REVIEW: DALLOWAY TERRACE AFTERNOON TEA
New Children’s Afternoon Tea is the Bee’s Knees
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Dalloway Terrace is famous for its Edenic, flower-festooned walls, so it’s fitting that they have launched a bee-themed children's afternoon tea, which has attracted quite the buzz.
We head away from the noise and crowds of Tottenham Court Road, into this fragrant and luxurious oasis, perched at the entrance of the achingly chic, Bloomsbury Hotel.
White roses, carnations and blue delphinium burst from the lush, leafy walls, beneath the black and white striped awning. The velvet saffron and teal cushions are immaculately chopped, and not a plate or napkin is out of place on the polished marble tables.
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But my daughter cares not for soft furnishings and crockery, she is excited about her bee tea, and it does not disappoint.
Feeling impossibly grown-up, with tiny pinky aloft, she begins with a fizzy orange mocktail, and looks through the activity book and wildflower seeds she’s gifted with.
A tier of bumble bee-decorated Emma Bridgewater plates arrives, with a trio of soft white, crustless finger sandwiches filled with mild cheddar, honey roast ham, and cucumber.
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She then moves onto the fluffy, freshly baked vanilla and sultana buttermilk scones, which she slathers in honey and homemade strawberry jam.
The final tier is her source of greatest excitement - a selection of bee-themed goodies, including a buttery beehive shortbread, milk chocolate bumble bee lollipop, and a ‘blooming’ good vanilla cupcake, topped with a chocolate and sugar paste flower.
While she happily ploughs through the above, they bring me the adult afternoon tea (£48 per person) and I start with the sandwiches. There’s a lovely roast beef and horseradish on onion bread; a harissa and apricot chicken on turmeric bread, and a cucumber and cream cheese on rustic campaillou.
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Then my sugary tier arrives, with steaming vanilla scones, a salted caramel Madeline and a jazzy Prosecco and strawberry conserve.
As a savoury-toothed tiger, I am all about the Irish cheddar scones with a creamy, sun-dried tomato butter.
The sweets tier is beautifully presented, my favourite being the Earl Grey mousse in a chocolate, blackberry dome; there is a Dalloway twist on the Battenberg (with Pistachio and vanilla, daaahling) a zingy lemon and poppy seed choux and a pleasingly wobbly, Peach melba tart, topped with gold leaf.
It’s a beautifully considered treat for parents and children - and for once, they won’t need to be reminded to clean their plates,
Feeling like a pair of Queen Bees, we finally buzz off, with bellies happily stuffed and a camera reel bulging with photos of their floral surroundings.
Dalloway Terrace at The Bloomsbury, 16-22 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3NN
The children’s afternoon tea is available on weekends and during school holidays and served from 12-4pm for £25 per child.
The Adult’s Afternoon Tea is available from 1-4pm for £48 per person. Champagne Afternoon Tea, which includes a glass of Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve, is £65 per person
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