London Marriott Hotel Park Lane, Lanes of London Afternoon Tea – Review

With the festive season in full swing, right up there on our agenda is a special Christmassy afternoon tea in town to break up a day of Christmas shopping! Our destination was the London Marriott Hotel Park Lane.

When time is of the essence to hunt out those must-have gifts for loved ones or friends, beating the queues, and taking a pit stop to refuel is every bit important to make it a success. Priced at £45 per person with Champagne, this fabulous treat is available until 31st December 2015.

With so many afternoon tea choices to choose from in swanky hotels and famously renowned stores, the London Marriott Hotel Park Lane is an uncompromised location. With an astounding view of the two prominent Marble Arches and Hyde Park beyond, these pinnacle landmarks form a fantastic backdrop for diners whom choose the all day Lanes of London Restaurant within this newly refurbished hotel for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and supper.

Gain access to this intimate yet inviting restaurant via the lavishly refurbished Mayfair-inspired lobby or through the discreet and beautifully decorated Park Lane entrance. The one off festive afternoon tea menu inclusive of a glass of champagne naturally grabbed our attention (of course!). Initially we were guided through the tea menu consisting of twelve specially curated options. These cater for individual tastes, comprising different strengths and flavours to have with or without milk. As a connoisseur of English Breakfast tea it was a refreshing change to enjoy a light tea with a hint of peach without milk with such a combination of flavours to come.

The savoury choices were presented to us including a cucumber sandwich on basil bread, a ham, melted cheese and mustard on brown malted bread and egg mayo, topped with half a quail eggs and smoked salmon and cream cheese on beetroot bread. Surprisingly we were able to customise the sandwiches based on our preferences, which was a nice touch. The four choices were pretty standard but beautifully presented on a wooden board separate from the main cake stand, however the salmon combination was definitely our favourite.

After our sandwiches we moved swiftly onto the first tier and tucked into our warm, fluffy plain and sultana scones served with deliciously smooth clotted cream and homemade chunky raspberry jam. The jam was so divine and there simply wasn’t enough to enjoy so we asked for more! The second tier presented itself with two generous slices of German stollen dusted with icing sugar but neither of us had room for it so headed straight to the piece de resistance – the festive Christmas tree brownies and snowmen macaroons! The final tier was much more to my taste with rich brownies, crushed pistachio nuts and delightful chocolate and meringue touches to indulge in. Our doggy bag of unintentional left over treats was a welcomed solution due to the fact that we were full to the brim.

For those looking to hit the shops and make the most of their afternoon tea experience why not stay in one of the completely renovated modern yet sophisticated bedrooms or suites, brimming with amenities like marble bathrooms and luxury toiletries? And boasting the only hotel with a swimming pool in Mayfair (such a hidden gem to find!), this feature really makes for a place to truly unwind and relax away from the hustle and bustle.