This weekend I visited The Moat House in Stafford to try out their Girls Vs Boys Afternoon Tea concept….but who will be triumphant?
The Moat House is set in the beautiful village of Acton Trussell and is surrounded by water and greenery making it a lovely place to visit for those in the Staffordshire area. We were taken through to their Orangery Restaurant which was bright and already full of others enjoying their tea and cakes. We managed to grab a table by the window looking out over the water with a line of little ducks waddling passed every now and again!
I was booked on to the Platinum Package (£21) and my guest the Gentlemen’s Afternoon Tea (£16). Our waitress came right over with the tea box for me to choose my leaves – a great selection of Breakfast (caffeinated or not), Earl Grey, Lady Grey, Super Fruit, Green or Cinnamon – which I was invited to smell before my choice was brought over in an ingenious diffuser pot with its very own timer to ensure a perfect infusion.
My Platinum Package Afternoon Tea contained a selection of finger sandwiches, a fruit scone with clotted cream and jam, a selection of homemade cakes and a lovely cold glass of Champagne. The sandwiches on offer were a classic selection of egg mayonnaise, tuna and cucumber, cream cheese and smoked salmon, beef and horseradish, ham and mustard and cream cheese and cucumber. They were filled well and the ingredients were great quality making for a fine and very classic savoury layer on my tower.
The boys have a smorgasbord of savoury with a selection of cured meats, miniature yorkshire puddings, Scotch eggs, spicy nuts, chips with a twist, beef and Stilton toasted sandwiches, chipolata sausages, miniature burgers and the ultimate ‘not for girls’ choccy – a Yorkie Bar! Not a scone in sight and all washed down with a trio of tasting ales instead of your champagne too, what a tower of treats indeed!
On the sweet side my Platinum Package came with some lovely treats of its own – a well made (if not a bit on the small side!) scone with clotted cream and jam. Plus three different classic cakes – a chocolate mousse, strawberries and cream meringue nest and a Victoria sponge. All very safe on the cake front but well made none the less. I even managed to finish everything without feeling uncomfortably full, which is a welcome change to running out with a doggy bag of leftover cakes!
In this Afternoon tea war it’s hard to say who won this round with a very strong game played by both sides! The Platinum ‘Girls’ package is beautifully dainty and sweet with my favourite tipple to boot, but the ‘boys’ really have got the savoury side nailed. I think it’s safe to say that for Afternoon Tea at The Moat House both the ladies and gentlemen work together in perfect harmony to create a fun and delectable table. Of course, its all tongue in cheek and anyone can order either version – I’m certainly here for any afternoon tea that includes more savoury!
As an avid Afternoon Tea taster I was really impressed with The Moat House and would certainly visit again.
You can find out more about the different Afternoon Tea packages The Moat House serve and book a table on their website.
Have you tried the Gentlemen’s Afternoon Tea at The Moat House yet? Which do you think is best?
xax