Sat in pale pink and blue and feeling sick’. This was my text to a fellow Silver Traveller who I was meeting in “The Tea Terrace”:http://theteaterrace.com/, House of Fraser on Victoria Street, London.
This is a large restaurant seating around 50 on the top floor of the store which was locally known as Army and Navy. The front is open plan and as you’re approaching it, you cannot fail to be overwhelmed by a sea of pale pink and powder blue. The walls are blue, the seats alternate blue and pink and the white wood tables have pink place mats and pink serviettes. In addition, there are silver ornate sofas and ‘thrones’ with very high backs.
The tables had floral, china table numbers with salt and pepper pots masquerading as mini floral patterned tea pots. I cannot imagine a man feeling particularly comfortable in this environment.
The menu is lots more than afternoon tea, and also serves breakfast and lunch. A quick glance at the menu showed some rather scrummy things with lunches around £10.
We just had a cup of earl grey and latte which both arrived in floral patterned matching china. Whilst it was fine for the tea, drinking my latte out of a china floral mug just didn’t seem right. My friend had been out for lunch but I was peckish and tried the cheddar cheese and rosemary scones. Two warm scones arrived which looked home-made rather than mass produced (this is a compliment) along with two pats of butter and a sprinkling of fresh chopped rosemary on the plate. They were served on the hot side of warm which meant the butter immediately melted and soaked in. They were fresh, fluffy and absolutely divine. The total bill came to just under £12.
When paying at the counter, I checked out what looked to be equally delicious cakes under glass domes.
Whilst the website shows there are branches in Guildford and House of Fraser on Oxford Street, there is no mention of the Victoria Street place – judging by the photographs the others are not quite so colourful.
On our pink paper place mat was a ditty and request for feedback with the chance to win a traditional afternoon tea for four. Given eight words (tea, coffee, pink, blue, silver throne, cakes and scones) my partner came up with his own ditty which I’ve now e-mailed to them hoping to win! Let me know what you think!
If you’re feeling blue,
Or if you’re in the pink
There’s nothing like a cuppa
With cakes and scones thrown in.
It makes you feel so regal,
You’re hopefully not alone
As you take your seat,
On the silver throne.
I’ll update this review if I’m successful.
