The refined ritual of afternoon tea is continually evolving with imaginative twists that take it far beyond the traditional sandwiches and scones. Whether you seek sushi in stylish surroundings or want to embrace the spooky season with an experience that’s fun for the whole family, here are some unique afternoon teas to enjoy in York.
Wizard Afternoon Tea, The Potions Academy
If you’d like to add a little magic to your day out, this enchanting afternoon tea is just the thing. Tucked away off the Shambles – York’s own Diagon Alley – The Potions Academy offers a Wizard Afternoon Tea that’s served in three tasty ‘lessons’. You’ll start with a potion of your choice and a selection of scrumptious sandwiches, sausage rolls and pork pies, all of which are made with locally-sourced ingredients. Next, the Academy’s resident witch will conjure up a warming potion to accompany a traditional scone with jam and cream. Finally, you’ll tuck into desserts including a fairy cake, a magicians’ macaroon and a chocolate frog on a bed of unicorn tears. Your Potions Master host will provide magic-themed activities and theatrics to keep you entertained as you dine and you’ll get a bottled potion to take home with you at the end.
£29.99 per person
Afternoon Sea, Pearly Cow
Residing in an exquisite Regency townhouse on Clifton, Pearly Cow celebrates all that Yorkshire has to offer with a menu that’s shaped around the finest produce from its farms, fields and coastline. This includes the Afternoon Sea – a luxurious tiered spread that features fresh seafood that’s served hot and cold. Your 90-minute sitting will begin with North Sea oysters and two poached native lobster tacos with fragrant mango and basil. You’ll then move on to classic mussels marinière with warm crusty bread, John Dory with orange, fennel and saffron potatoes, and a smoked salmon scone with horseradish and chive crème fraiche. If you want the occasion to be extra special, you can even splash out by adding bottomless QV rosé.
£38 per person or £58 with rosé
Afternoon Tea Ritual, Sora Sky Bar
Sora’s Japanese-inspired twist on afternoon tea is much like the sky bar itself: fresh and modern yet respectful of time honoured tradition. Located on Rougier Street in the heart of York, Sora’s rooftop terrace offers a new vantage point from which to view the city. Its sushi platters, robatayaki grills and pan-Asian tapas are all ideal for sharing, while its Afternoon Tea Ritual will take you on a sensory journey to the orient as you sample a selection of sushi rolls, sticky pork belly, Loch Duart salmon teriyaki, tempura tiger prawns and Korean fried cauliflower. You can then savour tantalising desserts including a sweet matcha chocolate slice, mango coconut dome and miso caramel chocolate tart. To drink, there’s wine, sake and Japanese spirits, or for an extra £10 you can add cocktails like a Umeshu Sour, Togarashi Margarita or Yuzu Mojito.
£35 per person or £45 with a cocktail
Afternoon Cheese, Love Cheese
This deliciously different afternoon tea is the perfect treat for cheese lovers. Served at Love Cheese’s original shop on Gillygate, Afternoon Cheese is a savoury take on the post-lunch pick-me-up that centres on one key ingredient. Presented on a slate stand, this cheesy feast comes with a carefully-curated selection of five cheeses, accompanied by cured meats, olives, cornichons, chutney and bread from Haxby Bakehouse. It can be paired with tea or coffee, or elevated with a glass of beer, wine or Prosecco. On sunny days you can dine in the shop’s secret garden while in winter its intimate and atmospheric Speakcheesey makes a cosy hangout.
£32 per person
Wizarding Afternoon Tea, The Grand
This October, The Grand has cast a spell over its popular afternoon tea, transforming it into a tasty treat for witches and wizards of all ages. It’s rumoured that the hotel’s vaults were once a meeting place for the wizards of The Grand House, who gathered to share enchanted brews and cakes. Now, this story is brought to life through a themed menu that features savouries like a magic sausage roll, ‘enhanced salmon’ and a ‘grand house tie’, made with smoked beef brisket, mustard-honey mayo and apple chutney on tomato bread. These are followed by scones and novel cakes, including a sorcerer’s hat, sweet pumpkin, poisoned apples and even owls. Little ones will be kept occupied with the magical activities on their menu and the experience can be completed with potions to drink – you can even craft your own colour-changing brew.
£39.50 per person
Images – @potionscauldron, @lovecheeseyork, @pearlycowyork
