Afternoon Tea Week: 5 of the best in Hampshire
Clockwise from top left: Daisy’s Tea Room, Tylney Hall Gin Afternoon Tea, Lainston House Sparkling Afternoon Tea. Photos courtesy of each venue.
In celebration of Afternoon Tea Week, we’ve chosen five of the best afternoon teas in Hampshire. If you’re visiting Hampshire to join one of our tours, make sure you save some time and some appetite to enjoy one of these. As you would expect, four of our five choices have a little boozy twist and feature some superb locally-made wines and gins.
Lainston House, Winchester
If it’s decadence you’re after, then it’s hard to top the Sparkling Afternoon Tea at Lainston House, a spectacular 17th century country house hotel just outside of Winchester. Their indulgent afternoon tea is served with a glass of English Sparkling Wine, as it should be (no Champagne here!). And when you can’t manage another bite, you can walk it off with a stroll around the grounds - 63 acres of beautiful Hampshire parkland.
Tylney Hall, Hook
Another afternoon tea in the lap of luxury, but this time served with one of our other favourite drinks - gin! At Tylney Hall Hotel near Basingstoke, you can choose a classic G&T or a Gin Cocktail to enjoy alongside all the usual delicious nibbles. Just as impressive is the setting - Tylney Hall is a stunning Victorian era mansion set upon 66 acres of exquisite gardens and grounds. Just coming up the tree-lined drive feels like going back in time!
Limewood Hotel, New Forest
This is one of my wife’s favourites and where she enjoyed part of her hen do. Limewood Hotel have the best of both of the above - they offer a Sparkling Tea, which comes with a glass of Hambledon Cuvée, or the G&Tea which has afternoon tea paired with Twisted Nose, one of our favourite local gins. The only problem is deciding which to have…
Daisy’s Tea Room, Fleet
Afternoon tea doesn’t always have to be enjoyed in a fancy hotel. In fact, one of our favourites Hampshire tea rooms is at Daisy’s, hidden out the back of an antiques shop on the high street in Fleet. The sandwiches, cakes and scones are all homemade and delicious. Plus it’s terrific value and the portion sizes are very generous. Cancel your dinner plans!
Hambledon Vineyard, Hambledon
A special mention for one of the vineyards we regularly visit on our tours. From time to time, Hambledon Vineyard host a High Tea event, with afternoon tea served right in the vineyard, accompanied, of course, by a glass or two of their superb English Sparkling Wines. We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for the next date!