Afternoon Tea at PARKER’s Tavern, University Arms Hotel, Cambridge: September 2018

Featured by tastewithgrannyapples

 

University-Arms-Hotel
PARKER’s Tavern restaurant is located on the ground floor of the University Arms Hotel on Regent Street in Cambridge

After more than two years of renovation work costing £80 million, Cambridge’s most historic and iconic hotel re-opened last month and I couldn’t wait to visit to sample the food in PARKER’s Tavern restaurant. I had enjoyed a splendid lunch there within days of the hotel opening and returned this week to experience Afternoon Tea with a friend.

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The PARKER’s Tavern creative and stylish Afternoon Tea was served in the hotel library on a traditional three-tier stand
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We started with the savouries which included a selection of sandwiches, warm sausage rolls and Crayfish pastry boats

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The Plum Pudding scones were served warm and accompanied by caramelised apple butter, plum jam and clotted cream

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The bespoke china is full of interesting images which reflect Cambridge history
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The top tier held an unusual selection of sweet treats – Parkers Football truffles, Sir Isaac Newton’s Apple, Rice Pudding Macaroon, and Iced saffron and rose cake
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We were too full to eat all the scones and cakes so we took a ‘doggy bag’ home
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I also took my slice of Duke of Cambridge tart home to enjoy later

This Afternoon Tea is innovative and offers a whimsical take on the traditional and clearly a lot of thought has gone into the invention of it. Every sweet and savoury treat created by chef Tristan Welch was inspired by the city’s literary legacy which is explained in the interesting Afternoon Tea menu booklet.

On this occasion one or two things could have been better as the sandwiches were dry and appeared not to have been freshly made, also we weren’t very impressed with the fillings of Coronation Chicken, Spiced Beef and Smoked Trout. However the sausage roll and crayfish pastry boat were very enjoyable. The still-warm scones were light and fruity and we both loved the plum jam. The sweet treats were all delightful, being unusual and creative and there was plenty to enjoy. A choice of teas are available to accompany the food and fresh pots were offered throughout the meal which is always welcome. Service was polished and professional. I think this Afternoon Tea is over-priced as it’s more expensive than any other I have come across in Cambridge but if you are looking for somewhere impressive and indulgent to take a visitor or for a special occasion then PARKER’s Tavern would fit the bill.

Finally the hotel lavatories are well worth a visit as one can hear the dulcet tones of Alan Bennett reading from the ‘Wind in the Willows’ whilst using the facilities!

The PARKER’s Tavern Afternoon Tea is available by reservation only at least 24 hours in advance and costs £33 per person plus 12.5% service charge.

PARKER’s Tavern

University Arms
Regent Street
Cambridge
CB2 1AD

Tel: 01223 606066

For Reservations, email: reservations@universityarms.com

https://parkerstavern.com

5 thoughts on “Afternoon Tea at PARKER’s Tavern, University Arms Hotel, Cambridge: September 2018”

  2. Came for afternoon tea with my friend recently really enjoyed everything was delicious only just sat down and the fire alarm went off but luckily false alarm😀 just one small thing the sandwiches were a little dry, several waiters came over to the table to ask if we had ordered tea which we had already had , then another waiter came over and asked the same thing! but otherwise very good, really very relaxing afternoon sat there for almost 5hrs lovely surroundings . Will definitely come again

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