Rabbetting On: London hotel's 'afternoon tea for kids' has left me confused
While The Stafford’s ‘children’s afternoon tea’ sounds nothing short of delightful, I’m not sure how many under 12s are racing to try a yuzu mousse.
You know me, I’m a stickler for the finer things in life, and I certainly appreciate a good teatime tradition, so when I learned that a London hotel had launched a special afternoon tea ‘for kids’, I was ecstatic.
However, after taking a closer look at the menu, I’m not convinced it’s designed for ‘younger guests aged 12 and under’ at all.
That’s not to say it doesn’t sound delicious, tonka bean and strawberry choux buns with yuzu and chocolate mousse sounds delightful - for my 28-year-old palate - but for my 11-year-old nephew? Not so much...
Priced at £50 per head, The Children’s Afternoon Tea at The Stafford has been crafted to include an array of exquisite miniature pastries and carefully curated sandwiches.
£50 per child feels extremely steep, however, upon writing this, I have come to the realisation that I am perhaps not the target audience or right tax bracket to be commenting on it.
Set within the hotel’s effortlessly chic restaurant, The Game Bird, this afternoon tea promises to be “the ultimate experience for a memorable family day out.”
According to the press release, “each bite is perfectly balanced to enchant young tastebuds”, but once again, I fear this is a very niche experience.
I have to say, the addition of the vanilla and blueberry white mouse is lovely, and I can imagine my nieces delighting in this. However, I can imagine my 30-year-old friends taking a lot of delight in this too.
There must be a market for child-friendly afternoon teas, but what’s wrong with a jam sandwich and a sausage roll? By all means, keep the white mouse, but maybe balance it out with a hot chocolate rather than a glass of refreshing ‘Saicho sparkling tea’.
If we’re saying this afternoon tea is aimed at kids, it should be designed with them in mind and include brighter colours, ice cream, and perhaps a cheese and ham sandwich. After all, many children are notoriously fussy eaters.
If you decide your child is far more dignified and refined than some adults I know, you can find the booking details below.
The Children's Afternoon Tea is priced at £50, with the Afternoon Tea for adult guests starting at £78 per person.
The offer is available daily from 26th July to 7th September, between 12pm and 5:30pm.
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