I entered a bright and bustling Fortnum and Mason, Piccadilly on a busy Sunday afternoon to induldge myself with Coronation Afternoon Tea. As I made my way up to the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, I shared the lift with a handful of young girls who were zealously reminiscing about their frequent childhood jaunts to Harrods with their parents.
Happy to escape as soon as the doors opened, I made my way to the reception, where there was a notice asking guests to ‘veer on the side of elegance’ in their dress code. As I stared down at my grubby white converse shoes, I supposed that perhaps I may not quite fit the Fortnum and Mason brief at large. Nonetheless, my grandmother, ever dressed for the occasion, made up for my apparent absence from the side of elegance and we sat down to enjoy the sumptuous fare.
The Tea Salon was a light, pristine and welcoming space with a great ambience; my conversation with my grandmother about how her parents met and fell in love in Belfast was set to the soundtrack of a skilled classical pianist in the background. There were lots of tasty bite sized treats on offer; the best of the savouries were the Smoked Salmon and Cucumber on a Blini with Sauce Vierge and the Creamy Asparagus Tartlet. These were soothingly washed down with a glass of sparkling, crisp Fortnum’s Rose Champagne. I avoided the Mini Beef Wellington because it still looked very much alive, but I appreciate that this is purely down to taste and preference.
Nevertheless, as my grandmother spoke of her allotment wars and woes, we helped ourselves to light, fluffy scones with clotted cream and lemon curd that was both rich and irresistibly zesty. There was also a vast selection of teas on offer; I sampled the Manuka, one of their specialist herbal infusions that had the slight hint of honey in its taste. We then had our fill of a delicious selection of cakes and patisseries; a standout was the white chocolate and raspberry cake. The afternoon tea, although at first glance may look rather small for a hungry belly, was both rich and filling.
In addition, the Diamond Jubilee Salon staff were helpful and accommodating, which made the visit all the more pleasant. We were also given more cake to take home with us in beautifully packaged boxes.
Priced at £80 for two, this Coronation Afternoon Tea certainly puts Starbucks to the test —it is no cheap affair. The experience is one that every gal’, young or old must experience in their lifetime. Fortnum and Mason mean just that when they say, ‘veer on the side of elegance’. Just be sure not to wear your converses!
Food: 7.5| 10
Ambience: 8| 10
Words and Pictures by Kazstarlet
@kazstarlet