Regency-Themed Afternoon Tea

Dearest readers,

With the latest episode release of the much-anticipated third season of Bridgerton, a revival in all things pretty, classic and opulent is on the way! So, if you have suddenly found yourselves or your customers craving a dip into the classic era of the 1800s, we may just have a not-so-scandalous solution!

This season, give your patrons a Bridgerton-inspired experience and be the talk of the Ton with a regency-themed afternoon tea. Pilgrim Foodservice is poised and ready to guide you through the essentials of hosting an unforgettable afternoon tea experience, from mouth-watering menu options to insta-worthy décor and activities.

Afternoon tea is a quintessentially British tradition, dating back to the 1800s when a close friend of Queen Victoria, the Duchess of Bedford, ordered a selection of tea, bread and cakes to be brought to her rooms to satisfy a ‘sinking feeling’ that she experienced at around 5pm each day. Not needing too much tempting to squeeze in an extra cup of tea and slice of cake, the upper-classes hopped on the bandwagon and thus, afternoon tea was born!

Setting the scene

Creating the perfect atmosphere and capturing the elegance of the Regency era is key to an immersive experience for your guests. Using delicate floral arrangements of roses and peonies, elegant and vintage tea sets, as well as lace tablecloths will add to the authenticity.

It simply wouldn’t do to dine in silence, so consider taking a leaf from Bridgerton’s book and playing some modern hits with a vintage twist, either through digital speakers or by going all out with a live pianist, or string quartet!

A Magnificent Menu

Entice your revered guests with a menu fit for royalty! An afternoon tea is traditionally comprised of three elements, savoury options such as sandwiches, followed by scones with cream and jam, finished off by a selection of sweet treats. Feel free to customise your menu and get creative! If you’re in need of a little inspiration, we’ve put together some rather fitting options below.

Savouries

Sophisticated finger sandwiches are a must-have on your Regency afternoon tea menu. Some classic options are:
Cream Cheese and Smoked Salmon
Ham and English Mustard
Cheese and Pickle
For an extra touch, add a non-sandwich option of mini quiches!

Scones

Next on the menu, the scones! Fruit or plain scones are perfectly accompanied by rich clotted cream and a sweet, tart and fruity preserve or jam.

For something slightly different, a savoury cheese scone could be paired with cured meats, vintage cheese or sweet pickles or chutneys.

Sweets

­Always fascinated by the latest fashions and trends from the continent, especially Paris, the regency-era nobility would surely have been impressed with the eye-catching, almondy treat, the macaron. A delight for the eyes as well as the tongue, macarons add beautiful pastel colours to your afternoon tea offering.

As impressive as Queen Charlotte herself, the Chantilly Patisserie Individual Honeycomb Charlottes are a divine addition to your afternoon tea’s top tier.

If you’re feeling creative, we have a range of pastry and tart cases, so you can choose unique and innovative fillings.

So make haste and create a swoon-worthy Regency-themed afternoon tea, that Lady Whistledown would be sure to write about!