I don't think there's anything more decadent and quintessentially British than enjoying afternoon tea - usually saved for special occasions in divine hotels (I'm picturing you oh beautiful Sanderson Hotel) I got to thinking...why should afternoon tea just be reserved for ladies that lunch or enjoyed when you have extra mula burning a hole in your pocket? Could the delightful experience of taking afternoon tea be recreated at home? With a bank holiday on the horizon I couldn't envisage a better time to dust down my mums vintage tea set and get some cucumber sandwiches on the go. Keeping things ever so British I politely invite you to join in my Bank Holiday Monday Afternoon Tea Party... 

Pretty pink flowers from the garden complete my simple table
The ONLY tea to consider when serving a British Afternoon Tea
French Fancies, Scones and A Selection of Sandwiches

For me our afternoon tea couldn't have come at a better time, the sun was shining but sadly it was a pretty windy so to prevent being blown away we took proceedings into my mum and dads garden room. As Craig and I are currently buying our first house together it felt like a good time for my parents, C and I to enjoy a cup of tea and pretty cakes (not forgetting the sandwiches) all whilst discussing colour schemes and bathrooms. The boys stuck with Twinings English Breakfast tea*, my dads favourite tea around whilst my mum and I went for the Peppermint - slightly off subject but how pretty will these tins look in our new house? I've never actually tried Peppermint tea but more fool me, it's seriously divine and incredibly refreshing with both sweet and savouries. FYI I enjoyed many an egg sandwich (not to everyones taste) whilst the boy devoured a scone heavily ladened with jam - sadly our scones were shop bought and not lovingly made by nannan who for the record makes the most amazing scones.


Unbeknown to me whilst we enjoyed our afternoon tea one of my dearest friends Lauren was giving birth to her first baby Freddie so without us even realising we were holding a celebratory afternoon tea! Being a lover of all things new born and royal (C and I even held our own Jubilee party last year, pre blog I'm afraid) you could quite easily throw your very own Royal Afternoon Tea Party to celebrate the imminent arrival of the royal baby. My advise as a past Royal party planner? Champagne with strawberries is an absolute must along with bunting.

Although our Bank Holiday afternoon tea was more vintage than sophisticated-hotel-chic I think the bags of personal charm more than made up for it, I mean have you seen my mums beautiful tea set? After throwing my very first home-styled afternoon tea party I'll be sure to host a couple more...girls get your diaries at the ready.

*The Twinings tea bags were sent to me by the lovely people at Twinings. 
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