Laura Ashley epitomised great English style from when she started her retail textile business in 1953. Her name lives on, and the products which continue to be made by Laura Ashley the company are described as quintessentially English – and when you combine this icon of fashion and interior design with English afternoon tea you have a unique experience, here in the heart of Cumbria.
We were so fortunate to be invited to take Afternoon tea at The Laura Ashley hotel, The Belsfield on a sunny day in The Lake District.
The Belsfield majestically stands, overlooking Windermere, and it a beacon of genteel Englishness and style.
Afternoon tea, along with red telephone boxes and stunning Lake District views are what many tourists flock to England to experience yet for some, in the past, their dietary requirements have left them sitting on the sidelines as friends and family tucked into sandwiches and cakes.
However, The Belsfield’s chef has created new stunning choices of Afternoon tea which include a vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and Gluten free as well as a smaller children’s option.
We took in the best view of Windermere from our window seats in one of the beautifully decorated lounges. It took some time to make our choice of tea, let alone food. There are nine choices on the loose tea menu – I opted for the English Breakfast while my afternoon tea companion chose the Organic Rooibos.
The taste of good quality, loose leaf tea is something to be savoured – how can we use teabags when tea can taste this good?
After that first difficult decision, we sat back and took in the grandeur of this Victorian hotel which has been stunningly refurbished, using Laura Ashley fixtures, fittings, wallpapers, paints, fabrics and tableware.
Everything you see you can buy for your own home, and who wouldn’t want this luxurious look which blends historic design with contemporary style? There are even the Laura Ashley catalogues for you to peruse as you sit back and enjoy your stay.
This is total immersion within the world of Laura Ashley and it is a lovely escape into a beautiful place of genteel design.
As Laura Ashley took English textile classics and created modern design twists, so has the chef reconstructed the idea of Afternoon tea. We chose The Belsfield classic and the Vegetarian options which were both brought to our table on beautiful, traditional China Afternoon tea stands.
Starting on the first of three tiers, my sandwiches and savouries were so much more than sandwiches. The smoked salmon and cucumber bagel was fresh and sweet. The turkey and avocado finger sandwich, soft and creamy, and the chorizo in the sausage roll a perfect addition of spice and smoky flavour. The delicious, flaky brioche with hummus and bell pepper jam a delight of warmth and sweetness.
My companion’s vegetarian selection was brie, apple, date and chutney bagel, cucumber and cream cheese finger sandwich, sage, onion and vegetable sausage roll, brioche, hummus and bell pepper jam, for her review check out ktmy.co.uk.
We saved the second tier of buttermilk plain and fruit scones, strawberry jam and clotted cream and headed for the sweet treat top tier next.
The Victoria Sponge Cake was as light as the summer breeze outside, a perfect taste of English baking.
My personal favourite was the Chocolate and Pistachio Delice which was as beautiful to look at as eat – dark, rich chocolate and the vivid green, snap of pistachio. It was a rich, smooth square of delight.
The Vanilla and Berry Glazed Tart was a petite French-style fancy – perfect vanilla Crème anglaise.
My second favourite was the Salted Caramel Eclair – soft and sweet with the shot of saltiness which gave this cakes a depth of flavour that set the tastebuds alive.
Finally, the Raspberry Eton Mess was an ideal portion of fresh fruit, cream and perfectly crisp, crunchy meringue.
At this point of a sugar rush, the invitation to have another pot of tea came at the perfect point from our waiter. How did he know the ideal time to ask? We were so grateful for another couple of pots of quality teas.
We had to admit defeat at this point, and ask for our scones to be boxed up for supper later that evening!
The service at The Belsfield is five
Afternoon tea is a real treat to enjoy and compared to the prices we have paid at other hotels, restaurants and cafes, this is great value for money. And if you are not quite so hungry to take on the three-tiers of savouries and cakes, there is the cream tea option of scones.
If you are wondering what is on the menu for the vegan option – vegan scones, dairy free spread and strawberry jam, avocado, gem and cucumber sandwich, vegan sausage roll, soy tofu stick, carrot cake, Roly’s fudge, Chocolate and Orange Madeleine, Flavoured Macaroon and Chocolate Brownie.
- For more information and to book your afternoon tea visit The Belsfield website
Value for money 5/5
- Afternoon tea (The Belsfield, vegetarian, vegan, gluten and dairy-free) £22.95
- Children’s afternoon tea £8.95
- Cream Tea £8.95
