The crisp winter air nipped at our cheeks as we approached the gates of Buckland Manor, a beautiful country house hotel just outside Broadway in the tiny village of Buckland. It was a cold but sunny afternoon; the building and small church next door looked stunning in the winter sun.

We were at Buckland Manor to enjoy a Festive Afternoon Tea experience. We had envisioned the enchanting afternoon tea that awaited, a delightful prelude to the festive season, and as we entered and were greeted warmly by the lovely members of staff, our vision came to life. We were seated in the very best seat in the house for an afternoon tea, by the open fireplace in the cosy sofa in the centre of the beautiful lounge, decorated with twinkling lights, boughs of holly, and plump wreaths… what a festive atmosphere, it was just lovely. 

 

 

A Tale of Two Teas

We sat down in the comfortable sofa… and the feast began. We were served two afternoon teas, one traditional and one vegan; both were presented to us on three-tiered stands, one laden with the traditional afternoon tea delights and the other overflowing with an array of tempting vegan afternoon tea treats. 

The afternoon teas were created in a way that was testament to Buckland Manor’s commitment to culinary excellence and their ability to cater to every dietary preference. As a vegan, it is often the case that the vegan option is a lesser option… but this was certainly not the case at Buckland Manor.

 

 

A Three-Tiered Feast

Our feast began on little starter-plates where we were served two wonderful pre-sandwich treats. Delicious!

And then we started on the tower. The bottom tiers consisted of the classic finger sandwiches with delicate fillings. Each bite was a symphony of flavours, the textures perfectly balanced and the tastes harmonising in perfect unison. Delicious!

The middle tiers were the traditional scone tiers. With jam and clotted cream or vegan butter, the scones were warm and fluffy. Delicious!

A few hours into the experience, we made it to the top tier where festive cakes awaited us. Culinary creativity and ingenuity had gone into crafting each of these well-balanced sweet treats. Delicious!

 

 

Hearts full of Festive Cheer

As we sat back and sipped our cups of perfectly brewed Earl Grey tea, we reflected on the remarkable afternoon tea experience we had just had. Buckland Manor had not only indulged our taste buds but also shown us how their creativity with the many festive touches, and the passion of the chefs were evident in each dish.

We left Buckland Manor with hearts full of festive cheer, ready to embrace the magic of the Christmas season.

BOOK YOUR AFTERNOON TEA AT BUCKLAND MANOR HERE