“Start as you mean to go on” as they say, and being one who has never been able to stay idle for too long, I was ready to jump back into the hustle and bustle of city life after the festive holidays. I have always found great pleasure in afternoon teas, and what better way to kickstart the year than with a visit to The Hansom to try the glamorous Winter LK Bennett Afternoon Tea, in partnership with the luxury British brand. Located within one of London’s most iconic landmarks, St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel, its romantic Gothic architecture is certainly a breathtaking sight to behold, and a glorious venue indeed to while away the afternoon.
In true New Year celebratory mode, we indulged in a glass of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut Champagne, alongside freshly brewed pots of loose-leaf teas from The Hansom’s extensive collection of blends. I started with the Emperor’s Breakfast followed by the Waikato Oolong, one of their seasonal teas.
We began with a selection of savoury sandwiches which included cucumber with creamy whipped salted butter, truffled hen egg mayonnaise with mustard cress, Chapel & Swan smoked salmon with a citrus herb mayonnaise, slow roast English beef with horseradish cream, and a traditional coronation chicken with golden sultanas sandwich. The plain and fruit scones were golden and buttery with a slight crumbly texture, accompanied by clotted cream and preserves.
Saving the best for last, we finished with the intricate selection of fashion fancies, inspired by the chic colours, intricate prints and contemporary designs of LK Bennett’s winter collection. Beautifully crafted by their talented pastry team, the stylish creations included:
The Velvet Dream; a rich and velvety cheesecake
Berry Stylish; a smooth raspberry mousse sandwiched between a shortbread biscuit, served with a raspberry-print garnish. An ode to the winter collection.
LKB Choux; a crème caramel choux, a year-round favourite.
A Winter Rose; a soft white chocolate fashioned into the shape of a rose to capture one of LK Bennett’s signature floral prints, which was my favourite of them all.
To accompany the sweet delights, we swapped our pots of teas for their refreshing sparkling teas which came in two varieties, Rose Petals and Jasmine Silver Tip, served chilled in glass flutes.
The Winter LK Bennett Afternoon Tea is served from Thursday to Sunday (1pm – 5pm), priced at £46 per person or £56 including a glass of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut Champagne.
For further information on the full menu, and to book please visit their website here.
- My afternoon tea experience at The Hansom was complimentary – views and photos are my own.