Afternoon Tea is a wonderfully quintessential British tradition, first introduced in the early 1840s and its popularity continues to increase with many variations on offer for us to enjoy. Being a huge fan myself, when the Cumberland invited us to indulge in their Afternoon Tea at the Ventana Grand Café it was impossible to resist.
Situated on the East Cliff, the Cumberland Hotel is in a prime location just a stone’s throw away from the beach. We arrived on a beautifully sunny afternoon and felt the pull of the outdoor terrace calling to us. If you haven’t been there during the summer then you really must, the atmosphere is buzzing, with the terrace being situated next to the pool it is the perfect spot to relax on those sunny days whilst indulging in a drink or bite to eat. Around us the sound of fun and laughter is infectious which transports you to that blissful feeling of being on holiday!
But back to the job at hand, the main event of afternoon tea gets placed in front of us on an art deco stand. Presented in the traditional fashion, fingers sandwiches at the base, scones in the middle, and a range of cakes on the top level.
The finger sandwiches were lined up all cut to perfect uniformed precision, these included chicken mayo, salmon, egg mayo, and cucumber with cream cheese, all served in fresh bread, they went down an absolute treat and were the perfect start to what was shaping up to be a
delightful experience.
Of course you generally can’t eat a scone without sparking the debate of which goes on first, the cream or jam, on this occasion the cream on first won the day with three against one! We all generously layered up our fresh scones with the toppings and were pleasantly surprised when we took our first bite to discover a unique twist on the traditional scone with the addition of cinnamon to the dough, it added an extra moreish dynamic to the recipe.
Finally we reached the pièce de résistance of the meal which was the collection of beautifully made cakes, each one showcasing what care was put in to creating them. Amongst the treats we had; sticky toffee cake, a chocolate & almond Opera Square, a shot glass layered with mango & raspberry coulis on top of a toffee cream and my personal favourite, a coffee & walnut cake, they were completely indulgent but worth every calorie!
Afternoon Tea is a tradition that everyone should experience, so don’t hesitate to make your booking and indulge in a relaxing afternoon by the sea.
BOOKINGS
T. 01202 298 350
A. East Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth, Dorset BH1 3AF
E. sales@oceanahotels.co.uk
W. www.cumberlandhotel.oceana-collection.com
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