After the unusual experience that was Prêt-à-Portea at The Berkeley today Akhlaq, Batool and I rocked up to experience a more traditional afternoon tea at Brown’s Hotel. The Tea Guild awarded The English Team Room at Brown’s Hotel as the best place in London to enjoy afternoon tea in 2009. Did it live up to these expectations?

The Room is apparently steeped in history (with Brown’s being London’s first ever hotel, the site of where Alexander Graham Bell made the UK’s first telephone call in 1876 and also where Rudyard Kipling apparently wrote The Jungle Book). Opened in 1837 its probably fair to say that the Room, and the Hotel, has changed significantly since then, especially after a £24m restoration in 2005.

Apparently they can seat 70+ people in the room but they have split the room so it doesn’t seem like one giant space and therefore seems a fair bit more intimate. Having said that the room was still quite buzzy. Ratio of Ladies to Men: 12:1. Heh heh.

We were led to a corner seat in the first room which was more like sitting on a lounge than a regular table and chair. The seating was a bit awkward as it felt like the table was quite low so we were leaning over it a bit. Our seating location was good as we could look out on the room but unfortunately it somehow meant that service was a little on the slow and absent side (throughout and when we were wanting to get the bill.) I was actually surprised as I thought that would be the top priority. At least it didn’t feel stuffy.

Tea selection is as varied as any other afternoon tea place including traditional blends as well as several infusions. You’re also welcome to try several blends if you’re of the mind – which I was. Heh heh. I like the fact that you are also given an extra pot of hot water to water down your tea when it starts to steep too much.

Our cake stand had the traditional sandwiches on the lower tier, warm scones (covered in a tea towel to maintain warmth) and pastries on the top tier. All tiers are replaceable if you can fit it in. You should also make room for cake because after you’re done with your cake stand you get to try slices of that day’s baked cakes. Its almost too much!

So did Brown’s Afternoon Tea live up to expectations? I felt not although I think that’s because of the service. When we got it the service was fantastic but getting it proved to be extremely difficult. I would like to say that the reason for that was because it was slightly awkward to get to our table but then its not like they always have that problem. I just think our waitress wasn’t doing the rounds she should have been doing. Otherwise it was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon. Atmosphere-wise it was nice with the baby grand piping music softly in the background, the relaxed feel of the lounged seating around the border of the room and it did feel at all stuffy. The tea and food was as expected and whilst not as exciting to the eye or palette as other places I’ve been to ticked all the boxes it needed to. I also liked the added touch of the sample tea you’re given at the end to take away with you.

Oh, look how posh the toilets are!