National Afternoon Tea Week 2019 - One88

Bury New Road, Whitefield

Today’s featured Afternoon Tea is a twist on the traditional, as I take a look back at One88’s Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea.

For reasons I’ll never be able to fathom, many men simply don’t ‘get’ cake. So, One88’s Gentleman’s offering does away with the scones lathered with heaps of jam and clotted cream and instead serves up a selection of savoury alternatives.

You’ve still got your selection of sandwiches: roast beef, onion and horseradish wraps, smoked ham on soft white bloomer and mini egg mayonnaise bagels. They’re a satisfying size too, bigger than the usual finger sandwiches, although not quite as dainty.

Alongside the hearty sarnies, we were given a slice of homemade pork pie, complete with perfect pastry and tasty meat, nothing like the chewy, processed version that often comes out of a supermarket, a bucket of fish goujons and two halves of homemade sausage roll.

The pork pies, sausage rolls and goujons were a welcome change, but without the scone, it did feel like the heart of the afternoon tea was missing. 

That said, the sweet side was just as impressive. We had two triangles of chocolate fudge brownie and two slices of cherry and almond bakewell tart. That’s two slices each, so definitely enough to balance out the carb-heavy savoury course. These cakes were absolutely spectacular, with the rich, gooey chocolate fudge brownie balancing out the light, fluffy, fruity bakewell perfectly.

The Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea is £20 per person, including a pot of tea and a bottle of beer, which makes it sensational value for money, especially given the quantity of the sandwiches and savoury snacks.

Back in May, I approached it with trepidation. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the concept – I’m a firm believer that some traditions just shouldn’t be tampered with. However, it turned out to be one of the best afternoon teas I’ve ever had.

I’ve previously also had One88’s Traditional Afternoon Tea (£15 per person) on a couple of occasions. The first time, we were bowled over by the quality and the quantity of the food. However, when we returned, they had downsized significantly. There was more or less half of what we received the first time. Here’s hoping they don’t go the same way with the Gentleman’s version.

If you’d like to introduce, or convert, the men in your life to the joys of an afternoon tea, then this is certainly the way to do it.

Advance booking is required.

http://www.one88whitefield.co.uk/