Curiouser and curiouser | Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea, Sanderson hotel, 50 Berners Street, London, W1T 3NG

If you’re not a) A woman or b) Planning a hen night you probably stopped reading this at the headline. The Mad Hatter’s afternoon tea at the Sanderson is largely full of groups of ladies dressed up to the nines with silk sashes draped across their bodies, or wearing silly things on their heads. We did spot the odd regular couple scattered amongst them, in fact we sat next to one so Ade and I weren’t alone. Although being a keen people watcher and more in touch with his feminine side than the average man, Ade was in his element. I think he wanted to swap me for a hen party instead, it wouldn’t be the first time.

The book of wonder

The tower of pleasure

Just do exactly what it says on the label

We had arrived feeling slightly tired and glum but couldn’t help but smile when we were presented with our tiered cake stand with an array of cakes, swiss-roll style curled sandwiches and little bottles labelled ‘drink me’. We won’t tell you what everything is because that would ruin the surprise, but the highlights have to be the not too sweet lemon scones and melting mango cheesecake with an explosive centre. We loved the little touches such as the musical box where the sugar cubes are kept and the bespoke Luna & Curious crockery

T-4-2

We tried all the teas offered, well, they are unlimited – mint choc, rhubarb and custard, strawberries and cream and apple pie, I am not much of a fan of flavoured teas normally but the rhubarb stood out a mile. The part I was most looking forward to was the jelly trolley where you go and help yourself to an assortment of flavours, but the consistency was more like a thick chewy Haribo rather than the opaque wobbly stuff I was hoping for.  Plus by that point we were stuffed full of cake, tea and champagne so it was quite an effort to squeeze this heavy-going jelly in on top of all of that.

As we left a bunch of kids who looked about eight arrived clutching Build-A-Bear boxes, in my day I had birthday parties in a Happy Eater or McDonald’s (if I was lucky). We longed to stay and watch to see what their experience would be like but our two hour slot was up. We had the most fun we’ve had eating out in ages here, not just down to the novelty afternoon tea but the service too. It’s a great experience and I guaranteed it will lift your spirits, for us that’s what eating is all about.

www.morganshotelgroup.com
50 Berners Street, London, W1T 3NG

Hours for afternoon tea: 12:30pm – 5:30pm daily

Telephone: 020 7300 5588
Email: restaurant.resuk@mhgc.com
Book a table here

Tea is served daily and is priced between £38 and £58 per person excluding service.
£30 per child for children 4-11 years old.
On special weekends, afternoon tea starts at £48 per person and comes with a mocktail or glass of champagne.

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Nearest station: Goodge Street (6 min walk) Tottenham Court Road or Oxford Circus (7 min walk)

*We ate as guests of the Sanderson, this does not affect our review in any way. We always write with complete honesty.