Cliveden, Berkshire

 

As a birthday celebration today we went to Cliveden House for afternoon tea. The picture above shows the view from our tea table across the parterre and south and alongside the River Thames. It is a very impressive location and a hugely grand old house, now an hotel.

Tea was a traditional and typically English affair. Tending to the formal in its presentation, befitting of the surroundings, and all beautifully presented.

There was a choice of teas including the Cliveden blend and several other teas and tisanes. Between us we tried the Cliveden, Rose tea and the Oak smoked tea (unsettlingly described as having been smoked over wood taken from a 350 year old tree), and would have tried the Earl Grey had our request not been misinterpreted for a refill of the Oak smoked.

The food followed the traditional pattern. A three tier platter of savouries, sandwiches and cakes followed by scones, both fruited and plain, accompanied by clotted cream and strawberry jam.

The savouries were described as representative of the four nations of the United Kingdom, being a Coronation chicken soft roll for England, a Cullen skunk tart for Scotland, a Welsh rarebit cheese puff for Wales and a Potato scone with truffles for (Northern) Ireland. 

The sandwiches were smoke (no d, for some reason) salmon, roast beef and, of course, cucumber. All presented with crusts removed and in long finger style. Very elegant.

We were asked if we would like more savouries before we moved on to the cakes and asked if we might have a small selection. The small selection turned out to be a complete repeat of the above and not at all unwelcome. Surprisingly, some of the selection seemed even more enjoyable than it had been on the first cycle.

Cakes. Four. The Red Rose, a Queen of Puddings, a Chocolate Biscuit cake, a Victoria Sponge. All two bites big and all delicious.

Then at last the scones. Very fresh slightly warm and served with the right amounts of cream and jam. Or jam and cream, depending on your preference. I tried both.

The trip was rounded off with a game of hunt the car keys, which the hotel staff enjoyed immensely, and concluded with the discovery that the driver had left them in the car's ignition presumably in the excitement of what was to come.

Cliveden House and it's grounds warrant a visit in their own right and this will be undertaken at some future date but it will be difficult to leave without feeling tea should also have been taken.