What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 25 Feb 2013

Welcome to another week!

It continues to be a bit manic here at Cloud 9 Towers as we have the Midlands Media Awards, Fresh, a great new project with the PRCA, the CIPR Northern Conference, an Oil & Gas Congress in Dubai and an exciting new initiative with Bristol Media.

But despite our busy schedule, we did take a little time out last week to make a start on the early celebrations of Carol's Big Birthday which is looming.

Often unsung, Carol does the money thing for both Cloud 9 and Fresh so we took a little trip down to London and treated ourselves to a rather pricey, but equally fabulous afternoon tea at Harrods - and yes, we kept the receipt!

The Georgian Restaurant at Harrods

Afternoon Tea clearly remains a very fashionable thing to do these days and even though it was half term week, and that we had booked well in advance, we did have to wait a fair while to be seated in the rather sumptuous and huge Georgian Lounge in the infamous department store.

So this week, we thought we'd have a little tribute to all things tea, the best places to go to enjoy it and the best companies that can bring a fantastic vintage tea party right to your own home...

The best place in London to enjoy a sumptuous Afternoon Tea has been named as The Athenaeum Hotel, which has scooped The Tea Guild's prestigious award for the capital for "Top London Afternoon Tea 2012". Now in their 27th year, The Tea Guild Awards are considered the ‘Oscars' of the tea world, with world-famous London hotels and tea rooms competing for the highly coveted honour.

Taking Afternoon Tea is a cherished experience steeped in British tradition and was particularly popular in the capital last year as the British public and many of this year's overseas visitors celebrate British traditions with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic Games.

With these British celebrations in the capital in mind, The Tea Guild has also awarded special Awards of Excellence to the following establishments in London in recognition of their outstanding quality and consistently high standards in tea service.

The Athenaeum Hotel gained the top spot for London tea destinations after hugely impressing the Tea Guild judges with its exceptional service, great quality tea and extensive knowledge by the staff. The Athenaeum Hotel, in the heart of bustling Mayfair, London, was voted into the top spot after its tea room, The Garden Room, gained a near perfect score from The Tea Guild's inspectors.

The Athenaeum Hotel Afternoon Tea

The judges praised it for its tasteful intimate style and fine furnishings, as well as friendly and efficient staff and excellent selection of scones, sandwiches and cakes. When it came to the tea itself, once again The Athenaeum Hotel surpassed expectations with an excellent selection of teas, and knowledgeable and friendly staff that excelled firstly in advising customers on the choice of tea blends on offer and then serving those teas perfectly. The judges concluded that The Athenaeum Hotel offered "a very enjoyable and relaxing tea experience in splendid surroundings." Commenting on The Athenaeum Hotel winning The Tea Guild's Top London Afternoon Tea 2012 Award, Irene Gorman, Head of The Tea Guild, said: "Year on year the nominees for this prestigious award become ever more challenging, but taking tea at The Athenaeum Hotel in The Garden Room gives a demonstration of exactly how special Afternoon Tea has become.

The elegant surroundings make Afternoon Tea a memorable occasion and an experience to cherish, aided by delightfully friendly, efficient and knowledgeable staff, and with delicious food and teas faultlessly presented. It is easy to understand why this leading establishment attracts so many, both the young and the old, to take Afternoon Tea."

"The standard of entrants this year was incredibly high and this was especially true in London, which has traditionally been the home of some of the finest Afternoon Tea experiences within many of the world's finest and most elegant hotels and establishments. In the capital as elsewhere in the UK, the tradition of Afternoon Tea has never been stronger, with Tea Guild members busier than ever. More and more people are taking time out to enjoy this great British tradition of Afternoon Tea."

"Afternoon Tea is now the most fashionable way to catch up with friends. It is increasing in popularity, be it for after a busy morning's shopping, a business meeting, a special family occasion, a romantic date or a truly memorable experience for the bride to be and her girlfriends.

Fortnum & Mason's

In Fortnum & Mason's Tea Salon you can choose from a range of teas selected by Fortnum's tea taster. The afternoon tea menu includes finger sandwiches, scones and cakes from the Highgrove Cake Carriage. You can request meat, fish, dairy or gluten-free teas.

Afternoon tea at The Langham has been a tradition since 1865. In the luxurious surroundings of the hotel's Palm Court, you can enjoy finger sandwiches, fresh scones with jam and cream, French pastries and specialist teas. The Langham's afternoon tea is so good, it was named the Tea Guild's Top London Afternoon Tea in 2010.

 

Fashionable Favourites!

If you're a fan of fashion, head to The Berkeley's Caramel Room for the Prêt-à-Portea tea. The éclairs, cakes and fancies are all inspired by the latest fashion collections, and are served in miniature mouthfuls for the figure-conscious. Madonna, Gwynneth Paltrow and the Beckhams have all been spotted here.

Afternoon tea is served five times a day in The Dorchester's famous marble and gilt Promenade. Enjoy a selection of finger sandwiches followed by warm scones with jam and cream, French pastries and a choice of fine and rare teas. You can also get afternoon tea in The Dorchester Spa's Spatisserie.

The award-winning afternoon tea at The Lanesborough includes freshly baked scones, thick clotted cream and homemade fruit preserves. If you have trouble choosing from the wide range of teas on offer, you can call on The Lanesborough's Tea Sommelier – the first in England – who will be happy to advise you.

Tea at The Ritz is nothing less than an institution. It has become so popular that there are now five sittings every day at 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm. Booking at least four weeks in advance is essential. Afternoon tea is served in the elegant Palm Court with music by a pianist or a harpist.

The Savoy

The Savoy's tea is served in the historic Thames Foyer, accompanied by a pianist playing on one of the hotel's traditional white pianos. Expect a selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked raisin and plain scones, French pastries and Thames Foyer signature cakes, plus a huge selection of teas.

Claridge's was awarded the Tea Guild's Top London Afternoon Tea in 2011. The luxurious tea includes finger sandwiches, sweet pastries, freshly baked raisin and apple scones with jam and cream, and a choice of almost 40 teas. This popular afternoon tea is served daily at 1pm, 3pm, 3.30pm, 5pm and 5.30pm.

Brown's Hotel's award-winning afternoon tea is served in the English Tea Room, complete with wood panelling, fireplaces and original artworks. Relax to the sounds of the baby grand piano as you enjoy finger sandwiches, pastries, scones and cakes from the trolley. There's a choice of 17 teas, and two Tea Sommeliers to help you choose.

 

 Of course you may prefer to enjoy your tea in the comfort of your own home and there are all sorts of companies who will bring you a truly delicious afternoon treat direct to your door - and they'll do the washing up too!

Our favourite is Once Upon a Teacup Vintage Parties  based in Manchester. Once upon a time in Manchester "Once Upon a Teacup" started out as a couple of vintage tea sets for a girly tea party. As the passion for finding beautiful pieces grew, so did the china collection. Soon they knew that they had to share it with others. They enjoy collecting beautiful mismatched china and take pleasure in mixing them with vintage linen textiles, silver plated cutlery and pretty cake stands to create stunning and unique vintage style occasions for all to enjoy.

They specialise in providing Private Vintage Tea Parties in your own home/garden (or chosen Venue) and can cater for between 8 - 30 people providing all the food needed together with beautiful vintage crockery. 

If you are not in the North West and don't fancy a trip to London there is also a great option from The English Cream Tea Company: the home of delicious and indulgent fresh Afternoon Tea Hampers, Gifts and Vouchers.Your hamper boxes are delivered by Courier to mainland UK in beautiful, specially chilled packaging so that they arrive ready to eat.

Filled with all the goodies you get at a luxury London Hotel Tea, these hampers are perfect for treats, outings/events, corporate gifts, saying thank you, or just to make someone feel special.
 

They even made the Guinness Book of Records for the largest English Cream Tea Party ever.

 

 So there you have it, a tribute to tea, and to the one thing that keeps our office going - especially when we are busy!

Have a great week!