Best place for tea....
Jul 20th, 2006, 08:28 AM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh Im sorry...
I must of written this message too fast....I meant to ask which hotel in London is good for tea.. I've heard people mention Ritz, Claridge, etc... has anyone gone there? and how much is it?
I must of written this message too fast....I meant to ask which hotel in London is good for tea.. I've heard people mention Ritz, Claridge, etc... has anyone gone there? and how much is it?
Jul 20th, 2006, 08:52 AM
#8
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was born in London, but now reside in the U.S. Most Englishmen think it is absolutely mad for Americans to pay 25 pounds and upwards to have tea and scones at the Connaught, for example. MAD! If you are rich, it is fine. But it boggles my mind that middle-class people would pay that whilst on holiday because they think it is the "thing" to do in London. Believe me, the majority of Englishmen do not partake of tea in posh hotels as a part of their lifestyle.
Find a nice little tea salon somewhere and pay a proper price for tea and pastries.
Find a nice little tea salon somewhere and pay a proper price for tea and pastries.
Jul 20th, 2006, 09:47 AM
#9
Imitation has it wrong. Yes, many Brit fodorites do pooh pooh the idea of afternoon tea at the posh hotels - but there have been a couple of articles in the last month in major UK papers (one in the Guardian and one in the Telegraph) about afternoon teas having a huge resurgence among the locals and become quite "in".
Now - that doesn't make it necessarily true - but every time I have been to tea at the Ritz, Savoy, Browns, the Dorchester or other posh places (maybe 15 times over the years) -- the diners have been about 60/40 British/obvious foreigners.
But it will NOT be cheap. Count on £25-£37 depending on the hotel you choose and more if you want champagne too.
Now - that doesn't make it necessarily true - but every time I have been to tea at the Ritz, Savoy, Browns, the Dorchester or other posh places (maybe 15 times over the years) -- the diners have been about 60/40 British/obvious foreigners.
But it will NOT be cheap. Count on £25-£37 depending on the hotel you choose and more if you want champagne too.
Jul 20th, 2006, 10:13 AM
#10
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have made reservations for afternoon tea at the Ritz in London in Sept. for my sis and me.....cost 35GBP each and you can go to the Ritz website and check out their menu, etc. I have done this before and it is very nice.
Jul 20th, 2006, 10:42 AM
#12
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 37,385
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had tea at Fortnum and Mason. It was a very nice way to relax in an afternoon. We were going to the theater that evening so we didn't have to worry about dinner before hand, and ate after. The tea room was very nice, there was a piano player, the scones, sandwiches, and pastries were very fresh and delicious. I can't remember the exact price but I think it was in the mid 20's ...pounds that is. The pound was only 1.40 then..oh those were the days. There were some brits in the mix as I recall. Everyone was dressed nicely but you don't need a tie or some such thing. There was one lady that actually was wearing jeans but looked very nice...she was wearing a nice top with a blazer and nice looking boots. They replenished the scones and pastries. I love those scones. I was waiting for the freight dolly to come up and take me out of there, I was so totally stuffed!!! Yes, I DID make a pid of myself.
Jul 20th, 2006, 11:51 AM
#13
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Molly, $65 for tea!?!?!?! I must be daft because I just can't believe it. Imagine Brits coming to the U.S. and paying $65 for coffee and donuts!
Janis, you contradict yourself. You admit that you have been to those posh hotels maybe 15 times OVER THE YEARS. Obviously, it is not a regular occurance for you to have tea at Brown's. I also suspect that those Brits you see there are people who can afford to do so or have company expense accounts. (My celbrity aunt often takes vistors to Brown's for tea, using her expense account. If she had to pay herself, they would be taking tea at Pret a Manger
)
Living in the U.S., I am often told by Americans that they "always wanted to have tea served in a silver service by butlers at Claridge's." I am glad that I don't have such a romanticized view of tea and biscuits.
Cheers
Janis, you contradict yourself. You admit that you have been to those posh hotels maybe 15 times OVER THE YEARS. Obviously, it is not a regular occurance for you to have tea at Brown's. I also suspect that those Brits you see there are people who can afford to do so or have company expense accounts. (My celbrity aunt often takes vistors to Brown's for tea, using her expense account. If she had to pay herself, they would be taking tea at Pret a Manger
)Living in the U.S., I am often told by Americans that they "always wanted to have tea served in a silver service by butlers at Claridge's." I am glad that I don't have such a romanticized view of tea and biscuits.
Cheers
Jul 20th, 2006, 11:57 AM
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
ImitationofChrist, I think you are missing the point. No one pays that kind of money because they simply want some tea and biscuits. They are paying for the total experience of the "event" and the surroundings. Are you aware that some people pay thousands of dollars for tickets to the Super Bowl that they can see for free on their TV at home? Same thing only different.
Jul 20th, 2006, 12:01 PM
#15
Of COURSE it isn't a "regular occurance". It isn't for a local and it wouldn't be for a visitor. A posh afternoon tea at one of the 5* hotels is a special ocassion - for most anybody. Just a simple afternoon tea at one of the department stores or in a nice cafe - now that is an "everyday" sort of thing. Not that one would do it every day - but it wouldn't be out of the question.
I have been to those posh properties many more than 15 times over the years - I have taken formal afternoon teas in them maybe just 15-16 times. I get to the UK an average of 2 times a year and take a "posh" tea maybe 3/4 of my visits. Not every time but close.
If I still lived in the UK I might do it 2 or 3 times a year - about what I do now . . . . . .
I have been to those posh properties many more than 15 times over the years - I have taken formal afternoon teas in them maybe just 15-16 times. I get to the UK an average of 2 times a year and take a "posh" tea maybe 3/4 of my visits. Not every time but close.
If I still lived in the UK I might do it 2 or 3 times a year - about what I do now . . . . . .
Jul 20th, 2006, 12:22 PM
#16
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,141
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Our long-time favorite (since Jackson's of Piccadilly left the scene) is Brown's Hotel. Nice atmosphere, comfy chairs, terrific scones and assorted pastries...along with tea sandwiches and bread and butter.
Jul 20th, 2006, 12:32 PM
#18
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,997
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sociologists could use this query in their classrooms to spark great debates. Perhaps the question should read, " Our annual income is $xxx,xxx. Where should we have afternoon tea. Where will be comfortable with other patrons?".
Jul 20th, 2006, 12:42 PM
#19
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,667
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<<<<<
Now - that doesn't make it necessarily true
>>>>>
the very fact that these articles are "interesting" is that it is so well established that londoners do NOT have posh teas. many visitors think that having a posh tea is a typical british thing to do...ironic as it is so well established that it is not done that when an article like this is written londoners actually stop and scratch their chins and say "really...we actually do this? i never knew that. i thought it was only for tourists"
Now - that doesn't make it necessarily true
>>>>>
the very fact that these articles are "interesting" is that it is so well established that londoners do NOT have posh teas. many visitors think that having a posh tea is a typical british thing to do...ironic as it is so well established that it is not done that when an article like this is written londoners actually stop and scratch their chins and say "really...we actually do this? i never knew that. i thought it was only for tourists"
