Birthdays, anniversaries, engagements or a treat with friends and families – why not meet and enjoy traditional afternoon tea.

Hand Picked Hotels is famed for its afternoon tea, and there is no finer place to enjoy this quintessentially English treat than in one of our architecturally stunning country houses. All of our hotels serve a selection of dainty sandwiches, pastries, cakes and scones and the finest leaf tea, all freshly prepared by hand using only the finest ingredients – and the menu changes seasonally as well as regionally.

At Grand Jersey Hotel & Spa, Jersey, they serve their afternoon tea with clotted cream and tea from the island itself, while at Norton House Hotel & Spa near Edinburgh it is served with a Scottish twist featuring Dundee Cake and Cranachan Meringue, and at Crathorne Hall in Yarm the menu includes a Yorkshire curd tart and Taylors of Harrogate Tea. We offer afternoon tea especially for children, too.

Our chefs at Norton House have also created a special afternoon tea which can be themed pink, blue or yellow with baby inspired cakes and biscuits, as well as mocktails for mums-to-be to celebrate the imminent arrival of a new life with friends and family. Across the hotels they have even created special one-off menus over Christmas, or to celebrate the launch of a new film, such as Alice in Wonderland, featuring an eclectic menu of sweet treats inspired by the story’s characters and oddities, which Bailbrook House Hotel in Bath did to great success. 

Most of our hotels serve their tea with a Twinings Tea Timer, a clever device to help remind you when your tea is ready – after all, we do not want your afternoon tea spoilt by an over or under-brewed cuppa. For a spot of extra indulgence you can also chose to add a glass of Bruno Paillard Champagne, a wonderful elegant glass of bubbly that is crisp and fresh with delicate citrus aromas and richer brioche notes.

Whatever the occasion, Hand Picked Hotels offers the perfect opportunity to get together with friends and family and celebrate something special.