Fab Mary Poppins theme afternoon tea at Mad dogs and Englishman - Leigh on Sea Essex

 On Saturday my friend Michelle took me to a wonderful afternoon tea at a quirky tea room in Leigh on Sea Essex. She has been there before for the Harry Potter theme and Beauty and the Beast and kept telling me how good it was. This time the theme was Mary Poppins so I was looking forward to it very much. I think it is priced at £38 each on weekends. 

As we walked through the door it took my breath away as it looked so magical inside and there was so much too see. Even the waitresses were dressed up like Mary Poppins !!!!!

There were open umbrellas hanging from the ceiling, merry go round horses on the walls, lots of fairy lights and flower garlands plus hats scattered around the rooms. Also as you walked in there was a old bicycle with wicker basket plus a roof top design against the wall. They seemed to of thought of everything relating to Mary Poppins ....I was so impressed and it all looked so pretty. 

The only thing I will mention is that it seemed a bit dark inside and having poor eyesight I struggled to read the menus. 

Mary Poppins menu

There was a separate menu for the drinks and for extra money you could have a cocktail from the wide choice available. 

Our table was decorated  with white and gold china plus a glass bottle containing cold milk for the tea and coffees. It was so busy and you need to book well in advance as it is very popular

I decided to try the Cherry Lane tea for a change and it arrived in a very large silver teapot. I think it needed longer to brew as not much flavor to it. 

Fist we got a tea stand with a plate of sandwiches each and on the top plate a hot piece of breaded fish and some chips in a newspaper style small cone. These were hot still and we also got a small jar of ketchup and jar of tartar sauce. 

We got 8 sandwiches each two of each type which included  brioche egg mayonnaise rolls, chicken coronation, ham and pickle and cucumber and mint. They tasted delicious and were very fresh. 

I liked the chicken ones best of all 

Next to arrive on our table was a black bowler hat with a stripped  paper bag inside containing two large warm fruit scones. On our table we also had two mini jars of jam plus a dish of clotted cream. 

Before we could eat these another stand was placed on out table that contained the cakes.....

Wow it looked amazing and I loved the little wooden musical merry go round 

The scones tasted very nice and generous in size 

By now I had almost finished my pot of tea so ordered a coffee. Cafeteria coffee is included but  if you want cappuccino or latte this will cost extra. 

The waitress brought me a large silver coffee pot which was nice and hot.   

Next we started on the cakes and sweet treats......

 

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The glass contained Eton Mess topped with candyfloss and there was even a chocolate spoon with a spoonfull of sugar on which was actually popping candy. We both liked everything and by the end all the plates were empty and we felt full and very content. 

It was such a quirky well thought out themed tea and I will defiantly be going back for the next theme 

Nearest Station :    Not sure as my friend drove us there. 

Best bits : The theme and decorations plus the  food and service ...it was all good  

Worst bits :  I do not think there was any to mention 

Value for money : Yes defiantly for such a quirky place with good food   

would I go back? :  Yes already looking forward to the next theme 

 

Fab Jubilee afternoon tea fit for a queen at Kona Taj 51 Buckingham Gate London

 How could i resist a Jubilee afternoon tea .........

There are so many available at the moment but i choose the one at Kona which is a restaurant at the lovely Taj 51 hotel. I have been here twice before so knew it would be a good one 

I managed to get it cheaper by getting a Buyagift voucher when they offered a discount code . I paid £148.20 for two of us with a bottle of Bollinger which is still expensive but better than the menu price of £190 for two.  I try not to pay full price for anything unless i have too!!!!!!!!

When we arrived is was extremely busy and we had a nice table by the window. The table was decorated with a gold crown and the plate was a special Jubilee plate. There was also a string of pearls and brooch on the table for decoration. On the window ledge next to me was a book to celebrate the Queens Jubilee which was full of lovely pictures. The whole table theme was very well thought out and executed. 

The menu was very nice and well put together with some facts about the Queen 

We waited about 10 minutes before the waiter came over and offered us our first glass of Bollinger along with tea of coffee. He also asked if we had any allergies so I just  mentioned that I do not eat fish. 

There were two special Jubilee  teas recommended on the menu and my hubby choose the Regal one which was Earl Grey with hints of bergamot and blue flowers . He said was very nice. I just ordered a cappuccino.

Shortly after a waitress gave us a little gold bell and said that if we ring it we will get a surprise......it was just a bit of a gimmick but fun. I rang the bell and two little gold carriages were brought out and placed on our table. They contained a strawberry and chocolate small ice cream bomb that was represented the ice cream served at the Queens wedding. 

Once we had finished this and our glass topped up with Bollinger the afternoon tea stand arrived. 

It all looked very nice 

The middle plate contained the sandwiches of which we got four each plus my hubby got an extra salmon one and I got an extra ham and cheese one instead of salmon. 

Each sandwich was named after a Royal residence......my favorite was the Buckingham which was cheese and ham and my hubby liked the Sandringham which was the Salmon one. The Windsor one was nice too as full of creamy egg mayonnaise. All of them were fresh and tasty and we asked for an extra one each which the waiter brought out to us. 

Next we had the scones which were still slightly warm. We got a fruit one each and plain one with silver pot of jam and clotted cream. My husband does his different to me and puts the cream on first whilst i always think jam first then cream on the top is the proper way to do it. 

 

More Bollinger was poured and I ordered another coffee to go with the amazing looking cakes. 

There were four cakes each and they all look amazing. 

A Royal Collection Earl Grey and orange mousse on sablé Breton biscuit. This had very subtle flavors with creamy mouse on crunchy biscuit base. It tasted very nice. 

Pêche à la Reine Alexandra Frangipane, peach and apple tart was my second favorite as I love this combination. The apple was made out of marzipan with chocolate stalk on top. 

The Gardens of Britain Rose and chocolate cake decorated with floral garnishes was very clever as each side of the square had a different flower printed on white chocolate. A rose for England, daffodil for Wales, Thistle for Scotland and clover for Ireland. 

The Crown Jewels Gold dusted Valrhona chocolate and rich tea biscuit cake. The work on this chocolate sphere was very clever and inside was a rich chocolate ganache in the shape of a rose . 

This was my favorite cake 

This afternoon tea was a lovely celebration of our Queen and we both enjoyed it. 

Nearest Station :        Victoria underground  - about 15 minute walk 

Best bits : The table decorations and themed cakes plus the Bollinger   

Worst bits :  None really but maybe they could of asked us if we wanted any more food rather than us having to ask them  

Value for money : It was expensive but we did enjoy it .   

would I go back? :  Yes I will once they do a different theme. 

Clermont afternoon tea - Charing Cross London

 Much needed afternoon tea today with my mum. It's been a few weeks since my last afternoon tea so was looking forward to this one. 

This is a lovely hotel next to Charing Cross station. I had a brunch here with my hubby which we enjoyed so decided to try the afternoon tea. 

I got a good deal by buying a Groupon voucher with a discount code . I paid £42.50 for two with a glass of bubbly each which is good value compared to the menu price of £70 for two !!!!!!

The hotel is very grand inside with a large sweeping staircase case up to the restaurant . I would say it has a slight Art Deco feel to the hotel interior but with a modern twist. 

The afternoon tea is served in the lovely lounge that has  large floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Strand below. It has velvet chairs and bench seats with  cushions. and bright floral china on the tables. There are gold pillars and chandeliers which have a leaf design. It feels very bright and cozy and I liked all the hanging pots of artificial plants. 

Once seated we was handed the menu and asked if we had any allergies. 

A glass of bubbly was brought over to us and we ordered a cappuccino each . About 15 minutes later the tea stand arrived 

As my mum does not like mayonnaise they gave her a plate of sandwiches specially made for her. We got four finger sandwiches each which were extremely  fresh and tasty. I liked the ham one best. 

I was slightly disappointed that we only got two scones between us and the fruit one was small compared to the plain one. There was 2 mini jars of jam raspberry one and strawberry one plus pot of thick clotted cream. The scones were still warm and we cut them in half to share. I must say I enjoyed them and they were nice and light inside. 

After the scones I ordered another coffee before tucking into the four cakes we got each. 

The chocolate orange tart was very nice and so was the pink buttercream topped sponge with raspberries inside. I thought the macaroon was not that great but the mini Victoria sponge was nice. 

We did not get the Earl Grey panna cotta mentioned on the menu and I did not realize this was missing until I started to write this blog.

 It did not matter too much as we left the hotel full and content.

Nearest Station :    Charing Cross  - about 2 minute walk 

Best bits : The lovely lounge and fresh sandwiches  

Worst bits :  Only 2 scones between us and fruit one was small. 

Value for money : Yes defiantly if you have the Groupon voucher   

would I go back? :  Yes as I like this hotel inside and where it is by the station. 

Copthorne Tara Hotel Groupon afternoon tea - Kensington London

 

Saturday I took my mum for a bargain afternoon tea using a Groupon voucher. It was a Prosecco afternoon tea for 2 at the great bargain price £23.95. that is under £12 each which is amazing !!!!!!

The normal price is £19 each without the Prosecco

I was not expecting it to be like the posh London hotels but the menu and photos online looked good so decided to give it a go. 

https://media.millenniumhotels.com/Live/D/4/1/D415C7F0-C967-49CF-ABC8-AECD72A32C59/TARA%20Tea%20Lounge%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf?r=211208151218

We got a underground train to high street Kensington station and then it was just a 5 minutes walk from there. 

It was a very large modern style hotel that lacked the character of some older posher London hotels but looked ok. The reception area inside was huge and very busy. 

The afternoon tea is served in a lounge area along a corridor. Its small and decorated in floral and bird wallpaper with two small chandeliers handing from the ceiling and some wall lights. 

The tables were laid out with mismatched cups and saucers and plates in a shabby chic style. The napkins were paper and not cloth and we was not given a menu to look at. 

Our waitress asked if we had any allergies and and we said no but informed her that we do not like fish and that my mum no mayonnaise. She asked us what we wanted to drink and we both ordered a cappuccino. 

The coffee was in a large mug and tasted very nice and creamy.

Whilst waiting a few more people arrived for afternoon tea and I wondered if they too had a voucher deal. 

We waited about 25 minutes for the afternoon tea stand to arrive, it was nice shape with oblong plates on the stand. The waitress also brought out a glass of Prosecco each which was disappointing as it was served in a plastic glass !!!!!  It tasted OK but I could not understand the reasons for not serving it in a proper glass. Just did not make sense to me. 

The afternoon tea looked very different from the below photo online from the hotel 

We had to ask the waitress what was in the sandwiches and she said no mayonnaise or fish. I think that there may of been some mayonnaise in the cheese one as it was like the cheese and onion spread you buy in tubs from supermarkets. My mum said it was nice as she could not taste the mayonnaise . The chicken sandwiches were more like chicken pate but tasted nice. We did like all five of the sandwiches and they were fresh and in different types of bread. 

Next we had the fruit scone each was was large and still warm. To go with the scone we got a mini pot of Tiptree strawberry jam  and mini pot of clotted cream each. 

It was a nice scone but nothing special. 

Before tucking into the cakes I ordered an Americano coffee. We got  four different little cakes to share and a tiny glass filled with fresh cream and raspberry coulis each. 

The cakes consisted of  an almond tart, raspberry choux bun, apple cake and a cream fruit gateaux. 

We cut them in half so we could both try them 

They all tasted nice but once again nothing amazing and not sure if made in house or brought in ready made. 

Overall it was a good afternoon tea for £12 however not sure I would feel the same paying £19 each without the Prosecco !!!!!!!

Nearest Station :    High Street Kensington underground  - about 5 minute walk 

Best bits : The sandwiches with different types of bread  

Worst bits :  The Prosecco in a plastic glass,  felt cheap but tasted OK 

Value for money : Yes defiantly if you have the Groupon voucher   

would I go back? :  No I do not think so