There’s nothing as quintessentially English as stopping for afternoon tea with your nearest and dearest. And nothing quite beats enjoying afternoon tea in one of the prettiest spots in the Cotswolds. Whether you’re craving cucumber sandwiches, salivating over scones and jam, or are simply in it for all of the freshly baked cakes, there are so many tasty afternoon teas to be had in Cheltenham. So, grab a cuppa and settle in for my guide to the top places for afternoon tea in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Queens Hotel, Promenade
Boasting their regal ‘Queens Afternoon Tea’ at the lovely Victoria’s restaurant, afternoon tea at the Queens Hotel is always a wonderful experience. Take a seat in their quintessentially English restaurant or bask in the hidden garden during the warmer months and enjoy some of the best afternoon tea in Cheltenham. Served every day from midday until 4pm, you’ll indulge in a tasty range of finger sandwiches, freshly backed scones with clotted cream, and a range of sweet treats including eclairs, tarts, and macarons – all washed down with Newby loose leaf tea. You can even choose to make yours a bottomless afternoon tea if you wish. It’s an experience you won’t forget.
Looking for a cream tea in the Cotswolds? Check out my guide to the best places for afternoon tea in the Cotswolds.
Once Upon a Tearoom, Winchcombe Street
Once Upon a Tearoom offers everything you could possibly want from an afternoon tea. All baked products use locally sourced ingredients where possible and are baked on the premises. Offering some of the best afternoon tea in Cheltenham, you can find themed afternoon teas made up of delicious scones, cakes, sandwiches, and more. Savouries include ham and mustard sandwiches, as well as brie and cranberry fingers, followed by delicious sweets like honey layer cake and mango and passionfruit cheesecake. They even offer edible bouquets which you can take away for a walk around Pittville Park. It’s a great place for enjoying delicious food and celebrating baby showers, hen parties, and gatherings.
The Regency Tea Rooms, Ormond Terrace
No matter what the occasion – be it a hen do or a baby shower – The Regency Tea Rooms serves up one of the best afternoon teas in Cheltenham. And where better to enjoy an afternoon tea than the beautiful row of Regency houses of Ormond Terrace. The Regency Tea Rooms offers a great selection of loose leaf teas, tasty sandwiches and salads, and freshly baked scones with clotted cream, all crafted by the in house pastry chefs. If you’re feeling fancy, you can upgrade your afternoon tea with a glass of champagne, prosecco, or even a spritzer.
Memsahib’s Lounge, Promenade
For an afternoon tea with a difference, try Memsahib’s Lounge on Cheltenham’s leafy promenade. Memsahib’s Lounge is a classy underground lounge that serves creative cocktails and Indian inspired sharing plates, with an afternoon tea that reflects just that. Some of the best afternoon tea in Cheltenham, you can enjoy a unique take by feasting on a mix of savoury and sweet treats along with a pot of golden Bengal masala chai. Highlights include the gulab jamun cheesecake with coriander biscuit, and the chicken samosa with kachumber salad. It’s a great Indian twist on a much loved British classic afternoon tea, and the flavours really pack a punch.
Malmaison, Bayshill Road
Malmaison brings a contemporary twist to the classic afternoon tea. At one of the best places for afternoon tea in Cheltenham, you can opt from a cream tea or the full afternoon tea. Choose from an indulgent range of teas, from blackberry and raspberry to traditional Earl Grey. The food is delicious – think sliders on brioche, crunchy Thai stick beef wraps, and prawn cocktail to start. Then, along with the classic scones and clotted cream, move onto Victoria sponge, dark chocolate and salted caramel tart, and even a raspberry ripple and white chocolate sundae to finish. It’s just as beautifully presented as you’d imagine. Shake it up by adding on either a cocktail or a glass of prosecco.
Ellenborough Park, Southam Road
There’s no better place to enjoy a traditional afternoon tea than such a historic, beautiful setting in the Cotswolds. With some of the best afternoon tea in Cheltenham, Ellenborough Park kicks it up a notch with great service and top class cuisine. Select a hand picked tea from their tea ‘bible’, or indeed switch it up for a cold glass of bubbly, a gin and tonic, or a cocktail. The tea is complemented by some delicious food. Dine on smoked salmon and creme fraiche sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, and beautiful creations from the pastry chefs. It’s a gorgeous afternoon tea in beautiful surroundings that you can enjoy with your nearest and dearest in Gloucestershire’s only 5* hotel. Mini afternoon teas are available for little ones too.
Hotel du Vin, Parabola Road
Hotel du Vin is a much loved establishment and hotel in the centre of Cheltenham. It also happens to offer up some of the best afternoon tea in Cheltenham, with a plethora of cakes, pastries, scones, and finger sandwiches to devour. Each of the sandwiches have delicious fillings, from chicken and tarragon Dijonnaise to ham and gruyere croissants. To follow, there’s a tasty range of plain and fruit scones with luxurious preserves, Cornish clotted cream, and butter. Finish it all off with a selection of classic cakes and desserts with a French twist, including creme brulee, profiteroles with vanilla ice cream, and apple tarte tartin with creme Normandie.
That’s my guide to the best afternoon tea in Cheltenham! Where are your favourite spots for an afternoon tea?
