Afternoon tea is a long held tradition which is ingrained in the English subconscious. It the perfect remedy for the afternoon dip one feels around 4 o’clock in the afternoon when lunch has been and gone and dinner is a distant glimmer on the horizon. A socialite called Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford during the 1840s is credited with inventing afternoon tea. It was the pang of hunger she felt between breakfast and dinner that sparked a nationwide trend that has remained in vogue for the last one hundred and seventy four years. Back in her day, it was common to only eat breakfast and supper (unthinkable in this day and age!) and so unsurprisingly she felt the need to have a little something to fill the space in between. She decided on a pot of tea and a light snack. Over the years we have tweaked things a little and nowadays the traditional afternoon tea includes loose leaf tea served in a teapot with milk and sugar, cucumber, egg and cress, ham and smoked salmon finger sandwiches, scones served with clotted cream and jam, Victoria sponge, Battenberg and fruit cake and pastries. It is all served on a tiered cake stand, paired with delicate matching china.
All this sounds lovely; a formal treat, usually in posh hotel, with silver service. However, we reckon it could be improved upon. With a few alterations we reckon it would make for an excellent hen do. A civilised affair before you hit the town or a lovely activity the whole hen party can take part in, from the grandmother-of-the bride to the bride’s best mate. We’ve decided to tweak the tradition and add a little spice to proceedings. We’ve created a Chocoholic’s Afternoon Tea hen party that is our twist on the tradition. Instead of finger egg and cress sandwiches why not indulge your sweet tooth with delicious macarons. Instead of Victoria sponge, we’ve chosen chocolate truffles. Instead of tea, why not sip on hot chocolate and Champagne with strawberries. And instead of a posh hotel with a stringent dress code and snotty waiters, we’ve chosen a deluxe venue in the heart of Leicester Square that has amazing views across London that turns into an exclusive bar and club in this is an alternative hen party that is brand new for 2014. If you fancy turning tradition on its head and treating yourself to an afternoon of indulgence, check it out!
This article was written by Polestars, a London based hen party company who have worked nationwide for over ten years in delivering the best alternative hen activities. Ranging from dance classes to art lessons to chocolate making workshops, Polestars really has something to offer everyone.
