SPHERE Curates: London's Finest Coronation Afternoon Teas

Bollinger Burlington Bar 

The special menu available at the Bollinger Bar at The Burlington Arcade is Bollinger’s take on the quintessentially British afternoon tea. It has been created in collaboration with Royal Warrant holder, patisserie chef Didier Merveilleux, making it a tasting experience of truly royal standards.

Merveilleux (the perfect name) has created some exquisite delicacies for the occasion, including mini peach and vanilla tart, mini strawberry choux craquelin and passion yuzu macaroon, which will be paired with a glass of Bollinger’s signature Special Cuvée. In keeping with the theme, the patisseries feature edible decorations, including golden crowns, Coronation emblem and the Champagne Bollinger blazon. The Afternoon Treat menu will be served on the finest tableware from Thomas Goode & Co., the preferred purveyor of exclusive luxury goods to the Royal Household.

The Bollinger Afternoon Treat Menu will be exclusively available at The Bollinger Burlington Bar from 27 April to 14 May priced £125/pp and includes a glass of the House’s signature Bollinger Special Cuvée. 

Fortnum and Mason

Inside Fortnum and Mason's Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon you can experience their take on a coronation afternoon tea from £79pp. Offering classics from cucumber sandwiches to fruit scones alongside unconventional additions developed by pastry chef Robert Pizey from an elderflower and meadowsweet cream tartlet to a royal vanilla mousse lollipop. To accompany your pastries is a choice of exclusive F&M coronation darjeeling tea, a glass of Blancs de Blancs Grand Cru Coronation Champagne or their special-edition cocktail made for the occasion, The Delphinium. 

Alternatively you can take away a Coronation picnic hamper to enjoy elsewhere, whether it be in the park on a checkered blanket or in the comfort of your own home. The Coronation Celebration picnic for two at £200 features a variety of different takes on quintessentially British sweet and savoury treats from coronation chicken scotch eggs to mini beef wellingtons and elderflower strawberry jelly. As well as a 750ml bottle of Blancs de Blancs Grand Cru champagne, cheers!

The Park Room at Grosvenor House 

The Park Room at five-star hotel Grosvenor House have pulled together a stunning collection of amuse bouche and five limited-edition pastries by head pastry chef Anthony Hearst for you to dig into alongside a broad choice of Newby fine teas at £62.50pp or with a glass of Ridgeview sparkling wine at £78.50pp.

The assortment of tantalising afternoon tea pastries feature an English sparkling wine granita, heather honey mousse and lemon baked cheesecake to name a few. The menu also offers a variety of both open and finger sandwiches with a mango chutney twist on the fitting yet classic coronation chicken and, of course, both plain and raisin scones with clotted cream and some atypical jam options from rose petal to gooseberry. 

This royal edition menu is available now until 10th May. 

The Grand Saloon at Theatre Royal Drury Lane 

Within the marble-lined grand saloon at Drury Lane's Theatre Royal comes a coronation edition of Lilli Vanilli's already popularised afternoon tea, running from now until 10th May from £59pp. 

The Regency Afternoon tea menu involves hearty British staples such as sticky toffee pudding and their Royal coronation chicken pie amongst more contemporary bites such as glazed salmon and caviar topped madeleines and pink lemonade tart. All served with a selection of Rare Tea Company teas. For little ones wanting in on the celebration, there is a children's version of the coronation-edition menu at £35pp. 

Book the Regency Afternoon tea in the heart of Covent Garden. 

Biscuiteers 

Calling all biscuit lovers! London-based iced biscuit makers Biscuiteers have creating a Coronation edition of their afternoon tea menu, available at both their Notting Hill and Belgravia locations. Along with finger sandwiches and scones, the menu takes a patisserie focus - featuring handmade pastry items from chocolate hazelnut choux buns and yuzu lemon meringue tarts to King Charles embossed macarons and, of course, a signature coronation-edition iced biscuit. Served with their bespoke blend of Tregothnan tea at £52.50pp or with a glass of prosecco for £65pp. 

Alternatively you can sample the Biscuiteers coronation range from home with their Coronation Celebration Hamper (£145) including twelve beautifully decorated lemon biscuits in a keepsake tin and twelve macarons in a variation of delectable flavours such as earl grey and strawberries and cream. 

For the more hands-on afternoon tea attendees is the option to add a DIY icing experience for a total of £65pp.