Cavendish London

Saturday afternoons were made for enjoying afternoon tea, so I was delighted to be invited to review the wonderful afternoon tea served at the Cavendish London, in the heart of St James’s on a cold afternoon in December.

Nestled just behind Fortnum & Mason, The Cavendish sits somewhat in the shadows of Piccadilly’s famous shop and grocer to the Queen, but step inside and you’ll be greeted by a chic and stylish spot for afternoon tea with charming views over Jermyn Street. Of course, two of London’s most prestigious afternoon tea venues neighbour this establishment – Fortnum and Mason and The Ritz- but if you don’t fancy paying high end prices and are looking for something a little friendlier on the bank balance, then an afternoon tea at The Cavendish is a fantastic choice.

Our table beside the huge windows was just perfect, overlooking the buzz of Jermyn Street and Piccadilly in the distance. It became even better as darkness fell in the late afternoon and the pretty, twinkling Christmas lights of the street outside illuminated. That coupled with our first glass of champagne provoked a lovely festive feel to the afternoon.

We were treated to two delightful tiered stands of sweet and savoury treats, showcasing both the festive themed and traditional afternoon teas served at this lovely establishment. Christmas had certainly come early with mouth watering turkey and cranberry jam sandwiches on onion bread, winter spiced chocolate brownie and fruit mince pie just a few of the seasonal delights on offer. The freshly baked orange and cinnamon scone not only tasted good, its scent encapsulated Christmas.

The traditional afternoon tea stand was equally as delicious and savoury items like the battered hake with homemade tartare sauce and the mini stilton quiche a lovely addition to the sandwich plate. Sweet treats were a delight including a mouth-watering pannacotta and a perfectly baked macaroon.

Keeping to the traditional, we opted for a fine Earl Grey tea which proved the perfect accompaniment to both teas. As the Festive Afternoon Tea was bottomless, it would have been rude not to indulge, so a further two glasses of champagne each went down very nicely indeed. It was Saturday after all!

The Cavendish is a great spot for afternoon tea in the very heart of London and is very reasonably priced. If you’re looking for a high-end afternoon tea with all the pomp and ceremony, then this isn’t for you, but if you prefer a more relaxed ambience and an afternoon tea of excellent quality at a great price, book your table at The Cavendish today.