Afternoon tea and London are synonymous. And while there are plenty of places to sip some brew and nibble on petit-fours, one hotel has turned the tradition into a stunning visual presentation too. The Lanesborough Hotel in London, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, launched an exclusive new afternoon tea with world-famous baker Peggy Porschen, and her eponymously named bakery.
Porschen is known for her fairy tale pink aesthetic, which will take over the entire experience with floral features and pastel-hues adorning everything from the desserts to the tablescape. The afternoon tea will be accompanied by floral installations reminiscent of the original Belgravia Peggy Porschen Parlour.
Diners will get all the essentials like finger sandwiches, scones, clotted cream, and jam, plus the bespoke afternoon tea blends of Peggy Porschen and The Lanesborough. Think mini versions of their award-winning Lemon, Raspberry & Rose Layer Cake, Parlour favorite Chocolate Heaven Cupcake, and seasonally-led treats such as the Lemon & Elderflower tartlet.
Guests will also be invited to choose a slice of one Porschen’s signature layer cakes of the day from a specially designed trolley, to capture the picture-perfect moments created through the exclusive partnership. And all of this takes place under the illuminated domed glass roof of Michelin-starred Céleste.
Incredibly, Porschen held her first prestigious pastry chef position at The Lanesborough, Oetker Collection property, in 1999. “Just over 20 years later, to be reconnected again in this way, makes so much sense as a creative partnership,” Porschen told Departures. “To combine the classic afternoon tea offering, in such beautiful surroundings, with the pastel-hued and highly detailed aesthetics of my brand, is a match made in heaven.”
The Lanesborough’s Head Pastry Chef Kevin Miller agreed, telling us, “Peggy Porschen creates such wonderful, creative and delicate cake at her parlors, so it was a natural choice to develop a new exclusive afternoon tea with them, served in the majestic Céleste dining room.”
The Lanesborough Peggy Porschen Afternoon Tea is available from March 3 until June 2 and priced from £53 ($70) per person or £72 ($95) per person, including a glass of Champagne.
