Over the weekend I got together with 3 of my best girl friends to celebrate one of them turning a quarter of a century!! We decided to visit the Sanderson Hotel, to experience their famous Mad Hatters Tea Party!
Situated on Berners Street just off London's famous Oxford Street, The Sanderson Hotel offers a retreat from the outside world, luring you into what feels like, a dream world. The reception area is decorated with voile drapes which move gently when the doors open and let in the outside air. The whole place feels very open, spacious and clean.
We arrived for our Afternoon tea which was booked in for 1.30pm, the hotel was already buzzing with other guests who were enjoying use of the bar or sitting for their afternoon tea.
We were guided through to our table, which compared to other tables was amazing!! We had our very own area sectioned off by yet more drapes, this time in black, the layout was somewhat gothic, very dull lighting from a chandelier which sat above the table, tall candle stick holders with black burning candles and the chairs were very high backed leather chairs which you sunk into (this turned out to be very dangerous after the tea when we were all so full and in need of a sleep!)
The menu for the afternoon tea was concealed in a vintage looking book and the sugar in a Old fashioned jewellery box!
There is a choice between the standard tea party or the Champagne tea party, the difference in price is £10 and you get a glass of champagne as well as tea with your afternoon sandwiches and cakes. The food then gets bought out and the first thing that catches you eye are the amazing colours. The cakes came out on a three tiered stand, the sandwiches were bought out on a separate plate, I have more of a savoury tooth myself so was super intrigued when a plate of colourful sandwiches were presented to us!
I can see why this Afternoon Tea is so popular, it is everything you could want from an afternoon tea and more, tea is offered in a variety of flavours, strawberries and cream, mint choc chip, rhubarb and custard (and obviously your favourite traditional English breakfast). The sandwich fillings are very traditional, it is the bread in which they served which catches your eye and taste buds! The ham sandwiches are served on a tomato bread, the cucumber and chives on a spinach bread, salmon on a dark rye and Egg mayonnaise with cress on a lemon bread. All absolutely delicious!
Although I am a huge sandwich lover, I have to admit, the cakes completely steal the show at this afternoon tea! The crazy ways in which particular cakes are served make them even more magical to eat. Above left are the chocolate cups, filled with white chocolate mousse and green tea... the whole thing is edible! the colourful striped cake is a cheesecake encased in white chocolate with a bursting pocket of mango inside! (Heston Blumenthal style!)
I had a taste of all the cakes (although I could not finish them) and my two particular favourites were the marshmallow mushrooms and the little Drink Me pot, which you were directed to drink slowly through the straw so that all three layers that had been created were enjoyed as they should be.
Whilst capturing the aspects of a traditional afternoon tea, The Sanderson have played around with the Alice in Wonderland theme to create a fantastic balance of weird and wonderful. The edible cups, the drink me potion and the colourful sandwiches all add to the experience which I think is one that everyone should try at least once!!
https://www.morganshotelgroup.com/originals/originals-sanderson-london/eat-drink/mad-hatters-afternoon-tea
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