No matter how many times I have been up The Shard, I always get the same feeling of excitement as I step into this iconic London skyscraper and am swiftly transported up over 30 floors in less than 30 seconds. I remember my last fabulous experience at Aqua Shard when they first launched the Mary Poppin’s Afternoon Tea, and I was certain that their recently launched festive edition would be just as decadent.
Upon arriving on the 31st floor, we walked through the entrance of Aqua Shard where our eyes meet with an impressive view of London through their floor-to-ceiling windows. As we descended the stairs to the restaurant, our attention was drawn towards their new Christmas installation which stood 6m above ground in the restaurant’s three storey atrium – DecoDance, which had been skillfully crafted by renowned Scottish fashion designer Holly Fulton.
This festive edition afternoon tea which currently replaces the Mary Poppin’s Afternoon Tea embraces the spirit of Christmas with a selection of savouries and sweet treats which have been given a creative festive twist.
Sat by a cosy corner table by the window, we clinked our glasses of Veuve Clicquot Rosé Champagne whilst we took in the brilliant views of the River Thames and the London skyline. Their teas are provided by Camellia’s Tea House, an artisan tea company where teas are blended by hand using original and unique tea recipes. I started with a pot of full-bodied Aqua Shard Bespoke Breakfast Blend, followed by the lighter China White Hair, a mellow, smooth and delicate green tea.
Our afternoon tea stand filled with a sumptuous array of sweet and savoury offerings soon arrived at our table, accompanied by a platter of golden scones. The selection of savouries included a fig chutney & brie sandwich, a turkey with cranberry & lettuce sandwich, an aromatic egg & black truffle on white bread, and my two favourites, the hummus with roasted peppers & aubergine on brown bread, and a mini crumpet with smoked salmon. Sandwiches are refillable upon request, and we ordered a couple of portions of our favourites.
The vanilla and raisin scones were deliciously buttery with a flaky texture, served with Cornish clotted cream and homemade cranberry and apple jam.
After having our fill of the sandwiches and scones, we moved on to the top tier filled with a tempting variety of vibrantly coloured Christmas-inspired sweet treats. There was a Christmas tree-shaped gingerbread biscuit with milk chocolate & coffee, a rich dark chocolate & cherry present, a refreshing clementine & Prosecco trifle, and my favourite amongst them, the pear & cinnamon Santa hat.
The Festive Afternoon Tea at Aqua Shard is available until 30th December 2019. Prices start from £49.00 per person, with the option to upgrade to a selection of more decadent champagne experiences – a limited edition afternoon tea experience with breathtaking panoramic views of London, this is surely one more to add to the to-do list this festive season.
- My festive champagne afternoon tea experience at Aqua Shard was complimentary – views and photos are my own.
