Photography by Nick Illot.

Afternoon tea, a qunitessentially British thing to do and where better than our capital. I took Saturday afternoon tea with friends at No. 12 near Euston, London and filled ourselves with Finger Sandwiches, scones and clotted cream, cup cakes, tartlets, pots of tea and glasses of fizz. Its fair to say I couldn’t move by the end.

London hosts some really unique afternoon teas today; from The Sandersons ‘Mad Hatter Tea Party’ which does as the name suggests with quirky treats and ideas from Alice in Wonderland, ‘Pret-a-Portea’ at The Berkley, a fashion themed tea with biscuits shaped in signature couture pieces and The Chesterfield in Mayfair is hosing ‘Charlie and The Chesterfield’ based on the westend musical Charlie and The chocolate factory with choclate based surprises!

But afternoon teas can be as casual as a few sandwiches and a fruit scone with a brew or a far more glamourous affair with twists on classics and selections of exotic teas – which ever way you look at it, we think it makes a pretty perfect wedding breakfast.

Afternoon teas are easy to theme into your day – put some 1940’s music on a record player if your planning a vintage do, or select foods to suit a colour theme – ombre cakes are a big deal for 2014.
Its the kind of meal you can relax through and keep the glasses filled ready for the speeches.

Mix and match crockery or keep it simple with white and let your center pieces shine. Whatever sized tea-party you are planning we have 2 and 3 tier white cake stands for all.

But why stop at weddings : throw friends a tea party baby shower or hen do – fill the teapots with cocktails instead, we like that idea!

The Little Lending Co. x