What is it about the combination of oestrogen and sugar that just works? It’s as if an inflammable chemical reaction occurs, giving rise to an explosion of new friendships, working relationships, and satiated stomachs. Can you imagine then how much hubbub went on at the swanky Conrad Hotel when nearly 30 zealous female bloggers got together? I couldn’t imagine. And so I decided to find out for myself by attending this quarterly event for the first time, kindly arranged by Selena.
The London Bloggers Afternoon Tea
And now I’m going to say what independent career women at my stage of life are never meant to say – I was nervous. Nervous about walking into a room full of strangers and being able to converse without any shy awkwardness. But I needn’t have felt any apprehension because from the minute I arrived, I found my fellow bloggers to be friendly, enthusiastic and approachable with a shared love of writing, blogging – and cake! I also finally got to meet one of my most favourite bloggers, the lovely Kelly from Around the world in 80 pairs of shoes.
A Christmas-themed afternoon tea at the Conrad Hotel London
We were fortunate enough to be previewing the Christmas afternoon tea that will be launched by the hotel towards the end of November just in time for all you festive fiends to get your celebrations off to a calorific start! I can’t say I’ve ever celebrated Christmas as early as September before but attending this event did make me feel better about lusting over the 2 for 1 mince pies already on sale at my local supermarket!
Our feast included a plate of savoury snacks, including venison puffs, turkey ballotine with pistachio and cranberries and Brussels sprout mousse – something I safely thought I’d never contemplate eating but it was strangely appealing. I liked the selection of sandwiches, which included a smoked salmon with lemon crème fraiche option and beetroot and spinach option, which I enjoyed but I wasn’t sure how easily I’d have been able to distinguish the flavours had I not already known them.
The perfectly sized scones had a lovely consistency and came in two festive flavours including Christmas spice and cranberry and orange but again with the Christmas spice scone, I felt the flavours were just on the subtle side. Perhaps I’m just an all or nothing kind of gal, who knows?
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
Most of us were blown away by the beautiful Christmas display of pastries and cakes. Like something straight out of a fairytale nativity scene, Chef Zoe and her team treated us to stem ginger-flavoured macaron snowflakes, chocolate marshmallows illustrated with reindeer, decadent mini Swiss rolls and a stunning Christmas tree filled with raspberry mousse on a base of chocolate brownie. And, in a real twist of genius, the entire pastry platter was gluten –free and tasted fabulous, even for those of us who love stuffing our faces with bread.
I’ve not been to a Christmas-themed afternoon tea before but for anyone visiting London in the festive period, this would be an ideal indulgence to get you feeling festive. I found myself humming to “Let it snow” on the bus home, much to my own embarrassment thanks to the magical melodies being played by the live harpist. With several weeks still left till Christmas, how will I contain this newfound Yuletide excitement?!
Disclaimer: I received a discounted afternoon tea at this blogger event but I was never requested to write a review and chose to do so because I was so impressed by the tea we were presented!
Why Waste Annual Leave? 
It was so lovely to finally meet you! If you ever fancy some cake, give me a bell as loved meeting you. I loved that all the pastries were gluten free, they’re a fantastic team at the Conrad xx
They were fabulous weren’t they?! I’d love to meet up with you again for another afternoon tea Kelly – we should definitely arrange something again soon! x
Ohh I feel so Christmassy reading this. Having afternoon at christmas is a family tradition of ours, such a great way to start the festive period. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas……
I’m so glad you’re feeling as festive as I am! What a lovely tradition to have at Christmas time Zoe – maybe I’ll try and introduce that into my family Christmas too 🙂
What an awesome opportunity to meet up! Getting a lot more excited for Christmas now!
Thanks Jess! It was such a lovely way to meet up and it definitely made us all feel very Christmasy! 🙂
That looks so amazing!! I love the Christmas one – looks so festive and creative!
Thanks so much Constance – it was amazing how they managed to create all these little cakes to look so festive – the Christmas trees were made of mousse and chocolate brownie – wouldn’t it be fabulous to have a real life Christmas tree made of the same?! 😀
Yes, it definitely would be!
It looks delicious, I’ll look forward to meeting you at a bloggers tea – can’t do the next one as I stupidly agreed to go paintballing that day!
Suze | LuxuryColumnist
I’ve never tried paintballing – keep hearing you leave with lots of bruises so hope you manage to escape that! I can’t make the next one either but hopefully catch you at another one in the new year. Thanks so much for reading Suze 🙂
That looks so good! I haven’t done a London afternoon tea for years so might have to do a Christmassy one soon.
Oh Lucy, you should definitely use Christmas as an excuse to spoil yourself to one of these! I never tire of what a special experience afternoon tea always ends up being – such lovely old charm about it. Thanks so much for reading 🙂
Oh dear god woman what are you doing to me?! Mixing cake with Christmas when you know I’m being a Scrooge is so not fair! 😉 Brussels sprout mousse really doesn’t sound at all appetising but the little snowmen cake would certainly make up for that I think. It all looks lovely!
Haha, I’m not sure I managed to eat much of the snowman cake – felt a bit mean decapitating them!! I normally can’t stand sprouts but the mousse had goats cheese in it if my memory serves me well and it was actually really delicious! If only all vegetables tasted that good 😀
This really does look incredible. I wish I had been able to go
I wish you had too Jenna – would have been lovely to meet you!
Yum! This looks and sounds delicious. I love the cute Xmas cakes 🙂
They were really adorable Char but I’m always sucker for a good afternoon tea – as you’ll soon learn when we meet up 🙂
What a gorgeous afternoon tea and to get to meet all those blogging friends. Coincidentally, just before I read this post I found Kelly’s Around the world in 80 pairs of shoes – I signed up to follow her 🙂
Oh what a strange coincidence! I’m glad you like Kelly’s blog as much as I do 🙂 And thanks so much for reading the post – it absolutely was a perfect way to meet lots of friendly new bloggers – it’s only that it left me feeling Christmasy about 3 months too early!
Looks delicious! I especially love all the Christmas-themed goodies. Afternoon tea is one of my favourite things to do (I posted about my experience at The Ritz a couple of months ago).
Laura
Sometime Traveller
Great minds think alike Laura 😀 I love afternoon tea as well – I’ve only tried it at the Ritz once and it was 10 years ago!! Definitely due a revisit but it takes a lot more advanced booking than when I went back then! I’ll definitely head over to read your revive w of it now 🙂