Review: Flemings Mayfair Yuletide Afternoon Tea

The afternoon tea at the renowned luxury boutique hotel, Flemings Mayfair is a truly decadent, gloriously British affair.

Since a lavish 14 million pound refurbishment earlier this year, the hotel – a proud member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, boasts an array of elegantly designed rooms and opulent apartments, offering a glamorous home away from home in one of the capital’s most exclusive areas.

Flemings is regularly frequented by well-heeled Londoners, jet setters with refined tastes and style-savvy celebs such as Kate Moss, Harrison Ford and Naomi Campbell - who all revel in the venue’s plush ambience and impeccable service.

The quintessentially English ritual of afternoon tea takes place from 12.30 to 5pm in The Drawing Room – a chic space containing Tiffany blue and grey velvet furnishings, elegant lighting, an original fireplace from 1851 and bookcases filled with biographies of famous designers and style icons.

Chocoholics can opt for the Chocolate Indulgence Afternoon Tea, featuring unique chocolate scones and cocoa-rich sweet treats, or treat themselves to the signature afternoon tea – a traditional assortment of sandwiches, cakes, pastries and scones.

During this merriment-fuelled period, I was eager to try the hotel’s limited edition Yuletide afternoon tea – similar to the signature tea, yet prepared with a suitably festive twist. I took along my gorgeous friend Rodica who is a self confessed afternoon tea addict - and takes really good photos on her swanky, complicated looking camera. 

Dry yet fabulously fruity rose champagne was presented at the table in exquisitely tall flutes before a three-tired tray arrives bearing an enticing assortment of baked goods and crust-less English finger sandwiches – all meticulously cut and brimming with various fillings. These include mustard-slathered ham, mayo-laden egg and cress, lightly seasoned smoked salmon and of course, that good old Brit classic - cucumber.

The melt-in-the-mouth scones were fresh out of the oven, made to a special recipe developed hundreds of years ago and are served with generous portions of clotted cream and strawberry jam, so make sure you go with a hearty appetite - and a naughty sweet tooth.

Flemings Hotel prides itself on its vast range of fine teas by the iconic East India Company, which includes green tea with jasmine pearls, buttery Lis-Han Oolong, spiced Bombay Chai and (our favourite) the hotel’s signature Breakfast Blend – a strong, fragrant infusion to suit most tastes.

This fabulously British afternoon feast also features adorable mini Christmas puds, chocolate and berry cream cakes and charming lemon tartlets topped with quaint turquoise Christmas trees that evoke essential Christmas cheer, and somehow manage to cleverly match the décor of the room too. 

I urge you to visit this magical place. Go in your finest clothes with a carb-loving buddy and prepare to nom yourselves to festive oblivion.