NEWS CHANNEL
Published: 10/09/2008 00:00 -
Updated: 03/07/2009 04:03
Frosts Garden Centre, Woburn Sands
Review by Jessica Cunniffe 'Tea' means different things to different people.
To some it is their evening meal, to others it is a quick brew, while in some circles it is a late afternoon snack.
At Frosts Garden Centre in Woburn Sands, tea is more of a genteel affair, like something out of a novel, with an array of sandwiches, tea or coffee of your choice, scones, cake and even champagne.
The presentation of the food continues the fictional feel, with food that looks like film props brought to you - cake on a tiered stand, dainty sandwiches on Portmeirion Crockery, and a mammoth teapot with unlimited refills of tea.
All of this takes place in the picturesque garden room restaurant on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 2pm and 4pm.
And at £9.95 per person, or £14.95 if you want champagne, it is cheaper than the Ritz and Claridges, and you get more for your money.
The choice of teas - English breakfast, Assam, Darjeeling, Earl Grey and a selection of fruit flavour - was impressive, but it was the Twinings Everyday Tea recommended to us that was the best.
The sandwiches - salmon, cheese, ham and pickle, and egg - were as perfectly presented as they were plentiful.
The flute of champagne that accompanied this course made it feel even more sophisticated, and we totally forgot that we were actually in a garden centre in Milton Keynes.
This was then soon followed by scones with cream and jam, American shortcake, strawberries dipped in chocolate and pieces of cheese cake.
This is how 'tea' should be. With or without champagne it feels like an event and, even though we were not celebrating anything, it felt like we were.
And the fact that even my non-tea drinking friend enjoyed Frosts Afternoon Tea proves that there is something for everyone there.
Book by calling Frosts beforehand on 01908 583511 to avoid disappointment.
Review by Jessica Cunniffe 'Tea' means different things to different people.
At Frosts Garden Centre in Woburn Sands, tea is more of a genteel affair, like something out of a novel, with an array of sandwiches, tea or coffee of your choice, scones, cake and even champagne.
The presentation of the food continues the fictional feel, with food that looks like film props brought to you - cake on a tiered stand, dainty sandwiches on Portmeirion Crockery, and a mammoth teapot with unlimited refills of tea.
All of this takes place in the picturesque garden room restaurant on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 2pm and 4pm.
And at £9.95 per person, or £14.95 if you want champagne, it is cheaper than the Ritz and Claridges, and you get more for your money.
The choice of teas - English breakfast, Assam, Darjeeling, Earl Grey and a selection of fruit flavour - was impressive, but it was the Twinings Everyday Tea recommended to us that was the best.
The sandwiches - salmon, cheese, ham and pickle, and egg - were as perfectly presented as they were plentiful.
The flute of champagne that accompanied this course made it feel even more sophisticated, and we totally forgot that we were actually in a garden centre in Milton Keynes.
This was then soon followed by scones with cream and jam, American shortcake, strawberries dipped in chocolate and pieces of cheese cake.
This is how 'tea' should be. With or without champagne it feels like an event and, even though we were not celebrating anything, it felt like we were.
And the fact that even my non-tea drinking friend enjoyed Frosts Afternoon Tea proves that there is something for everyone there.
Book by calling Frosts beforehand on 01908 583511 to avoid disappointment.
