Who doesn’t enjoy gorging on tiny crust-less sandwiches and cream-covered scones? Leeds has some of the best afternoon teas available, and here are the some of the most mouth-watering options...
Just Grand! Vintage Tea Rooms
Just Grand! is an adorable and incredibly twee tearoom situated just inside the Grand Arcade. Seated among the 1950s decor, frilly tablecloths, and abundance of pink, you can order either the standard afternoon tea or a 'gentleman’s afternoon tea' from a menu plastered on a vinyl record. The latter is a spin on the traditional and includes a pork pie and ale.
Photo by Alex Inkley
Browns
The afternoon tea at Browns is available every day from 2.30-5pm, and boy is it worth the trip. If dinning in a renowned establishment with a fantastic ambiance isn’t enough, for £16 you and your tea-loving partner can enjoy a selection of sandwiches, including smoked salmon and creme fraiche, fruit scones with clotted cream and jam, a selection of desserts, and unlimited tea. For an extra £8 you can both enjoy a glass of Hendricks and Fever Tree tonic, and an extra £10 gets you a chilled glass of Mercier Champagne.
Photo by Robyn Lee, https://www.flickr.com/photos/roboppy/
Love Rouge Bakery
This fantastic little café bakery on Otley Road offers not only a fantastic retro vibe but also an incredibly diverse afternoon tea selection. There's an entirely vegetarian option for the finger sandwiches, which includes homemade falafel, humous and roasted vegetables, and cream cheese and cucumber. The unlimited tea at Love Rouge is fantastic because there are so many options, both herbal and black, and you can change the flavour whenever you fancy. Also, the cakes are to die for – Nutella, red velvet, Battenberg, and salted caramel are just a few of the options.
Photo by Alex Inkley
Malmaison
Malmaison is a boutique hotel on Sovereign Quay, which offers a variety of afternoon teas at a range of prices. There's a cream tea option from £10 which includes homemade plain and fruit scones, mini Victoria sponge and a choice of teas, and then there's a full afternoon tea from £15, which also includes finger sandwiches, double chocolate cheesecake, and vanilla créme brûlée. A Champagne option is also available.
Photo by Malmaison Hotels, https://www.flickr.com/photos/mal-gallery/
Harvey Nichols
One of the pricier venues on this list, but that shouldn’t stop you sampling the Samling Afternoon Tea at Harvey Nichols. As well as the standard unlimited tea and scones with accompaniments, the extravagant finger sandwich selection includes New York smoked duck, potted shrimp and welsh rarebit, while the mini-desserts selection offers coffee and chocolate gateaux opera, and basil, lemon, and strawberry posset. There is also a champagne option, if you’re feeling extra decadent.
Photo by Edward Kimber, https://www.flickr.com/photos/woodwood/
Olde Booths Tea Rooms
If you’re looking for a tea room with heaps of personality, look no further than Olde Booths Tea Rooms, a quirky little place in Lowtown in Pudsey. If the window display of vintage toys, old radios and mismatched furniture doesn’t charm your socks off, let their afternoon tea do the rest. They also have a load of interesting art and knick-knacks for sale, and the staff are so friendly that their presence alone makes this a truly unforgettable experience.
Crumb
This isn’t your conventional afternoon tea, but it is incredibly scrumptious and an amazingly convenient option for those who live in Leeds. Crumb deliver an array of exquisite goodies in boxes, tailored to your specific cravings. On offer are two afternoon tea packages – the afternoon tea party box and the afternoon tea and cocktails box. The basic includes 20 slices of homemade cake, 12 sachets of fine teas, side-plate doilies and adorable napkins, and five decorative cake topper flags, so you can have a beautiful afternoon tea in your own home.
Photo by Enjoycrumb, https://www.flickr.com/photos/enjoycrumb/
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