The Bloomin’ Brilliant Afternoon Tea in the Hyde Lobby Bar at Royal Lancaster London Hotel

Just when I think my obsession with afternoon tea is slowing down, a new invite arrives in my inbox, the other half decides to book a surprise tea or my mother tells me I never take her to one, so I must. I love the fact that it can be so civilised and conversational, yet at the same time it’s refined, very proper and you can still enjoy a few too many glasses of everyone’s favourite – Champagne!

Our most recent afternoon tea adventure led us returning to one of our favourites, the Royal Lancaster London. The hotel recently spent 80 million on a refurbishment and put themselves firmly on the map as one of central London’s top luxury hotels. We stayed here and had a lovely time, sampled a Valentines afternoon tea in February and this time we’ve come back to try its latest and what I believe is its best yet – The Bloomin’ Brilliant Afternoon Tea. Of course, that meant enjoying a glass of Moët & Chandon Rose first. The afternoon tea service is looked after by head chef Ben Purton and executive head pastry chef Steven Penny.

They really have done an amazing job on the refurbishment and in terms of design it reminds me a lot like Viceroy (now Five Palms) in Dubai. With floral fever landing in London in May with the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show and Hyde Park’s Rose Gardens in full bloom, Royal Lancaster London is following suit with the ‘Bloomin’ Brilliant Afternoon Tea’ launching on May 2nd and running until June 2018. Priced at £35 per person; £45 with a glass of Moët & Chandon Brut Champagne; and £55 with a glass of Moët & Chandon Impérial Rosé Champagne. Along with some excellent service.

My favourite part of this afternoon is the savoury selection with the freshest of home-made breads you’re likely to ever come across. Royal Lancaster’s home-smoked salmon roses is smoked in a citrus-chamomile tea and was utter heaven. Free-range Barradale Farm eggs with wild baby cress was satisfyingly good. A Sunflower-seed choux bun filled with zesty coronation chicken was so good I wanted more, while a bouquet of English Asparagus is paired with sun-blush tomatoes and red amaranth. The latter was again lovely, but it was probably my least favourite of them all. Better still was the single warm tartlet of Somerset brie, Royal Lancaster honey (from their roof) and red onion chutney.

Our next favourite tier was this beautiful botanical selection of sweet delicacies which features freshly picked strawberry tarts with lime curd and baby basil; Valhrona chocolate flower pots with budding crystallised violets; a lemon and elderflower sable dome. as well as some orange blossom and ginger macaron. We really couldn’t find fault in any of them. If the hotel was ever looking to expand its patisserie offering, I can already imagine a copper lined trolley making its way around the lobby for people to enjoy over a coffee of glass of bubbles.

We finished up on both traditional and raisin scones which were so light and fluffy. They’re also served warm from the oven with waiters keeping a close eye on when you finish your sweet treats so not to keep you waiting. The scones are accompanied by some homemade strawberry jam, Cornish clotted cream and a nectar-sweet orange marmalade. All blooming Afternoon Teas will also include a ‘Flowering Tea’ for the table, and a packet of bee-friendly seeds to take home and plant.

We had such a lovely afternoon here once again and while the tea is immaculate, so is the service. From the moment you sit down, everything is taken care of and no glass is ever left empty. The selection of teas are very good too and they have clearly been well sourced. Launching on May 2nd 2018, the only thing you need to do now is get booking!

NB: Our meal was complimentary. All views are as always, my own. My views are not influenced by anyone other than my own palate and slightly poor eyesight.