Afternoon Tea in London - Who is the Frontrunner Now?

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Mar 17, 2024, 11:08 am

#16

LAX/HKG

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Any teen friendly spots for a traditional afternoon/high tea experience?

Mar 18, 2024, 12:07 pm

#17

tom tulpe

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Quote:

Originally Posted by LAX/HKG

Any teen friendly spots for a traditional afternoon/high tea experience?

I think it's more a question of whether your teens are up for it - but if they are, the Theatre Royal Dury Lane one is a bit more quirky than the other traditional ones.

But I don't think that they provide phone chargers at the table, if that's what you're asking.

ETA legal drinking age in the UK is 18, so if they want to hit the champagne, that's how old they'd have to be.

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Mar 20, 2024, 10:05 pm

#18

Swanhunter

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tom tulpe

ETA legal drinking age in the UK is 18, so if they want to hit the champagne, that's how old they'd have to be.

16 if consumed with food, and if they don’t pay.

https://www.gov.uk/alcohol-young-people-law

Mar 22, 2024, 6:09 am

#19

fluffymitten

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The Afternoon Tea Awards have just released a list of what they think are the best options across the UK:

https://www.afternoontea.co.uk/top-a...award-winners/

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Mar 23, 2024, 12:31 am

#20

LAX/HKG

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Quote:

Originally Posted by fluffymitten

The Afternoon Tea Awards have just released a list of what they think are the best options across the UK:

https://www.afternoontea.co.uk/top-a...award-winners/

Thanks for the link. How credible are their reviews?

Mar 23, 2024, 1:04 am

#21

tom tulpe

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Quote:

Originally Posted by LAX/HKG

Thanks for the link. How credible are their reviews?

They offer their services to those establishments who pay (bookings are made via third-party sites).

https://www.afternoontea.co.uk/infor...your-business/

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Mar 23, 2024, 11:29 am

#22

stifle

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Swanhunter

16 if consumed with food, and if they don’t pay.

https://www.gov.uk/alcohol-young-people-law

Needs to be with a "table meal", not just food (s150 (4) Licensing Act). Afternoon tea might not qualify. And it's also subject to the policy of the premises in question; they can decide they don't want to serve 16/17 year olds as a rule even if it isn't illegal.

Mar 23, 2024, 12:00 pm

#23

Cotswold Eagle

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Quote:

Originally Posted by stifle

Needs to be with a "table meal", not just food (s150 (4) Licensing Act). Afternoon tea might not qualify. .

I’m curious about what sort of afternoon tea one would not be sitting at a table to eat…I mean I know there are many funky versions these days, but even so 😀

Mar 23, 2024, 1:34 pm

#24

tom tulpe

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Quote:

Originally Posted by stifle

Soloman v Green (1955) 119 JP 289: "a meal eaten by a person seated at a table, or at a counter or other structure that serves the purpose of a table and is not used for the service of refreshments for consumption by persons not seated at a table or structure serving the purpose of a table." So afternoon tea probably qualifies.

But it's a bit of a grey area - see Michael Gove and the infamous "scotch egg" controversy during COVID restrictions.

Mar 23, 2024, 3:27 pm

#25

Scots_Al

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Do they not have Greggs down there?

Mar 24, 2024, 5:53 pm

#26

LAX/HKG

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tom tulpe

They offer their services to those establishments who pay (bookings are made via third-party sites).

https://www.afternoontea.co.uk/infor...your-business/

Doesn’t sound very objective if the establishments have to pay to be reviewed….

Any other sources for reviews with less conflict of interest?

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Mar 25, 2024, 2:22 am

#27

tom tulpe

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Quote:

Originally Posted by LAX/HKG

Doesn’t sound very objective if the establishments have to pay to be reviewed….

Any other sources for reviews with less conflict of interest?

Timeout.com (editorial guidelines: https://www.timeout.com/about/editorial-guidelines), although they have obviously gone downhill compared to when everyone would buy a physical copy of the magazine, and that was their main source of revenue.

https://www.timeout.com/london/resta...-tea-in-london

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Mar 27, 2024, 8:29 pm

#28

CDTraveler

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Quote:

Originally Posted by stifle

Fortnum & Mason offered my 17 yo champagne when we were there for tea. He definitely didn't look over 18 at the time, but as he's used to formal occasions, perhaps they judged him on his table manners rather than age.

If you're looking for a place where there is a generous quantity of food, I would suggest Fortnum & Mason, as the waiter saw hungry teenager, and brought multiple repeats of son's favorite items, and then delivered a box of goodies to the table for us to take with us.

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