One of our favourite ways to celebrate any occasion is with afternoon tea. Teapots filled to the brim with freshly brewed tea, sweet treats and of course piles of fluffy scones. Is there any other way to celebrate? We don’t think so, and we know dad will agree.
Afternoon tea is an experience like no other, so we’re here to inspire you to spoil dad and show him just how much you care with an afternoon spent with tea, cake, and of course beautiful china.
Choose the perfect setting
Afternoon Tea is a wonderful British tradition that can be enjoyed both indoors and out. If you’re lucky with the weather this Father’s Day, why not take your celebrations al fresco amidst the flowers in the garden? For a green-fingered dad this may just be the perfect spot.
Setting the table for Afternoon Tea
Setting the table for afternoon tea must be one of the most delightful exercises, and laying the table with magnificent pottery is essential to any afternoon tea setting. You don’t need to worry about having a matching set necessarily, as mix-and-match tableware will look just as stylish if it’s done right.
However, no afternoon tea is complete without a teapot. It is the ultimate afternoon tea accessory along with a cake stand for displaying the variety of delicious food. Whether it is a footed, two tier or three tier cake stand you choose, you’re going to need something fabulous to serve your savoury and sweet treats on.
Our Botanic Garden two-tier cake stand is perfect for serving sandwiches and scones, with matching plates available to serve additional cake on too. Or go all out with the Sara Miller London Chelsea, Orchard or India three-tier cake stands featuring a tier for each type of treat.
Sweet and Savoury: Tailor the menu
Speaking of treats, afternoon tea calls for a selection of sweet and savoury delights. A mixture of sandwiches, usually cut into delicate fingers, can be made up with your dad’s favourite fillings. And to add a twist to your gentleman’s afternoon tea, you could add more of your father’s favourites with pork pies, sausage rolls and even scotch eggs.
Shop bought (don’t worry we won’t tell) or homemade scones are mandatory for afternoon tea. Pair with dad’s favourite fruit jam and thick clotted cream. Delicious. Does your dad have a super sweet tooth? Outweigh the savoury selection with additional cake. Go for petit fours, sweet pastries or if he’s a chocoholic, take a look at our Chocolate mousse pots recipe from Sophie Conran.
We hope we’ve inspired you to treat dad to a delicious afternoon tea this Father’s Day. For more tips and tricks on serving afternoon tea at home for all sorts of celebrations take a look at our How To Guide.