Traditional afternoon tea is usually a treat for those with a sweet tooth (often a full set of sweet teeth!) however one imaginative Lake District hotel is offering something a little special for the savoury, vegetarians and vegan food lovers.
With my food review partner Katie May we have been spoilt over the past few months with invitations to try a wide selection of afternoon teas. And when we had the opportunity of trying the new options at the beautiful Lakeside Hotel at Newby Bridge we were intrigued and delighted as we are both fans of the savoury food and plant-based menus.
The Lakeside Hotel, which is on the shores of Windermere, next door to the Haverthwaite steam railway, Windermere Cruises pier and Lakes Aquarium. We parked in the Windermere Cruises car park which is reasonably priced for the Lake District – £4 for up to 10 hours, (and we certainly needed plenty of time, even if not the full10 hours!)
Walking into the hotel sets the chic tone for the day. The traditional Victorian slate built hotel, in the style of the Art & Crafts movement of the day is stunning. Calm and cool inside, you walk through, past the formal dining room on the left and grand piano on the right into a spacious, light-filled conservatory which runs the full length of the lakeside and gardens.
We were greeted by our lovely waitress for the afternoon as we entered the conservatory, which overlooked a grey, dramatic and very beautiful Windermere.
The first choice of the day was which tea to have – which isn’t as easy as you think with 12 to choose from, then there were the coffee options as well. I went for the lemon tea which came in a charming glass teapot with extra water (always welcome as this is a meal that requires lots of tea breaks!).
As we sat back in the Lord Loom chairs overlooking the water the clouds started to gently move away to let the sunshine through briefly – with the gentle chatter of other diners, this was the perfect place to be.
Pickled beetroot and goats cheese salad
The first part of our first course was beautifully resented on pure white china – the deep purple of the beetroot slivers with the tiny slices of white onion drizzled with a sweet dressing tasted as amazing as it looked. The dish aroused the taste buds.
Tasting of soup – mushroom with wild garlic oil
The second part of our starter course was the most delicious mushroom soup I’ve tasted – I only wish I could borrow the recipe to make it at home. The drizzle of wild garlic infused olive oil brought out the earthy, meaty flavour of the mushrooms.
The main event
We enjoyed a quiet break, with the lemon tea the ideal palate cleanser. When the main courses arrived it was a dramatic entrance!
The delicate cake and sandwich stands of a traditional afternoon tea were not enough to display the banquet which was brought to our table. The tray was replaced by a cubic stage setting providing multiple hights for the various dishes which together represented some of the finest British cuisines.
Lamb slider
The local lamb mince had been beautifully seasoned with what looked and tasted like wild garlic. The seasoning was perfect and meat cooked slightly on the pink, moist side. The meat lay on a bed of warm, sweet red cabbage – a combination made in heaven.
Honey glazed smoked sausage
Alongside the Cumbrian lamb, the Cumberland sausages were presented – a smoked variety with a honey glaze which had the perfect combination of smoke and sweet.
Scotch egg
The warm Scotch egg was crispy on the outside and had a golden runny centre – it looked beautiful and tasted amazing with a carefully blended spicey Cumbrian-style sausage meat surrounding the perfectly cooked egg.
Pork crackling with mint dust
The light snaps of pork crackly gave a satisfying crunch. The mint came through the meaty flavours and they came in a tiny cotton bag – a little pocket of pleasure.
Fish & chips
To see fish and chips as just part of an afternoon tea was interesting, to see it presented in a bamboo paper cone, with the vinegar in a file to inject into the heart of the fish piece was genius. And as you tipped out the fish in its crispy beer batter coat, several golden hand-cut chips accompanied them.
This main meal really was the finest British produce and taste on a platter. It really was time for a tea break before we move on to the final course.
The puddings
It wouldn’t be afternoon tea without a little sugar rush, however, the chef and his team at the Lakeside have some great quirky twists to amuse their afternoon tea clients.
Pea & Mint Macaroon
A tiny file of pea and mint was ready to inject into the traditional Macaroon – a dainty cake which really did go to another level with the introduction of a more savoury centre. This again was
Pistachio Frangipane
The tiny tin on display with its ring pull ready to release the cake inside was a fun addition to the table, and a moist, soft cake to enjoy.
Fruit scones with clotted cream, damson jam and lemon curd
Though this final course is the most traditional of afternoon teas, the Lakeside team have just one more twist to the tale – their lemon curd in a tube!
It was fun to squeeze out the yellow burst of sweet and tart preserve onto the scone and enjoy with the thick, rich clotted cream – and the final taste experience the damson jam, a traditional favourite in the Lake District where these much-underrated fruits have been grown for centuries. This was the sweet finale to en the most perfect, original and completely filling afternoon tea.
We enjoyed three hours working our way through the chef’s well thought out and executed savour afternoon tea. While I enjoyed this savoury tea, Katie chose the vegan option, though not a vegetarian. Whichever three-course afternoon tea you choose, there are no afterthoughts or second best. Her vegan option was equally dramatic, imaginative and a culinary treat. You can read Katie’s review on KTMY.co.uk from Tuesday 30 July, 2019.
Thank you to the Lakeside Hotel for inviting us to this special afternoon tea. #Gifted
Value for money 5/5
This is a treat of a meal and we view this afternoon tea as a three-course lunch rather than sandwiches and cakes – plus if you can’t finish everything in one sitting (which would be understandable) the wonderful staff will box up what you can’t manage, so you can enjoy it later at home. The quality, originality and service plus the amazing location make this afternoon tea worth every penny.
The Lakeside Hotel offers a good range of three-course afternoon teas:
- Traditional Sweet, Savoury, Vegetarian and Vegan afternoon teas £64 for two
- For an additional level of luxury, you can add a half bottle Joseph Perrier Champagne for £89 for two
Also available for Afternoon Tea:
- Feast of Cakes with seven different sweet treats to enjoy £44 for two
- Cream Tea with fruit scones, damson jam and clotted cream and Yorkshire fruit cake £29 for two.
For more information about Afternoon Tea at the Lakeside Hotel visit their website.
