4 Excellent Afternoon Teas for Mother’s Day
In this blog post, Helen who runs Afternoon Tea Tours with her husband Robert is giving us four brilliant recommendations for where to take your mum or partner for a delicious treat for Mother’s Day in and around Edinburgh. The photos featured are from Helen and Robert’s award winning tours that you can find here. Enjoy!
4 Excellent Afternoon Teas for Mother’s Day
The opportunity to indulge in the experience of Afternoon Tea is ever present these days. There are lots of types to choose from…traditional, modern, chocolate, themed, even some which are more “manly” with a greater emphasise on the savoury element rather than the sweet.
When I started my business Afternoon Tea Tours ten years ago, there were several reasons why I chose afternoon tea as my focus. The main one was that I wanted people to enjoy the finest of afternoon teas in beautiful settings with wonderful hospitality. I also wanted them to remember the feeling of relaxation and conviviality that comes with shared experiences with good friends. Without further introductions, here are four of my favourite afternoon teas in and around Edinburgh – all brilliant places for pampering your mum on Mother’s Day!
Prestonfield Hotel
Prestonfield Hotel in Edinburgh is always a great favourite of mine. It dates back to 1687 and is a hotel filled with great history and great presence. From the moment you swing into its long drive and catch your first glimpse of its imposing facade you cannot fail to be impressed. Entering the building itself is no less spectacular with its eccentric and flamboyant interior and lavish furnishings. The staff are always attentive and friendly and the afternoon teas themselves are delicious. The choice of teas are extensive, including, of course, The Prestonfield Blend, and the scones are invariably delicious with their accompaniment of raspberry or strawberry jams and cream.
The Tower Restaurant
The Tower Restaurant also in Edinburgh is another place I would recommend. Here the atmosphere is very modern with clean, crisp lines and wonderful rooftop views over Edinburgh. The welcome and service is friendly and attentive and I love the choice of window tables where you feel you are on eye level with the surrounding Edinburgh rooftops or the circular tables with the extremely comfortable cushioned seats which encourage you to linger for as long as you wish. There is an element of excitement and anticipation as you enter the sleek, modern elevator which whisks you away from the bustle of Chambers St below into the tranquil oasis above. It goes without saying that the afternoon teas are delicious and every mouthful is full of sheer enjoyment.
Cringletie House
Often, however, I am taking my visitors out of the city to experience our wonderful countryside and to give them an unforgettable day. Cringletie House near Peebles is a hotel I have been visiting ever since I began my tours. It is a beautiful building in the Scottish baronial style and has been a hotel now for several decades. Over the years I have taken many visitors there and they have all loved the experience of sitting upstairs at the window table in my favourite room, the Maguire Lounge. There we have sat exchanging stories and enjoying a wonderful traditional afternoon tea while watching the clouds scurry over the nearby hillsides.
It is a joy to visit there in any season as there is always something to see. Snowdrops in the winter, daffodils and wonderful rhododendrons in the spring and early summer. The walled garden is full of colour in the summer and autumn and is a lovely place to go to walk off the excesses of your afternoon tea.
Greywalls Hotel
A lovely contrast to the city or countryside is Greywalls Hotel. Situated just outside the picturesque town of Gullane on our “East Lothian golf coast” it is a wonderful venue for afternoon tea. The hotel itself was designed originally as a house by the renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. There are interesting stories around the house telling you of its history, and you really feel as if you are wandering through someone’s home cease of all the personal knick knacks on display. It is a wonderful place to go if you are a golf enthusiast as you can wander round the grounds and overlook the famous Muirfield golf course. The gardens themselves are spectacular and were designed by Gertrude Jekyll. It goes without saying that their teas are delicious, whether served in the comfort of the house itself or outside in the beautiful gardens.
These four are a few of my favourite places for afternoon tea. If you would like to experience a special day either for yourself or for someone special please contact [email protected] and I will design an unforgettable day for you. Please also look at our website for other amazing and bespoke tours of Scotland.
“The moments we share are the memories we keep”
Stay in a Dickins home when visiting Edinburgh
We look after some wonderful and all unique self catering apartments in many different areas of Edinburgh, including the New Town, Stockbridge, the Old Town, Marchmont, Bruntsfield, the West End and many more. All great places to kick back and digest a mouthwatering afternoon tea!
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