Afternoon tea

How over priced is that place?!  Looked at the menu in York last week with then OH (now DF!), and she couldn't believe it either!

Spoken like a true Yorkshireman...

TBH, I've been enough times to know there are plenty of locals going there too, as well as tourists.  But as Elliejean pointed out, there are lots of budget places about too, if that's the overriding concern.  (The Harrogate location is my favorite though.)

I also confess to never having had afternoon tea in all my time here. I've always wanted to but I just find tearooms so intimidating! What if I do something wrong? Pour the tea into the cream or something. Or eat too many finger sandwiches. Or use the wrong spoon. 

I also confess to never having had afternoon tea in all my time here. I've always wanted to but I just find tearooms so intimidating! What if I do something wrong? Pour the tea into the cream or something. Or eat too many finger sandwiches. Or use the wrong spoon. 

I can kind of relate to what you mean & I'd probably feel that way if it was a really posh place in London somewhere, for instance.  That's why I like Bettys.  It's just so down-to-earth Yorkshire friendly in there.

I also confess to never having had afternoon tea in all my time here. I've always wanted to but I just find tearooms so intimidating! What if I do something wrong? Pour the tea into the cream or something. Or eat too many finger sandwiches. Or use the wrong spoon. 

One time when Ross and I were dating, I took him to a tearoom in the US.  When the waitress wasn't looking, he drank out of the cream jug.  You'll be fine!   

Some of my best cream tea experiences were in everyday places... church fundraiser in Cornwall, Quaker meeting house in Edinburgh.

I have been meaning to go here for ages!
http://www2.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/page/cafe/crypt/tea.html

Doing the high end ones is an experience but not the end all of tea experiences.

Spoken like a true Yorkshireman...

TBH, I've been enough times to know there are plenty of locals going there too, as well as tourists.  But as Elliejean pointed out, there are lots of budget places about too, if that's the overriding concern.  (The Harrogate location is my favorite though.)

I think the overriding concern for us was going to a pub! (real ale for me!)

Some of my best cream tea experiences were in everyday places... church fundraiser in Cornwall, Quaker meeting house in Edinburgh.

I think of a cream tea as something completely separate from an ordinary afternoon tea, though. And I loooove it!

I think of a cream tea as something completely separate from an ordinary afternoon tea, though. And I loooove it!

Isn't it just minus the crustless sandwiches? 

All that just fills you up for the cream and jam and cakes... mmm

Isn't it just minus the crustless sandwiches? 

All that just fills you up for the cream and jam and cakes... mmm

I guess I think that afternoon tea could be anything from a cuppa with biscuits, to a full proper tea to a cream tea. Maybe it's a more general term? And cream tea is a specific (and lovely) kind of tea? I don't know. But I like them all!!

But I like them all!!

Indeed!

I guess I think that afternoon tea could be anything from a cuppa with biscuits, to a full proper tea to a cream tea. Maybe it's a more general term? And cream tea is a specific (and lovely) kind of tea? I don't know. But I like them all!!

I always assumed cream tea was tea w/o the savouries of any kind; just scones, and jam and clotted cream. And tea, obv.

Edit: Now I really really must try this but I don't want to do it alone. So, anyone in and around London want to shepherd me? Your job will be to choose a place and tell me exactly what to do once I get there! My job will be to get there, treat you to afternoon tea, and enjoy it.

Anyone up for the challenge?

I think what makes it a cream tea is the presence of clotted cream, since you can have scones at full-scale afternoon tea along with the other sandwiches, savouries, tarts, etc. without it qualifying as a cream tea.  I don't think you have to have sandwiches for it to be afternoon tea, though.  Just a little something, like a scone or a piece of cake or biscuits with your pot of tea. 

Edit: Now I really really must try this but I don't want to do it alone. So, anyone in and around London want to shepherd me? Your job will be to choose a place and tell me exactly what to do once I get there! My job will be to get there, treat you to afternoon tea, and enjoy it.

Anyone up for the challenge?

Sounds like a meet up is in order!!

We've done UKY afternoon tea in the past... about time for another!

Sounds like a meet up is in order!!

We've done UKY afternoon tea in the past... about time for another!

Olive, you know what I think? I think an afternoon tea is a perfect setting for a book club meeting!

That seems so cliché to talk literature over tea!