Earlier in the year, London basked in the luxury life of the Bridgertgon Ball, but for those feeling a regency-shaped hole in their lives now that it’s over, listen up!
Over at The Lane, you can celebrate Afternoon Tea week with a fancy regency experience, waltzing into a grand saloon to dine on beautiful pastries from Lily Vanilli at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Champagne comes in the form of a Taittinger Brut Reserve and the caviar is Exmoor Royal Beluski, getting you off to a luxurious start. It will cost you a pretty penny at £99, but you’ll be treated a vast array of savoury bites.
Expect glorious madeleines topped with lapsang-souchong glazed salmon; canelés with whipped ricotta and pickled beetroot; and a glorious sausage roll from Lily Vanilli, concocted with Cornish sausage meat, roast bacon lardons and cider vinegar deglaze. Plus, you didn’t think they’d forget the warm scones with cream, whipped butter and homemade jam, did you? Good, because they didn’t.
Guests will also be treated to a delightful set of loose leaf teas, curated by Henrietta Lovell of the Rare Tea Company. Expect a Regency Breakfast tea, with a smooth and malty flavour; Regency Afternoon Tea, a blend of black teas with a hint of chocolate and malty goodness; and an Early Grey made with pure bergamot oil from ancient orchards of Calabria.
Alongside the champagne, there’s a summer punch on offer at the regency afternoon tea, with Pimms, apricot liqueu, cucumber, lemon juice, ginger ale and a cucumber ribbon garnish, which you can sip over the weekend while enjoying performances from a live harpist (12-14 August, 11am-5pm).
If you like the look of the bespoke china you’re eating from, you can even enquire about purchasing items from The Lane’s shop. It’s designed by Kit And Willow Kemp, and goes by the name ‘Mythical Characters’ to celebrate the history of the theatre.
Enjoy this Afternoon Tea until Sunday, August 14 at The Lane at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine Street, WC2B 5JF (nearest station is Covent Garden). Book your spot here!