Everything Stops For Tea
Latest 7 celebrates one of the traditions that makes Britain great
As Jack Buchanan sang “Oh, the factories may be roaring, With a boom-a-lacka, zoom-a-lacka, wee, But there isn’t any roar when the clock strikes four, Everything stops for tea”. Okay, maybe the song is a little fanciful but when it comes to tea we all still fancy a lovely cuppa.
And what better way to enjoy it than with a splendid afternoon tea? Our high streets may be littered with coffee shops, our heads foaming from lattes and cappuccinos, but face facts, there’s nothing leisurely about that. What you need is a nice and relaxed afternoon tea.
Brighton is certainly seeing a revival in afternoon teas: cafés, restaurants and hotels are all joining in with the trend, each giving it their own personal slant. For some, the highlight is dainty, crustless sandwiches with traditional fillings. For others it’s the cakes, the Victoria sandwich, lemon drizzle, coffee and walnut… Some simply go silly for scones – however you choose to pronounce that – with jam and cream. For us here at Latest Towers, it’s a balance of all three, all served with a pot of good tea.
In this Diamond Jubilee year it seems right and proper to toast the Queen, not with sparkling wine, but with a pot of rosy lee and nice slice of cake. Battenburg anyone?
Hilton Brighton Metropole
Hilton Brighton Metropole is a grand and majestic seafront hotel steeped in history. It retains much of its Victorian elegance and charm, with its handsome red-bricked exterior and extravagant opulent interiors.
The sea-facing lounge bar and terrace is ideal for those who enjoy the tradition of Afternoon Cream Tea. Served daily between 2pm and 6pm, enjoy the tiers of delicate finger sandwiches, warm home-baked scones, cream and preserves as well as a selection of cakes from their pastry chef. A wide selection of loose leaf teas or Costa coffee is included, all for £19.95 per person. If it’s a celebration, why not treat yourself to a glass of chilled champagne too?
Reservations are advisable on 01273 775432. Hilton Brighton Metropole, Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2FU, www.hilton.com/brightonmet
Hotel Du Vin & Bistro
Drinks come in and out of fashion. One week it’s cocktails, the next it’s whisky. But tea will always remain the vogue for those seeking respite and refreshment from the rigours of the day.
Join The Tea Set at Hotel du Vin & Bistro – an elegant yet relaxed spot to indulge in quality time with good friends, old and new. Sample some outstandingly good infusions served by their expertly schooled Tea Sommelier to complement tempting towers of pastries, finger sandwiches and deliciously creamy scones. For afternoons with a twist, think du Vin.
Hotel Du Vin & Bistro, Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AD, 01273 718588, www.hotelduvin.com/hotels/brighton
Kiki & Cole
Make a beeline for Kiki & Cole, a wonderful café in Hurstpierpoint on the south downs. Next door there is a beautiful flowers and interiors shop – modern with a vintage twist. After a lovely walk on the downs relax with great coffees, pastries, afternoon tea and simple, home-cooked food. The light and airy café is child and dog friendly, and is open Monday to Saturday from 8.30am–5pm and sunday mornings 10am–1pm for brunch, cakes and cream teas.
Kiki & Cole café and shop is a focal point of the lovely village of Hurstpierpoint, only 10 minutes from Brighton, with a sunny walled garden and street tables that are perfect to watch village life from.
Stocking beautiful and original blooms, Kiki & Cole can make you up stunning bunches and they deliver nationwide. They run regular flower schools and cookery classes at reasonable prices so don’t miss out!
Kiki & Cole, 113 High Street, Hurstpierpoint, BN6 9PU, 01273 832246, www.kikiandcole.co.uk
Drury Tea & Coffee
Drury Tea & Coffee has been established in Brighton since 1965, supplying traditional loose leaf, single estate teas and over 20 coffee blends and gourmet coffee beans. With the added value of the Tea & Coffee Lounge, take the time to enjoy a delicate Darjeeling, a gentle fragrant Earl Grey or your afternoon tipple of choice. With over a 100 loose leaf teas to choose from, there will most certainly be a cup for you. On the opposite end of the scale, their expertly roasted coffees, used by many Michelin-starred chefs for their excellent consistency and taste, are expertly prepared by dedicated baristas. Enjoy a delicious latte complemented with a homemade rock cake or slice of coffee and walnut cake. Drury Tea & Coffee is the perfect setting for your afternoon of rest and relaxation.
Drury Tea & Coffee, 12-18 Richardson Road (off New Church Road),
Hove, BN3 5RB, 01273 888600, www.drurysouthern.co.uk
The Grand Hotel
The quintessentially English tea throws up all sorts of images from neatly trimmed cucumber sandwiches to Alice In Wonderland and the adorably bizarre Mad Hatter. It’s part of our English history and there is surely no better place to “take tea” than the iconic Grand Hotel on Brighton’s seafront.
The Grand Hotel’s afternoon Sussex Cream Teas (rumored to be the best in the country) are served Monday to Friday, 3pm–6pm, with the weekend throwing in two sittings at 2.30pm and 4.30pm.
An example of afternoon tea at The Grand is below:
• Canapés: caviar, prawn, ham, cheese, duck, tuna, grape, chicken
• Savoury: bouchées, quiche, sausage roll
• Sandwiches: smoked salmon, cucumber
• Sweets: fruit scone, strawberry tart, chocolate éclair, meringues
• Tea infusions
Prices are £24.95 per person and it is advisable to book early and ask for a seat on the Victorian Terrace so you can watch the world go by on the promenade while you enjoy your tea in the lap of luxury.
And once you have sampled a slice of The Grand Hotel’s menu, guests are invited to explore The King’s Restaurant which offers a two course weekday lunch for £15 or three courses for £20 (Monday to Friday, 12.30pm–2pm).
For restaurant bookings, call 01273 224300.
The Grand Hotel, 97-99 King’s Road, Brighton, BN1 2FW, www.devere.co.uk/our-locations/the-grand
Talk Of Tea
Talk Of Tea is a hidden gem, a lovely little tea house tucked off of Western Road with an amazing selection of loose leaf tea. You can enjoy over 50 varieties, with a flavour for any palate such as a delicate 1st Flush Darjeeling, a full-bodied Assam, Rum and Vanilla, Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls and, of course, the Breakfast Blend, just to mention a few of the most popular.
The Afternoon Tea consists of a pot of tea, finger sandwiches with your own choice of fillings, warm home-made scones with strawberry conserve and clotted cream and a selection of mouth-watering cakes or chocolate brownies.
Talk Of Tea really is offering something completely different, where the décor and surroundings will make you feel instantly at home. The warm colours of the interior and the secluded, sunny patio garden complement the relaxing and refreshing tea drinking experience, making it the perfect environment to enjoy a good book or talk the afternoon away. If big hotels are not really your thing then this cosy tea house is the place to go for Afternoon Tea in Brighton.
Talk Of Tea, 26 Spring Street, Brighton, BN1 3EF, 01273 748444, www.talkoftea.co.uk
Terre à Terre
Afternoon tea is no longer twinsets, pearls and all things demure… well, certainly not at Terre à Terre. There is nothing delicate about their offerings: Sweet Afternoon Tea is a platter of cakes, tarts, treats and tasters from their famous pudding menu served with tea, coffee or ginger beer should you prefer.
Available every day between 3pm and 6pm, this is a truly delightful menu, ideal for friendly gatherings, family fillers or sweet business dealings. At £9.95 per person the Terre à Terre afternoon tea platter is one of the most appealing of the new breed. But for a lighter approach to tea they offer ‘Be a tart for Tea and Cake’ at £5.50 per person or ‘Dunk away with Tea and Biccies’ at £4.75.
Also coming in June: ‘Would-Jubilee-Vit’ Menu – featuring Quirky Queenie delights, Frisky Fat Fairies drenched in sherry or famous Terre à Terre Boiled Egg and Chubby Soldiers.
“Terre Terre have re-invented afternoon tea and made it an utterly indulgent, finger-licking feast of truly wicked delights.” – Andrew Kay, Latest 7
Terre Terre is open seven days a week.
Terre à Terre, 71 East Street, Brighton, BN1 1HQ, 01273 729051, www.terreaterre.co.uk
Hold a great tea party for Marie Curie Cancer Care
Marie Curie Cancer Care is asking the people of Sussex to hold a Blooming Great Tea Party this June and July to help raise funds for the charity. It can be as simple as a cuppa with colleagues, a picnic with family and friends or even a larger party to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee or watch Wimbledon. It’s a great way to get together with friends and family to do something easy and fun for charity.
The money raised from Blooming Great Tea Parties will help Marie Curie Nurses to provide more free care to people with terminal cancer and other terminal illnesses in their own homes.
Royal Wedding cake maker, Fiona Cairns, is no stranger to organising the perfect tea party and said: “I’m supporting the Blooming Great Tea Party and hope everyone will bake a cake, pop the kettle on, invite a few friends round and help Marie Curie Cancer Care to care for more terminally ill people in their own homes.”
For your Blooming Great Tea Party, you can make a cake as simple and delicious as a freshly baked Victoria sandwich or a batch of cupcakes – it doesn’t need to be a multi-tiered highly decorated wedding cake to be impressive! However big or small your tea party, you’ll be raising much-needed funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.”
Call 01273 492739 or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/teaparty for more information and your free Blooming Great Tea Party fundraising pack.
