A la Colthard/Tea at the Grand Brighton
In all the years I have been reviewing for The Rust I have never covered afternoon tea though it is now a popular though not inexpensive experience: Bob Tickler’s charming P/A Polly once paid £200 for tea at a high end London hotel.
This may be as hotels are still recovering financially from Covid or have wisened to the fact they were being used as a cheap venue.
No longer. The Peninsula at Hyde Park Corner charges £28 for a Scotch egg.
The Grand at Brighton was charging £40 per head and I was served in a delightful conservatory.
I arrived early, sat myself in the said conservatory and was ordered to wait in the lounge till the time of my reservation. It’s this type of officious greeting that rankles me and I made my displeasure clear. So clear that I was shown to my table a few minutes later.
Happily the service improved. I was asked it I wanted a drink and said no. I don’t fall for the £15 glass of house champagne scam, nor do I like having this pressed upon me. My guest was a spritely art tutor – I should look so good at 80!!! Quite how she finances a lifestyle of travel and restaurants is always a mystery but she does so with an energy and enthusiasm that belies her years.
The afternoon tea was impressive.
Tea itself was served in a silver teapot with strainer and china floral cups. The tea of trimmed finger smoked salmon and egg cress sandwiches was presented on one of those three-tiered jobs with cakes, scones and little savoury pies. Though we were not seated by the window you could still see and appreciate the sea outside.
A nice touch was when, as I settled the bill as the tea service was closing, we were offered a takeaway package of Victoria sponge cake and the cakes we had not consumed. I have found Americans big on takeaway – I find these sit around my fridge and end up in the dustbin or cat bowl.
The great advantages about tea are that you sit in a comfortable venue and don’t have to worry about making dinner.
The hotel famous for the bomb explosion 50 years ago has upped its game.
