At the end of January, I spent an afternoon with the Mad Hatter at the Sanderson Hotel and let me tell you, it was out of this world!
Instead of doing Christmas presents this year, Megan suggested that we treat ourselves to a day out, doing something that we wouldn't usually splash out on, and this afternoon tea seemed perfect.
When we arrived at the Sanderson, I was instantly in awe; it was obvious that this wasn't any old hotel. From the luscious lips that greet you in the form of a sofa to the amazing views of the gardens and water features behind the bar, the hotel just has so much character.
Our afternoon tea was served in the courtyard, a beautiful setting beneath marquees and surrounded by patio heaters so the temperature was no problem at all. If you ever get the choice, I would definitely opt for the courtyard setting as it just added to the experience.
We had an amazing waiter (who slightly resembled the mad hatter himself!) that guided us through the menu, which was presented in the middle of a classic novel.
Other cute and quirky traits included the 'Alice in Wonderland' style riddle wrapped around each napkin, the beautifully designed crockery and the sugar cubes concealed in a fully functioning music box.
Now even if you aren't a traditional tea lover, you will still find that the afternoon is worthwhile. You're given the choice of exciting and original flavoured teas such as apple pie, strawberries and cream, mint choc chip and rhubarb and custard, presented in tiny potion bottles which smell divine.
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| Enjoying my rhubarb and custard tea, which tasted just like the sweets! |
And then came the food. The sweet treats that were presented to us were not only tasty but they looked absolutely incredible, each so intricately designed that they resembled pieces of artwork.
I particularly enjoyed the 'tick tock Victoria sponge cake' and the melting mango cheesecake but I honestly couldn't pick a favourite!
Even the sandwiches were artistic; simple, traditional sandwiches with a twist, made on different flavored bread and rolled up to look like cakes!
The savory scone with garlic butter was also a nice touch, but never beats the traditional hot scone that I piled with clotted cream and jam.
We were also invited to indulge in the unlimited jelly bar, which I managed to make a complete mess of, dropping jelly on the floor - be warned, it is not easy to serve!
Finally we were told to drink the magic potion to 'shrink you' after all the food - a gorgeous passion fruit sensation which washed it all down perfectly!
Although the afternoon tea was a little pricey (a 12.5% service charge is added to your bill and additional drinks at the bar weren't cheap) it was thoroughly worthwhile. I would definitely recommend taking a trip to this gorgeous hotel and trying this amazing experience for yourself - it was by far the best afternoon tea that I've ever had and would definitely visit again!
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