Afternoon tea is one of our absolute favourite treats. And since the official Afternoon Tea Week runs from 11-18 August, we’re going all in.
What’s not to love about dainty, carefully trimmed crustless sandwiches, a selection of cake, and scones with lashings of clotted cream and strawberry jam.
Question is, which to dollop on the scone first – cream or jam? Send your answers to contactme@kbafinancial.com – and we’d love to hear about your top afternoon tea recommendations.
Little fingers at the ready, here are five of our favourite spots to take afternoon tea across Cheshire and the North West. Maybe we’ll see you there…
1. Afternoon G&Tea at The Nest, Nantwich
Head to The Nest and enjoy an intimate, high-end space for relaxed table service, and a curated selection of stunning drinks, including award-winning gin.
We – and renowned award judges – recommend Three Wrens Pepper Street Gin. Distilled exclusively at the Nest in Nantwich, earlier this month, it won a gold medal at the Global Gin Masters, placing it amongst the world’s best gins!
Nantwich’s first true distillery and cocktail bar is never too crowded, and is a place designed for conversation.
Afternoon G&Tea is served on the last Sunday each month – so get your booking in for 31 August today.
Enjoy everything you’d expect, plus three double G&T’S for £35.
TripAdvisor reviewers say:
- “The service was outstanding 👏 the drinks were fabulous👌 and the small plates of food were great 👍 lovely place, made to feel welcome, will return.”
- “It was fabulous. I would recommend the Nest to anyone who fancies a delightful Gin.”
- “Really love the vibe in here, reminds me of home. The cocktails really hit the spot. Carry on being great!”
2. The Art School Restaurant, Liverpool
Afternoon Tea is served in the Art School’s subterranean “Cocktail” sanctuary, Wednesday to Saturday from 2 pm to 4 pm.
Choose your Afternoon Tea of choice: Standard, Prosecco, or Champagne.
From the quintessential smoked salmon to delicious-sounding cheese and tomato sandwiches and Battenburg cake and/or chocolate sponge, everything is homemade in The Art School kitchen, with the same amount of love as a tasting menu.
Best of all, instead of the usual three-tiered tray, this afternoon tea is served up on a cool and quirky Ferris-wheel stand.
The Art School Restaurant comes highly recommended by Emma Bell, our Events & Marketing Executive, who says “they do the BEST champagne afternoon tea”. 🥂
Meanwhile, TripAdvisor reviewers say:
- “The selection of filled miniature bakery items was excellent and the fillings very nice. The selection of miniature pastries was sublime and the homemade scones excellent.”
- “The most amazing afternoon tea – Champagne afternoon tea was amazing. No ordinary sandwiches. The quality of the ingredients shines through.”
- “Afternoon tea delight – The setting in the cellar was beautiful with a log fire and lovely décor. The waiter was very attentive and looked after us, the food was lovely but the star of the show was the desserts, which were beautifully presented and tasted delicious.”
3. Bents Garden Centre, Culcheth
Less than five minutes from Sarah’s house, Bent’s Garden Centre is a family business that cares. First founded in 1937, Bents has always been a business that has followed its passions – and that shows through in their afternoon teas.
Dainty is the name of the game. Enjoy delicate finger sandwiches and freshly baked miniature scones, served with clotted cream, jam, and fresh strawberries.
Afternoon tea is served Wednesday to Saturday from 2.30 pm.
Don’t show up without booking – which you can do up to 28 days before you want to visit.
TripAdvisor reviewers say:
- “Great afternoon tea and exceptional customer service from Linda. Great standard as always from Bents.”
- “The food and presentation was brilliant and was the best afternoon tea we have had and will definitely be visiting again.”
- “Lovely afternoon tea. Food lovely and plenty of it. Staff were excellent – so friendly and attentive without being in your face. Really nice experience and highly recommended.”
4. Ginger & Pickles, Tarporley
Ginger & Pickles can be found in no less than five locations around Cheshire, and there’s even an outpost in Cornwall.
Named as Best Tearoom or Café in the 2024 Cheshire Life Awards, when they boast that they serve “the best afternoon tea in Cheshire”, they mean it.
Forget dainty, here afternoon tea is served big.
Feast on lip-smacking, hearty fare, with scrumptious sandwiches stuffed full of delicious local ingredients, fabulous freshly baked scones with lashings of jam and clotted cream, and truly show-stopping slices of homemade cakes to boot.
Best advice: come hungry!
A hidden gem in the heart of Cheshire, Ginger & Pickles’ Taporley Tearoom is located at 6 Chestnut Crescent, with the Bakehouse just across the road.
The KBA team love visiting Ginger & Pickles, as do online reviewers:
- “Best scones we have ever eaten! Delicious afternoon tea with generous portions of everything. Six different flavours of finger sandwiches, the most fabulous scones with jam and clotted cream, and plenty of cake. In fact, we couldn’t manage everything and brought some cakes home in a box. Lovely staff.”
- “We had an absolutely lovely afternoon tea… delicious sandwiches, scones and cake, with very attentive staff looking after us. A welcoming atmosphere in great surroundings. We will definitely return, thank you.”
5. Bakers in Bolton
Last but by no means least, KBA Financial Planner, Hannah Needham vouched for Baker’s Egerton, where you can enjoy coffee shop comfort blended with a vibrant bar and restaurant atmosphere.
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the food menu is wide and varied, boasting local and organic ingredients.
Afternoon tea at Baker’s comes as you would traditionally expect, or you can make it dirty… replacing a selection of sweet (carrot cake, chocolate and Baileys cream choux) and savoury treats (smoked salmon and prawn cocktail, pork and cranberry sausage rolls) with cheese burger sliders, duck bao buns, Kinder bueno waffles, caramel brownies, and mini milkshakes.
If you’re feeling extra naughty, a dirty afternoon tea could be just the thing!
Online reviewers say:
- “The selection for the afternoon tea was delicious and the little surprise warm starter served on slate tiles was easily my favourite part. We were so full we didn’t end up finishing it all but it was too good to leave behind so the staff popped our leftovers in boxes for us to enjoy later.”
- “Amazing place. Went on Saturday for afternoon tea and every aspect of our visit was lovely, from the food to the service. Will definitely visit again.”
- “The wife loved her afternoon tea. Good coffee too.”