On Monday, 17th May, we (those of us in England) were allowed back indoors in restaurants, cafés, pubs, cinemas and theatres. 🙂
At 14.30 on Monday, 17 May, a friend and I sat down to an early Afternoon Tea in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon in Fortnum and Mason. I was practically giddy with excitement. We opted to have Champagne (because Champagne) with our choice of tea (Royal Blend decaf). I had the traditional Afternoon Tea and my friend had the High Tea (which meant that she had a hot course of Welsh Rarebit).
Sandwich selection: Suffolk Cured Ham with Piccalilli, Cucumber with Mint Cream Cheese, Legbar Blue Hen’s Egg Mayonnaise with Watercress, Fortnum’s Smoked Salmon with Samphire and Coronation Chicken.
Pastries: Matcha mille-feuille type thing, brandy snap filled with Eton Mess, mini rose-flavoured éclair, raspberry and white chocolate tart, and mango mousse on a biscuit base.
Scones: Plain & Fruit Scones with Fortnum & Mason Strawberry Preserve, Lemon Curd & Clotted Cream.
The atmosphere in the Tea Salon was buzzing, plenty of chatter and the clink of china, all set against the background of Fortnum’s in-house pianist. The tables were well spaced and thought had been given to seating – we were seated at a table for four. One minor criticism was that the service was a little slow on occasion – we had to ask three times for our pots of tea.
Afternoon Tea isn’t cheap at Fortnum’s, but it’s served as an all-you-can-eat affair and guests are welcome to box up leftovers to take home (which we did). You can book here.
This West London Life 
Of all the places to choose for your first indoor dining since lockdown, you certainly chose well! What a luxury – afternoon tea with a good friend in amazing surroundings and boy does that look delicious. Where next I wonder!
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It was pretty special – where next will probably be somewhere in town with The Boy during half-term. 🙂
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Swoon … oh be still my beating heart! Afternoon teas are my most favourite going out affairs, those & breakfast. All you can eat scones & you can box up left overs – I’ve nearly fainted now with envy. Such pretty china. What a way to make a come back to in person dining.
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If you make it to London one day, I’ll take you. 🙂
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Oh my goodness, what an elegant and delicious way to celebrate your emergence from the lockdowns!
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It was a lot of fun! 🙂
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I went to F&M for the savoury afternoon tea a few weeks ago and took about two hundred pictures. Such a special day and the food was lovely. In fact I came away with so much food I pretty much had a second afternoon tea the next day 😁
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Haha, the doggy boxes are brilliant! 🙂
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