Recently, I was invited to not one, not two, not three, but four hotels in one afternoon to sample their festive Christmas menus.

This was the ultimate in luxurious afternoon tea tours with Nudge PR and Keith from AfternoonTea.co.uk – a national booking site for one of my most favourite of British offerings.

Earlier in the summer I also enjoyed an unusual afternoon tea with these guys and the BB Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus, just another wonderful offering in the world of afternoon tea in London, should you need something a little out of the norm for your own celebrations or requirements.

For this Christmassy tour we started out in Mayfair, meeting at Browns Bar & Brasserie, before moving on to the Chesterfield Hotel, London Hilton on Park Lane and finishing off at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.

If you have a hankering for something a little different over Xmas and New Year, then these four beautifully creative afternoon tea menus are just the ticket to satisfy your cravings.

For Christmas afternoon tea menus, these were all surprisingly so different, each one completely unique to the last, it was such a great afternoon and the goodie bags allowed us to take the leftovers home to enjoy with friends the next day – even better.

Here, I share with you the four menus and some photos from our walking tour of these fantastic London hotels, each one highly recommended by Miss Sue Flay:

Browns Bar & Brasserie:

Browns Mayfair is set in a building that was originally Wells & Co, a gentlemen’s outfitters; it is believed that Winston Churchill once was fitted here. It is from here that Rudyard Kipling penned many of his novels and it is believed that The English Tea Room was the inspiration for Agatha Christie’s ‘At Bertram’s Hotel’.

Here, the Afternoon tea is continuously replenished at no additional charge, so you certainly won’t leave hungry!

AFTERNOON TEA IN THE ENGLISH TEA ROOM

A Selection of Finger Sandwiches Including:

Smoked salmon and creme fraiche

Egg and watercress

Cucumber and cream cheese

Fruit scone,

served with strawberry jam and clotted cream

A Selection of Mini Cakes Including:

Salted caramel profiteroles

Victoria sponge cakes

Browns winter cherry

Almond Eton mess

Your choice of large loose leaf tea.

As of the 29th November, Browns Hotel will be serving Festive Afternoon Tea at £47.50. Enjoy a glass of Ruinart NV with your Afternoon Tea for £57.50 or perhaps a glass of Ruinart Rose for £61.50.

On Christmas Day, Ruinart Festive Afternoon Tea will be served from 12 noon at £67.50 per person

On New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, Ruinart Festive Afternoon Tea will be served from 12 noon at £62.50 per person

A CHAMPAGNE AFTERNOON

Afternoon Tea plus a glass of Mercier Champagne

£26 for two (Add an extra person for £18)

A MOST UNUSUAL AFTERNOON

Afternoon Tea plus a glass of Hendrick’s and tonic with a slice of cucumber

£24 for two (add an extra person for £17)

All allergies and requirements catered for with 48 hours notice.

The Chesterfield Hotel:

The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel is a luxury hotel ideally located for Afternoon Tea when shopping in Piccadilly, Bond Street, Regent Street or Oxford Street.

They are very proud to have received a special ‘Award of Excellence’ from the UK Tea Council in recognition of outstanding quality and consistently high standards of tea service in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Their Afternoon Tea is served in either their Conservatory (or candlelit at night, of which we enjoyed, just stunning!), which is flooded with natural daylight, set against the backdrop of the garden and fountain, or The Butler’s Restaurant which is warm and intimate and provides a quintessential British dining experience.

WINTER WONDERLAND AFTERNOON TEA

Selection of Homemade Sandwiches

Roast turkey with cranberry mayonnaise on white bread

Honey roast ham with Cheddar cheese and tomato chutney on onion bread

Scottish smoked salmon with cream cheese on brown bread

Free range egg mayonnaise and watercress on basil bread

Cucumber and cream cheese on white bread

Freshly Baked Homemade Savoury and Plain Scones

Served with Cornish clotted cream, homemade strawberry jam

Selection of Festive Pastries and Cupcakes

Mulled wine macaroon

Christmas tree chocolate pot

Cranberry and vanilla cheesecake

Snowman cupcake

Yule log

Festive fruit tart

£34.50 per person

£41.50  for Champagne tea – Additional glass £12.00 / Bottle £59 Magnum £118

Vegetarian and gluten free afternoon teas also available.

Little Elves Afternoon Tea – £12.50 per child

Peanut butter and jam sandwiches

Scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam

Cupcakes, hot chocolate or tea

London Hilton on Park Lane:

Treat yourself to London Hilton on Park lane’s delicious festive Afternoon Tea, led by Head Chef Alexandre Derouck, Podium Restaurant & Bar offers a relaxed atmosphere and is the perfect base from where to explore the many local attractions including Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, world famous Harrods & Selfridges.

FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEA

Sandwiches

Forman’s smoked salmon with horseradish

Honey roast ham with Pommery mustard

Prawn cocktail with baby gem lettuce

Cucumber, cream cheese, chives

Egg, cress

Scones

Freshly baked chocolate chip

Plain and raisin scones

Praline chocolate spread

Clotted cream, strawberry jam

Pastries

Yule log made of chocolate

Candied Cranberry cupcake

Miniature fancies

Ginger bread man

White forest gateau

Candied chestnut parfait

Mandarin and spice curd in glass

Mulled wine macaroon

Harney & Sons fine teas

selection of loose leaf teas

£36 per person or £46 with a glass of Pommery Champagne.

Valid 2nd December – 5th January.

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park:

This isn’t a usual “Christmas” menu, they are in fact celebrating all things “Paddington Bear” with their most stunning afternoon tea menu.

PADDINGTON AFTERNOON TEA

Sandwiches

Slow roasted Norfolk bronze turkey with sage and cranberry

Smoked salmon tartar with creme fraiche and dill

Cotswold egg and mustard cress

St Tola goats cheese, roast pumpkin, red onion confit

Portland crab and crayfish fondue on brioche

Wiltshire cured ham and air dried tomatoes

Pastries

Find my Teddy brownies…

(Crunchy brownie, Banana compote, jivara milk chocolate Chantilly)

Pack your suitcase

(Caramelised cinnamon and java pepper ganache, muscovado and chocolate sable)

My favourite rolled marmalade sandwich

(Rolled sponge, orange marmalade, candy ginger chantilly)

Paddington pots

(Saffron honey brule, pear and quince compote)

Cakes and Scones

Carrot cake

Christmas cake

Cranberry and plain scones

Priced at £48 per adult and £28 per child, this is a luxury tea served in The Rosebery.

This venue is just a few steps from Knightsbridge Tube Station and a short walk from Kensington Palace.

Thank you so much to Gen & Keith (and to the hotels themselves for their hospitality) for the invitation to join this tour, they know me all too well – there was not a chance in the world that I would have said no to this experience and I’m thrilled to have been a part of this mini afternoon tea adventure.

Visit www.AfternoonTea.co.uk for deals, offers & suggestions on afternoon tea offerings across the UK, should you be stuck for inspiration.

Please note – This event was complimentary, following a visit to view this venue and meet the team. I am in no means obliged to blog or write about their offerings, but I simply choose to share their offerings with my readers, should I enjoy the experience. The service team that work on the day or duration of my visit are not aware of my reasons for visiting, to enable a fair review.

Any questions or to discuss a “Secret Stay” or review, please do email:hello@misssueflay.com

All images © 2014 Miss Sue Flay, these may not be used or reproduced without written permission from the owner, many thanks in advance.