Mad Hatter's Afternoon Tea at The Sanderson

So, as you may remember from this post, me and my wee Mam met in London last month for a girly couple of days. As you also may remember (possibly because it mentally scarred you), we chose to focus on eating as many afternoon teas as possible without vomiting, one of which being The Sanderson Hotel's Mad Hatter's afternoon tea. I'm not going to lie, they already had me at the name.

  ... And then they had me at the menu. Beautiful, isn't it? Ordering from a dusty old book makes me feel like I'm in Harry Potter so I was in my element. Two points to Gryffindor.

We started with the teas, of which there was a ruddy lovely selection. This selection comes to you in individual little glass bottles - very Alice in Wonderland - and if needed you can find out a little more information about each from the playing cards provided. I tried 4 of the lot (yeah, my bladder had a field day) and can confirm they were all delicious.

  In fact, we went to town and got a glass of bubbles too... when in Rome and all that.

When it arrived my mouth sat in a perfect 'O' for a good five seconds before I realised I was starting to put other diners off their food. Visually, it's the best afternoon tea ever to grace my life; the Brad Pitt of the fine dining world. The Sanderson have really have gone to town on the theme; from little pocket-watch macarons, to playing card bourbons, to chocolate caterpillars, to the classic 'drink me' mini smoothies. There's even a little treat hidden in the grass at the top of the tier, but I'll say no more. Keep it a surprise and all that.

  The sandwiches were - important announcement klaxon - the best I've ever had in a gluten free afternoon tea. There was a crab eclair, a cream cheese sandwich, a caviar scotch egg, and, my personal favourite, a crispy little Croque Monsieur. However, if you're not gluten free, then lucky you because you'll get one of the little green badboys.

Finishing it all off were two little pots filled with mango sorbet and chocolate crumble. There's something so deliciously naughty about eating from a plant pot, my 10 year old self was in her element. And that was that! A truly lovely afternoon. If you're thinking of treating someone special, maybe for Christmas - cough, me, cough - then it's definitely one to keep in mind!

Amy