Afternoon tea at Slaley Hall Northumberland

Afternoon tea at Slaley Hall Northumberland

14th August 2018 39 By Rachael Stray

It’s been a while since I’d enjoyed an afternoon tea so I was really excited to have the chance to enjoy a complimentary one at Slaley Hall Northumberland.

Slaley Hall Northumberland

Slaley Hall Northumberland

Slaley Hall is a beautiful Edwardian mansion and is nestled in 1,000 acres of beautiful Northumberland countryside and we’ve been here quite a few times in the last couple of months!

Avid readers will know that the hubby and I celebrated our two year wedding anniversary with a mini spa break at Slaley Hall – you can read all about our stay in a previous post here.

Following a few slight disappointments with our stay and an email of complaint the relationship manager at Slaley offered a full apology and a complementary spa day and afternoon tea for two which we accepted.

We decided to return for afternoon tea during our week off before I started my new job.

As we spent the first half of the week visiting Steve’s family in lovely Lincolnshire we thought the Thursday would be the ideal time to chill out at Slaley.

I spoke to the restaurant staff the day before we were booked in to check they would accommodate our no butter on sandwiches request which they did.

After a busy few days in Lincolnshire and a disappointing result in the football on Wednesday night (football was NOT coming home after all) we decided to just head to Slaley for the afternoon tea and not use the spa facilities; as we had jobs to do at home in the morning and wanted to fit in a run before I met the girls for drinks in town that evening.

Afternoon Tea at Slaley Hall

Our table was laid with pretty crockery and a gorgeous view of the golf course and surrounding rolling countryside.

We ordered our drinks first – pot of English breakfast tea for Steve and a hot chocolate for me.

Pretty table setting

Pretty table setting

Then we ordered our actual afternoon tea treats.

There was a choice between the Birdcage or the Bookcase – we went for one of each – both are priced at £19.50 per person.

I was intrigued by the timer ontop of Steve’s pot of tea – it’s all about infusing the tea to your tastebuds (fancy) and I loved that my hot chocolate came in it’s very own teapot.

Steve's tea

Steve’s tea

We were really impressed when our tasty treats were placed in front of us. Both are very Instagram-friendly but not just pleasing on the eye – very tasty too.

The Birdcage Afternoon Tea

  • Sandwich selection
    – Duck’s egg & watercress mayonnaise
    – Smoked salmon & prawn with dill & rocket ‘salad cream’
    – English salted cucumber with apple crème fraîche
    – Poached chicken with lime & coriander
  • Warm plain & fruit scones served with Cornish clotted cream & red berry preserve
  • Warm, freshly made Madeleine’s with sweet green tea syrup
  • Dark chocolate & caramel opera cake, crisp brandy snap tuille
  • Mixed macaroons
  • Lemon & poppy seed cake with lemon curd cream
  • Selection of teas, coffees and hot chocolate

The Bookcase Afternoon Tea

  • Crispy fried ham hock bon bon, mustard seed mayo
  • Mini West Country steak & ale pie, red wine gravy
  • Lamb & mint ‘slider’ with red currant & red onion relish
  • Whisky scented salmon on pumpernickel, sweet cured cucumber
  • Sherry trifle ‘jar’
  • Doughnuts & dips
  • Warm fruit scone with clotted cream & preserves
  • Warm, freshly made Madeleine’s with sweet green tea syrup
  • Warm cheese scone mustard butter, green tomato relish
  • Selection of teas, coffees and hot chocolate

The Birdcage

  • The Birdcage

The Birdcage is a much more traditional afternoon tea – delicate sandwiches and cute sweet desserts – just what I love.

The Bookcase

The Bookcase

The Bookcase was a bit different and more up Steve’s street as he isn’t a big sandwich fan and he thought it was a bit more masculine!

He kindly shared the mini West Country steak and ale pie which was really delicious and we also shared some of our desserts too.

We actually couldn’t eat it all so a few desserts were carefully wrapped up and popped in my bag for later.

Doughnut dipping

Doughnut dipping

Jam then cream on a scone

Jam then cream on a scone

Mini desserts

Mini desserts

Although this was a complimentary afternoon tea we both felt £19.50 per person was a fair price to pay as you get so much food and it really is delicious.

We went for a little walk on the terrace afterward to burn a couple of calories before we headed home.

Squinting in the sun on the terrace

Squinting in the sun on the terrace

Our overall verdict of Afternoon Tea at Slaley Hall

I was absolutely stuffed and didn’t have anything else to eat until breakfast the next morning so at £19.50 per person I think it’s good value for money.

Steve isn’t a big sandwich lover so the fact that his tasty treats were a bit different and more “manly” he really enjoyed it – so much so he said he would have it again!

I’m not a tea or coffee lover so being able to enjoy a yummy hot chocolate in it’s own tea pot was a really nice touch.

Hot chocolate in a tea pot

Hot chocolate in a tea pot

The afternoon tea hit the spot for both of us and I’m sure we would return again.

Where is Slaley Hall?

Slaley Hall,
Hexham
NE47 0BX

BY CAR

Slaley Hall is easy to find from the A1. From the South, take the A68 link road and follow the signs to the Hall. From the North, take the A69 toward Corbridge. Then follow the A68 south and look for the signs.

BY RAIL

Slaley Hall is 7 miles from Hexham Station and 30 miles from Newcastle mainline Station.

BY AIR

Newcastle Airport is 28 miles away 35 minutes by taxi.

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Where would you recommend for afternoon tea? What is the best bit about afternoon tea for you? Let me know in the comments below.

This was not a sponsored post. Our afternoon tea for two was gifted by Slaley Hall but my thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. 

Other related posts

Gin cocktails, luxury menswear and an oasis of ornamental gardens – see what we got up to at the summer soiree at Slaley Hall 

Catch up with our first glamping adventure glamping at Hesleyside Huts Northumberland

Find out what we got up to during our mini break to the lovely Lake District.

See what fun we had on our day date at sunny Tynemouth

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CategoryFood and drink North East Recommendations review
Tagsafternoon tea Food food blogger foodie North East Northumberland review Slaley Hall

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