Monday 13 October 2014

Afternoon tea at The Ampersand Hotel

The Ampersand Hotel
Afternoon Tea is a typically British affair. We British love our tea and when it is accompanied with cake and pâtisserie even better. 

As a foodie I have polished off a fair few afternoon teas in my time, the highlights being the Dorchester Hotel and Sanderson Hotel.

I'm always looking for my next afternoon tea adventure and it is for this reason I really enjoy reading Lorna and Rachel's blog "Tea with Me and Friends". 
Tea with me and friends
They find the best places for afternoon tea. So when they emailed me to tell me I had won their afternoon tea competition at The Drawing Rooms - The Ampersand Hotel, I was very excited. 

You see the Ampersand Hotel has been on my list to visit for a while, why because Chris Golding their head chef is always tempting me on Twitter with wonderful foodie creations. 

Two minutes from South Kensington station the Ampersand Hotel and The Drawing Rooms have been beautifully designed. 
The Drawing Rooms
The Ampersand Hotel
The Ampersand Hotel
The Drawing Rooms
I loved the fabrics, colours, and overall design of this lovely place and could have happily had this as my own living room.
The Drawing Rooms
The Drawing Rooms
Now I would like one of these little fellas on my wall at home. 
The Drawing Rooms
The Drawing Room instantly put me at ease. It has a wonderful warm and homely interior with freshly baked goods on display (a FoodieForce paradise). 

Afternoon tea
Afternoon Tea
Once seated we opt for the Classic Afternoon (£39.50) served with a wonderful glass of Champagne to start. 
Afternoon tea with Champagne
The Ampersand caters for vegetarians and also has seasonal offerings for afternoon tea: Halloween and  Christmas

First up was the Tartines:
Afternoon tea
Gloucester old spot ham, gribiche sauce. 
H.Forman and Son London smoked salmon (one of Britain's Oldest salmon curers), dill and cream cheese. 
Afternoon tea
Coronation Chicken. 
Afternoon tea
Cheese and fruit chutney.
Afternoon tea London
Highlights had to be the coronation chicken and smoked salmon. The coronation chicken had the right balance of creaminess and spice. 

Service at the Ampersand Hotel is seriously relaxed, now this won't be to everyone's cup of tea (pardon the pun), but for me I personally found this 
refreshing. Where you are quietly allowed to enjoy the wonderful food and the company of friends without being rushed. 

What followed have to be the best scones I have ever had. Now this is no exaggeration, this woman knows her scones and these were super light and wonderfully fluffy. With the addition of clotted cream and strawberry jam, all I could have wished for is that they were bigger. 
London Afternoon tea
The Ampersand definitely have their pâtisserie down to a fine art. 
Afternoon tea
The lemon meringue tart, chocolate brownie and English breakfast tea bonbon were seriously delicious.   

A wonderful afternoon tea. I very much look forward to visiting again in the future to stay in their superbly modern boutique hotel. 

The Drawing Rooms Ampersand Hotel 

THE AMPERSAND HOTEL
10 HARRINGTON ROAD
LONDON
SW7 3ER

Square Meal Drawing Rooms at Ampersand Hotel on Urbanspoon

 photo foodieforce_32.jpg

19 comments:

  1. Wow this one looks good ... it looks like such a homely place as well.

    Definitely adding "Tea with Me and Friends" to my reading list :D

    Chloe x
    newgirlintoon.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They have a wonderful blog dedicated to afternoon tea. The interior was like having afternoon tea in a wonderful front room Lucy x

      Delete
  2. This looks good. I've never had afternoon tea before, so I guess that is one of the perks of living in the UK. The pictures and decoration look nice. I particularly like the light fixture with the wings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The entire decoration was lovely but definitely with you on the lights they are superb. I have never considered afternoon to only be found in the UK but I guess it really is very British Lucy x

      Delete
  3. That food looks UNREAL! As does the interior :) Huge well done for winning lovely! :)

    Style Sunrise☀

    :)
    x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, it was a lovely hotel and I really loved the afternoon tea Lucy x

      Delete
  4. Ahhh, the food looks so lovely as does the decor! You're very lucky to experience all the lovely foods you do. Yum yum.

    Corinne x
    www.skinnedcartree.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did feel very lucky to win, I really love the patisseries that Chris makes and to taste in the flesh was brilliant Lucy x

      Delete
  5. I don't like tea but the food looks amazing! The interior is lovely too :) xx

    Toasty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You don't like tea?! Ah well you could get first dibs on all the cakes whilst we drink the tea Lucy x

      Delete
  6. The tea here looks pretty fab! I sometimes pop down to SK but didn't realise this gem existed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You will have to pop in here the afternoon tea is wonderful Lucy x

      Delete
  7. The best scones you've ever had! That is a big statement - they do look absolutely delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This woman has eaten lots and I mean lots of scones and these were delicious. I could do with some right now Lucy x

      Delete
  8. Oh wow, the Drawing Rooms looks like a fab place, and the food, oh the food! The tartines look amazing, so much more inviting than sandwiches, and the cakes, everything looks wonderful, but especially the victoria sponge, I love a good victoria sponge! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes it is style over substance but this is wonderful creative food and substance was wonderful Lucy x

      Delete
  9. I really enjoy your "afternoon tea" posts! So charmingly British!!! Those bird paintings are gorgeous - especially the blackbird!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Afternoon teas are wonderful they are a foodie highlight for me. The decoration was wonderful too Lucy x

      Delete
  10. What a beautiful hotel. We love Lorna and Rachel too, met them in London back in April this year...really lovely ladies. Congrats on your prize, the scones look delicious. Love the warm and homely interior too! :-)

    x Roch & Tash x
    www.next-route-style.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete