This Mother’s Day visitors can take afternoon tea fit for a queen in the stunning surroundings of Belvoir Castle, reputed to be the birthplace of the afternoon tea tradition.
On a visit in the 1840s, it was said that the visiting Duchess of Bedford decided the wait between lunch and dinner was too long, and asked for sandwiches, cakes and tea to be brought to her rooms one afternoon when she and her husband were staying for a hunting weekend.
A delve into the castle archives confirms the likely truth of the account. Former archivist Peter Foden said: “We identified just two or three weekends in the early 1840s when the Duke and Duchess of Bedford visited Belvoir together. At this time, there was no resident Duchess at Belvoir to entertain visiting Duchesses, which makes the guest ordering tea in her room all the more likely.”
Visitors can take the opportunity to explore the restored Capability Brown gardens and take in the history of the Regency castle before taking afternoon tea in the castle’s tearoom. Now open every weekend in March, the historic Coronation Robes worn by the Manners family at the Coronation of George V1 are presented in the Ballroom offering a fascinating glimpse of the pomp and pageantry of past royal occasions.
Newly created for 2023, Belvoir’s afternoon tea features dainty sandwiches from white crab with lemon watercress mayonnaise to free range egg with Belvoir mayonnaise; fruit and plain homemade scones with jam and clotted cream; passion fruit jelly with mango and strawberry salsa; cherry topped triple Belgian chocolate cake and Blueberry meringue with lemon curd cream. Prosecco, Vegetarian and Vegan options are also available.
Afternoon Tea is served in The Aviary, the Regency-styled tearoom, open 11am to 4pm on all days the Castle is open. For those looking for a last minute Mother’s Day present, afternoon tea gift vouchers are available.
Sitting at the heart of the Engine Yard, The Fuel Tank Kitchen spans the ground floor of the lovingly refurbished historic site of the original water pumping station for the Castle. Serving all day, it is also offering a Mother’s Day afternoon tea.
The Aviary afternoon tea offer starts from £60 for two people, and includes access to the gardens. To book Afternoon Tea at Belvoir Castle, visit https://www.belvoircastle.com/book-tickets-afternoon-tea/
