough to have had afternoon tea at The Ritz, The Savoy and The Waldorf. Next stop is The Mount Nelson in Cape Town.

annodomini : There used to be a bar/café place in Nairobi, called Le Mazot, with pleasant entertainment from a couple, Belgians I think - I know I used to practise my French with them. That was in the late fifties... I remember the Norfolk as somewhere I played in a concert.

Thise were the days - lunch at the New Stanley - seven courses available (of which we selected all seven!) costing a tptal of just seven shillings...

thank you so much for all your advice. We are really looking forward to it -not long now to wait until June 14th and we are visiting an old friend who is a pensioner at the Royal Hospital at Chelsea for lunch on the same day. I will let you know how I get on............!

Afternoon tea is so British, isn't it? Something that distinguishes us from all other nations. In the '60s, when we had our weekly afternoon off to do our shopping in Nairobi, my friends and I would meet at the Norfolk Hotel for a traditional afternoon tea: little sandwiches, scones and luscious cakes, tea in good china cups, taken on the terrace away from the city traffic. A real oasis of calm and civility.
I still hanker after the Ritz though!

Oh Wow! Tea at the Ritz is something my mother & I always promised ourselves and never got round too. After seeing the documentaries they did about Claridges tea there looks lovely too. Still DH and I did manage tea and cakes at Florian when we were in Venice. I hope we dressed appropriately - they let us in anyway

Thanks gracesmum, I think the receptionist just found it amusing. I think we were probably being naive to think we could just wander in there on the off chance that they could accommodate us, after all The Ritz is possibly the most sought after place in London where people would want to have tea.

They had no business making you feel less than welcome - not foolish at all!

I had a lovely tea at the Savoy before it was re furbished. I believe most of the London hotels all do the same sort of thing, finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and a selection of teas. I also had a lovely tea with a friend at The British Museum and we added a glass of champagne because she was down from Scotland and we hadn't met for a while. I haven't been to The Ritz myself for tea but I hear from a couple of friends their teas are wonderful, and glimpsing at their rooms through their foyer it certainly looks a lovely setting. I think they charge more than any of the other hotels. A few years ago when my husband and I were in the West End and we thought we would try and have tea at the Ritz we didn't realize at the time you have to book this way in advance, so we were almost laughed off the premises by one of their receptionists. With hindsight, being close to Christmas they were bound to have been ultra busy. Felt very foolish!

Gracesmum- I am also from Scotland and I agree with every word that you said. I have lived in London long enough not be confused now but when I first moved here, things like that sounded odd. Sandwiches, scones and cakes with tea to me would be afternoon tea.

Now is it me being a Scot, but High Tea to me is a cooked meal (or at least a ham or beef salad) followed by scones, cakes and tea to drink. I have often heard afternoon tea at a posh place referred to as "High Tea" but that is not my understanding. Anybody else e.g. from oop North share my definition of the term?

High tea at the Ritz, Claridges, or Savoy lovely stuff and a real treat or experience..So what if you have to wear a tie or a dress. Do it, its fun.

High tea at the Ritz, Claridges, or Savoy lovely stuff and a real treat or experience..So what if you have to wear a tie or a dress. Do it, its fun.

I remember someone wanted to meet me for tea at the Ritz... I said no, on account of their stupid 'dress code'.

That sounds like a wonderful gift. I must start dropping hints...