Grim's Dyke Hotel

I've so missed the London Bloggers Teas and the fun of meeting up with other bloggers over scones and tea.  So when my inbox pinged with an invite from Linzi at Office Breaks to attend a bloggers tea I immediately responded "Yes!"  

The fact that it was located in a gorgeous country manor made it even more appealing.  The Grim's Dyke Hotel is a 19th Century Tudor-Style manor located on 40 acres just 12 miles from the center of London. 

Afternoon Tea & Sightseeing with Thistle London

Last year I wrote about an amazing date night that Matt and I had here in London that included a stay at the Thistle Marble Arch.  It's a favorite London hotel and I particularly loved the complimentary lounge.   Nibbles and bubbles just for me?  Yes, please.  

This summer Thistle Hotels invited me to join them for again for a special treat. 

#LDNBloggersTea at the Conrad London St. James

About a year ago, I decided to plan an afternoon tea for bloggers and hatched the #LDNBloggersTea.

We’ve now enjoyed four quarterly teas at some of London’s nicest hotels and interest in the event continues to grow.

Each time there are familiar faces as well as new faces, but we all have the connection

of putting a piece of ourselves on the internet.

It’s a fabulous group of bloggers from all over the world blogging about a variety of topics.

Our most recent #LDNBloggersTea was at the Conrad London St. James 

(previously the Intercontinental Westminster). It’s a gorgeous, lush hotel

located in the heart of London. We were lucky enough to get a preview of their

upcoming holiday tea, the Christmas Snow Scene.

Somehow they’ve managed to take a traditional Christmas dinner and put it onto a tea stand.

They really outdid themselves on the savoury course.

Here’s the menu (but you have to imagine Christmas melodies from a harp playing

in the background and a glass of champagne in your hand).

Brussel sprout salad
(everyone raved about this brussel spout & goats cheese mousse)

Turkey ballotine

Venison bite

Smoke salmon & lemon crème fraiche

Cured gammon & mustard

Beetroot & spinach
Cranberry sauce

Freshly Baked Orange & Cranberry Christmas Spice Scones

Served with Devonshire clotted cream, home-made strawberry jam and blackberry curd

(very generous with the cream!)

We each had our own selection of tea served in a large silver pot to get us through the afternoon.

Then came the pièce de résistance, the magical snow scene served under a pane of frosted glass.

 

Winter berry Christmas Tree

Chocolate Orange Battenberg Present

Snowflake Macaroon

White Forest Yule Log

Christmas Postcard marshmallows

Mini Meringue Snowmen

Edible Snow

Pastry Chef Zoe came around to explain each of the sweet creations.

It’s obvious they really put their hearts into this menu.

 

It was a delight and we were reluctant to mess it up, but quickly overcame that reluctance

 as we tasted treat after treat. My favorite was the Yule Log, soft and sweet.

The Winter Berry Christmas Tree was a real surprise, a tangy berry mouse

with a sweet chocolate brownie.

 
It was absolutely magical.  Between the creative and tasty menu, the attentive and friendly service, the beautiful setting of Emmaline’s and the interesting and exciting company it was the perfect afternoon. If you want to treat someone to a very special tea experience in London this holiday season, this is the perfect choice. 

The Christmas Snow Scene runs from November 24^th to Christmas Eve and is £37 or £45 if you’d like to add free-flowing Laurent-Perrier champagne. Yes, please.

If you are interested in attending a future #LDNBloggersTea, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’ve passed the torch to Melanie from Sunny in London who will be planning future events. But, you will definitely see me there. I can’t wait for the next one!

Have you ever experienced a afternoon tea in London?

 

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  We were offered a discounted rate of £30 per person for our tea.

#LDNBloggersTea at the Milestone Hotel

May 17th was our third quarterly London Blogger's Tea!

I love that the most amazing bloggers are joining the fun and making connections.

This time it was at the 5-Star Milestone Hotel.

If you read this post about my first experience at the Milestone 

you will know why I selected this beautiful hotel.

There were 23 bloggers in attendance from a wide variety of backgrounds.

We all gathered in a wood-paneled private room and started our tea with some bubbly.

I know it can be nerve-wracking walking into a room of strangers.

But, I'm always amazed at how quickly it just turns into a room of friends.

We share a common interest and read each others blogs.

It's the perfect set up for making connections.

I stood outside the room quietly at one point and listened to all of the chatter and laughter.

I'm certainly no event planner and this is out of my comfort zone.

But the connections that I see being made are so worth the effort.
Here are the lovely bloggers that were in attendance.
You definitely want to check out their blogs.

Sunny in London

Girl Meets Globe

Kiwi Footprints

Passport and Toothbrush

Chicadeedee

Earth to Jade

Ladies What…

The Experience Collection Project

Around the World in 80 Pairs of Shoes

The Secret Life of an Unknown Housewife

Two Feet, One World

Adventures of a London Kiwi

It's All Bee

More Than Just a Cupcake Lover

{Erin Out and About}

My Little Tale

Little Travel Bee

Random Acts of Drama

London Unattached

25 Before I'm 25

Quentessentially Me

Mayfair Office Girl

 

The company was fabulous.  The tea was nice.

After our last event, I think we are all completely spoiled

and this tea didn't quite get the rave reviews that the Royal Horseguards did.

The sandwiches were good and plentiful with traditional fillings

although I think they might have been sitting out a bit longer than they should
as the bread was a bit dry.

The scones were good and our request for "more cream" was quickly answered.

Our tea selection was limited to just English Breakfast and Earl Grey.

My first experience at the Milestone, I was able to select my tea and had my own pot.

We were just limited because of the size of our group, I would imagine,
but it's always nice to have more of a choice.

I was so full from the sandwiches and the scone that I couldn't fit more than one sweet treat.

But that red velvet cupcake was divine.

 Admittedly, there were a few problems with the special dietary requests and service.

I think most of us agree that it didn't deserve a perfect score.
Many of the bloggers have already posted their reviews with similar comments.

Personally, I will continue to recommend the Milestone

for afternoon tea because of my first experience.

I know what they normally provide to their customers and it's pretty special.

If you are interested in getting information about our next quartely #LDNBloggersTea
which will be in August at an as-yet-unnamed location,
please drop me an email at selena_jones@me.com.
We would love to have you!

Have you ever had tea at the Milestone Hotel?
What did you think?

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 The regular price for Afternoon Tea with Champagne atThe Milestone Hotel is £46.
We were offered a discounted rate of £30 per person for our tea.

The Tea House Theatre

"We serve the best Full-English in London."

That's what Hal Iggulden told me as I mumbled/gushed about his cakes.

I know that you shouldn't talk with your mouth full, but oh, that cake!

The Tea House Theatre was a stop on a press jaunt around Vauxhall that I joined a few weeks ago.

And along with the New Covent Flower Market this was a favorite stop.

This used to be one of the seediest of seedy pubs dating back to the Victorian era and located in the infamous

Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens.  But, it's now a cafe/tea house/community center.

The only buzz you will get here is from the creativity and camaraderie.

(And maybe a sugar buzz from those amazing cakes!)

But, they don't serve coffee or alcohol.

They do, however, serve loose leaf tea of every variety imaginable.

Welcoming, homey/homely, charming and lived in with it's vintage and eclectic decor,

this is a place to have a meal, enjoy brunch, have a cuppa and eat lots of cake!

Hal is also one of the guys behind the UK bestseller The Dangerous Book for Boys.

He was a great host and was happy to tell us all about this special place.

We gathered on mismatched furniture and drank tea from mismatched china.

Have I mentioned the cakes?  Holy cow!  Homemade gorgeousness.

That strawberry slice was meant to be shared, but I wanted it all for myself.

They serve a full British menu, including all day breakfast and a Sunday roast.

The windows have been scrubbed clean letting in the light.

Tea-centric quotes are painted on the walls.  A jumble of toys can be found in the corner.

A top hat, bookshelf, board games and, on the day we visited, a whole parking lot of prams.

This is a place where people gather, an extension of their living room.

Check out their events calendar.  As if that cake wasn't enough to draw you in,

how about poetry, swing dancing, knitting & sewing clubs, chess and drama societies,

film night, theatre productions, toddler circle (hence, the strollers) and so much more.

I haven't yet returned to test out that claim about the Full-English, but soon.

If you get there before I do, let me know what you think.

Which slice of cake would you choose?

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Science Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel

Do you remember that 80's movie Weird Science?

I'm sure some of you do and if you don't, please don't rub it in.

I've had that Oingo Boingo song in my head all week.  (And now you will, too.  You're welcome.)

The reason I've been thinking about science is because on Monday

I experienced an amazing London afternoon tea with a scientific twist.

The Drawing Rooms at The Ampersand Hotel is one of my very favorite London tea rooms.

It's located just across from South Kensington Station and in close proximity to both the

Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. The perfect spot for a Science Afternoon Tea.

Quite clever, if you ask me.

All the important components for a great afternoon tea were there.

A gorgeous setting.  I love the colors and the quirky artwork of The Drawing Rooms.

My life will not be complete until I have that painting of a giraffe in a champagne glass.

 Fresh Flowers and amazing, friendly service.

As soon as we walked in, our coats were whisked away.

The staff were wonderful throughout our visit. 

Champagne!  Afternoon Tea isn't Afternoon Tea without, well, a glass of bubbly.  Amiright?

Tea, obviously.  I had the Mint Tea which was perfect.

Although, I always forget to use the strainer when I pour another cup.

We were trying to read my fortune in the tea leaves by the end of it.
"I see more afternoon teas in your future."

 Three-tiered serving trays loaded with scrumptious nibbles.

Savoury gougeres

Glouster old spot ham, sauce gribiche

Cheese with fruit chutney

H.Forman & Son London smoked salmon, dill and cream cheese

Coronation chicken

 A warm selection of plain and white chocolate scones,

served with Devonshire clotted cream and homemade strawberry preserve.

The best part was the fun-filled top layer served complete with billowing smoke
straight from the lab of a mad scientist.   

She's not really mad at all.  Chef Ji Sun Shin is actually lovely.
Not only was the menu incredibly clever but every element was an absolute treat.
(Element.  See what I did there?)

 Hazelnut, walnut and chocolate cake with Mango Mousse Volcano

Chocolate Dinosaurs

Pistachio Macaroon with Cherry Sauce Pipette

Raspberry Cake Planet  (My favorite!)

Citrus Cocktail

There is nothing traditional and stuffy about this Afternoon Tea.

It was absolute fun. It left me with a huge smile on my face and humming that wacky song.

Of course the tea was that much more wonderful because of the company of these enthusiastic ladies.

If you've never seen a group of bloggers at an afternoon tea, you're missing out.

This was before the food floating in dry ice arrived at the tables.

Then everyone was up out of their seats.  Madness ensued.


 The Drawing Rooms at The Ampersand Hotel

Science Afternoon Tea available until 21st March.
£32.50 per person or £44.50 per person with a glass of Champagne.


How do you feel about tea with a bit of science?

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  *I was a guest of The Ampersand Hotel for the purposes of review.
 All photos, writing and opinions are my own.
As always, I promise to be open, honest and transparent with my readers.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.