Good Place for A Get-Together

It's been a long while since I was living in London (1995) and I know some of the places I used to love to go have long since closed down, so I'm looking for some recommendations here.

I am moving back to the UK the first part of October from Sweden.  I have a friend passing through London on the 12th of October from India on her way back to the States and somehow, a simple meeting for tea is snowballing into an incredibly neat sounding chicks' afternoon out with about 8 or so of my Live Journal friends and I am at a loss to know what to suggest for a good place to eat and talk.

Here's the scoop, 8-10 females between the ages of 45 and 60, none of whom have met each other IRL before, flying in from India, Holland, Spain, the US and Sweden and coming in via train from Kent and Ely.  Must be some place that's not devastatingly expensive (30 quid each for tea at the Ritz is out), possibly can offer alcohol as well, hopefully not smoky or terribly loud music and won't mind us sitting around for a few hours (we promise to keep eating and drinking).  Somewhere within Zone 1 if possible, but will stretch to Zone 2.  Indian food, although adored, is probably out since my friend will have just spent the last 4-5 months in Darjeeling studying Nepalese and I think she'd probably like some slabs of beef and clotted cream and stuff.  Also would not care for anything with an American slant, such as Hard Rock or Pizza Hut or whatever.  (Am I limiting this too much?)

I used to love going to the Mount Royal Hotel by Marble Arch for an incredible cream tea in their Art Deco dining room, but I understand it's now the Thistle Marble Arch and I don't know if they do the cream teas there anymore any way.

All suggestions will be gratefully appreciated and considered. 

For that size group, I personally like gastro pubs.  You can usually get sharing plates of nibbles or full lunches.  Drinks are reasonable and usually the wine lists are pretty good.  They don't tend to be as smoky as traditional pubs while affording you the luxury of being able to sit for hours on end without being interrupted by a waiter.

I know there are a couple of nice ones on the Marylebone high street, I bet Aimiloo could suggest one.  Very easy to get to by tube and sort of off the beaten tourist path. 

There is on called the Phoenix which is on the King's Road (nearest tube is Sloane Sq.)  But given it's address it is on the pricier side for drinks.

Good luck, sounds like a lovely day!

Gastro pubs are new on me, but I know the areas you're talking about.  I'll be in London a week beforehand, so I'll have some time to check out a few names and see what looks good.  Thanks for the suggestion.