Afternoon tea at Chewton Glen - decadence and delight
What I loved about it:
I loved the way we were treated; from the moment we arrived, to the moment we left we were made to feel welcome and special at Chewton Glen. The staff are wonderful and treat all customers the same, whether they are A list celebrity, or a local blogger (and they’d never confirm the celebrity meetings either).
The food itself is a delight, from the drinks, through to the cakes, its everything you could want from an afternoon tea.
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A welcoming arrival...
As you make your way along the long, winding drive, the anticipation builds. You’ll catch a glimpse of the grand entrance to Chewton Glen before you swing into the car park. Chewton Glen is full of character, with beautiful red bricks and the last of the wisteria gracing the doorway. We received a warm welcome from the doormen and the reception, and we were led down the hallway (past the most stunning collection of blue hydrangea) to the restaurant.
Afternoon tea at Chewton Glen is a formal but friendly affair. The tables are set beautifully, and there was no flinching when the staff saw my 1 year old daughter; she received a very friendly welcome and was made a lovely fuss of.
The sommelier offered us champagne to start, but we opted for the ‘G and tea’ – a Nádar gin with Double Dutch tonic. Nádar gin is the world’s first carbon negative gin produced from peas, and it was delicious! An amuse-bouche soon followed; a profiterole filled with melted Old Winchester cheese, and topped with grated black truffle and parmesan. It was an absolute taste sensation – the perfect mix of salty, creamy flavours.
Next up was the sandwich course, a classic selection including smoked salmon and horseradish cream, ham and mustard, egg mayonnaise and my favourite, the coronation chicken. The sandwiches were all freshly made and we were offered a top up which we declined because you have to save room for scones and cake!
Afternoon tea at Chewton Glen is made by all the finer details. For example, being asked whether you want your scones served before or after the patisserie just so that they can be brought to your table freshly baked and wrapped in a napkin to stay warm. The scones were perfect – served with lemon curd, raspberry jam and clotted cream. I eat mine the Devon way, jam and then cream!
The highlight of my afternoon tea tends to be the cakes and patisserie and I was impressed. There was a dainty lemon and raspberry tartlet which was sharp and sweet in a crisp base. I enjoyed the matcha and apricot loaf; the apricot jam cut through the matcha buttercream nicely. My favourite was the eclair with its salted caramel cream and espresso gel topping.
If you hadn’t had quite enough cake, then you can choose one of the cakes of the day to eat at the table or to take home. We were beaten and chose to take our slices of chocolate and salted caramel cake home.
Whilst you’re at Chewton Glen you must have a wander around the grounds. This 5 star hotel is full of charm, from the croquet lawn to the kitchen garden. Don’t miss the teddy bear sheep in the field behind the kitchen garden; they are very sweet.
Afternoon tea at Chewton Glen is something special, and it’s a way to enjoy the luxury of the hotel without having to stay. In my opinion it’s worth every penny. Thank you so much to all the staff there for being so welcoming and friendly, I’ll be back soon.
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