Afternoon Tea - InterContinental Park Lane, Review

It’s the most wonderful time of the year when London’s best restaurants and eateries pull out all the stops to deliver magical food and tipples to let us know that Christmas is finally here. From festive afternoon teas to Christmas lunches and dinners, I’m posting a series of reviews featuring London’s Best Festive Menus. Next up is the Twelve Days of Christmas afternoon tea at the Wellington Lounge inside the InterContinental Park Lane London. 

Afternoon tea is a delight at any time of the year. Yet there is something magical about a festive afternoon tea, from the delicate pastries and cakes that burst with Christmas flavours to the beautiful Christmas decorations that sprinkle an extra layer of magic around the whole room. The Wellington Lounge understand the magic of a festive afternoon tea and their Twelve Days of Christmas afternoon tea captures this magic perfectly. 

The venue itself is adorned with sophisticated white and gold decorations to complement the white and grey furnishings and there’s a gorgeously decorated Christmas tree for guests to admire. There’s also an incredibly talented pianist who softly plays Christmas classics throughout the afternoon. 

Once sat down, you are welcomed with a lovely glass of Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut to give you a taste of what is to come. First up is a Partridge and Pear Pithivier which is surprisingly meaty with lovely salty and sweet flavours. 

The selection of teas are impressive and there’s plenty to choose from including White, Green, Oolong, Black, and Infusions. There are many I would recommend but the Matcha is perfect for a truly unique tea experience.

The sandwiches themselves are nicely presented and topped with edible flowers and thinly sliced roast beef on a truffle infused sourdough crispbread. This itself is delicious. The sandwiches include Smoked Salmon & Dill Cream Cheese on Basil Bread, Slow Roasted Corn Fed Chicken with Cranberry Chutney on Carrot Bread, and Heritage Beetroot & Mint Cream on Olive Bread. Each sandwich is unique in taste and full of flavour. The smoked salmon in particular is fabulous and the basil bread is delicious. 

The scones are warm and smell delicious. Along with the plain, there’s Cinnamon and Cranberry scones which really capture that winter spice taste. The orange curd is also gorgeous and goes really well with the buttery scones.

The sweet pastries are of course the piece de resistance and this is where the magic of Christmas can be found. Each sweet treat looks like a Christmas bauble and is aptly named after the famous Twelve Days of Christmas carol. There’s Maids a Milking -  Chocolate Tart Filled With Yoghurt Cream and Milk Bavroise, Turtle and a Pear Tree - Matcha Joconde with Pear Confit and Pear Mulled Wine Mousse, Gold Rings - Gianduia Layered Cake, and Geese a Laying  - Orange Macaroon Base Calamansi Mousse. It’s tremendous fun and each sweet is memorable in taste and look. 

Price?

The Twelve Days of Christmas afternoon tea is available from 18 November - 5 January  and costs:
£65 including a glass of Perrier-Jouët Champagne
£94 including unlimited Perrier-Jouët Champagne for 90 minutes

On Christmas and Boxing Day this changes to:

£75 including a glass of Perrier-Jouët Champagne
£104 including unlimited Perrier-Jouët Champagne for 90 minutes

Overall?

Wellington Lounge have really put out all the stops to make their festive afternoon tea an experience to remember. The Christmas piano music and decorations really enhance the festive spirit but it still remains a refined and sophisticated affair, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The food and drinks are of a high standard and the fun element from the finale is sure to put smiles on everyones’ faces. 

Book your festive Afternoon Tea at the Intercontinental, Park Lane.
Address: One Hamilton Place, Park Ln, Mayfair, London W1J 7QY
Phone: 020 7409 3131
Closest tube station: Hyde Park

Her Favourite Food x

My meal at The InterContinental was complimentary, all opinions are my own.