Deal with your self to afternoon tea in a up to date, countryside-chic lodge famend for glorious eating
What might be extra quintessentially British than a elaborate afternoon tea with towers of freshly baked scones and tiny finger sandwiches? Fortunately, Wales has loads of locations the place you possibly can bask in a elaborate afternoon tea and even a cheeky glass of fizz.
From tearooms and inns to delis and cafes, there are a great deal of locations to have lush afternoon tea in fashion, and we compiled an enormous record right here. Considered one of my favorite spots for an indulgent tea is the Angel Lodge in Abergavenny, the place it’s served within the Wedgewood room.
A former teaching inn since 1829, The Angel Lodge is now a up to date, countryside-chic lodge famend for glorious eating. The luxurious, 4-Silver-Star property, which started life as an 18th-century teaching inn, beforehand received the AA Lodge of the 12 months award for Wales. It’s now a preferred and thriving lodge famend for its fabulous meals.
Considered one of my absolute favorite indulgences at The Angel Lodge is, certainly, their award-winning afternoon tea, served within the elegant Wedgewood Room. In contrast to so many lodge teas that really feel swiftly thrown collectively, with soggy sandwiches and grocery store scones, this can be a Excessive Tea accomplished proper.
They’ve scooped The British Tea Guild Council’s High Metropolis and Nation Afternoon Tea Award (plus an Award of Excellence for good measure), and it’s straightforward to see why. The menu shifts with the seasons, so the whole lot feels contemporary, not formulaic.
As a journey author and podcaster, I’ve tried each model right here, together with vegan and gluten-free, and each is completely balanced between traditional and ingenious. Learn my evaluate of the Angel Lodge right here.
Created by specialist bakers and guided by Sally Lane, the expert workforce produces beneficiant towers of good little sandwiches, savouries, scones, and pastries with a spread of artistic bites that I’m frankly obsessive about.
Smoked salmon with cucumber and lemon cream cheese hits the correct steadiness. Cheddar and pear chutney is unexpectedly addictive, and the Leek and Cheddar Welsh cake is a intelligent twist.
I’ll at all times have time for the classics, too. Hand me an egg mayo, or ham sandwich, and I’m content material; no caviar required. Sausage rolls are at all times welcome too.
Crumbly Scones are heat, tender, and dangerously moreish. They’re served with clotted cream, whipped cream, or butter. Truffles and pastries are nearly too lovely to eat. Typical choices embody a custard slice, raspberry roulade, chocolate profiteroles, gooseberry crumble, and lemon and passionfruit towers, all baked contemporary each day within the devoted Afternoon Tea kitchen.
The tea is not any afterthought. It’s uncommon, unique, hand-picked, and introduced with steerage from a tea sommelier. Shangri La white tea from Nepal, Coronary heart of Persia with saffron and fruit, roasted Japanese Kukicha, and Tung Ting oolong from Vietnam, every warming cup is chosen to enrich the meals and is extraordinarily sippable.
If you wish to improve, cocktails and poo choices can be found. Packages vary from Excessive Tea for Two, Glowing Excessive Tea, to Champagne Excessive Tea with Bollinger, all stacked with sandwiches, savouries, scones, muffins, and pastries. For the most recent restaurant information and evaluations, signal as much as our food and drinks publication right here
In the event you aren’t fully stuffed after excessive tea, it is value testing the dinner choices on the Angel, which was additionally topped ‘Finest foodie lodge’ on the Sunday Occasions record of 100 Finest Locations to Keep within the UK for 2025.
This influential record, compiled by writers for the Occasions and the Sunday Occasions, options a variety of fantastic locations to remain throughout the UK, together with inns, inns, nation manors, and cosy B&Bs.
The Angel scooped one of many class awards to be topped the most effective for meals, beating stiff competitors from properties throughout the UK.
The Sunday Occasions writes that The Angel’s “superpower is its connoisseur providing” and provides that visitors can choose seasonal dishes within the Oak Room restaurant, which doubles as an artwork gallery.
Having gone on a number of gastro-focused breaks to the Angel, I agree that it’s among the best foodie stays, and its new accolade is very deserved.
This vigorous market city is already generally known as a foodie haven. It is residence to the artisan Angel Bakery, described by Occasions author Caitlin Moran as “the most effective on the planet,” and The Walnut Tree Inn, a Michelin-starred restaurant with cottages helmed by legendary chef Shaun Hill.
Chef Wesley Hammond is on the helm on the Angel with high quality eating in The Oak Room, crafted cocktails within the trendy Foxhunter Bar, and award-winning afternoon tea served within the Wedgewood room.
I’ve dined within the extra Artwork Deco Oak Room restaurant a number of occasions, and I’ve at all times been impressed by their oft-changing menu bursting with seasonal dishes and native produce. Right here, you possibly can admire artworks in a heat and welcoming atmosphere whereas nursing a strong Rioja or glowing Cremant de Loire.
Typical dinner dishes embody Llanarth Property pheasant, Cefn Mawr Farm dry-aged beef ribeye, Wye Valley asparagus, pea and feta risotto and an distinctive seafood sharing platter loaded with oysters, mussels and octopus carpaccio.
There’s additionally a fairly priced prix fixe (fixed-price) menu, that includes a starter and a primary for simply £25 per individual. Feast on delectable dishes like Cornish crab and saffron arancini, tagliatelle with venison ragu, and smoked haddock with potato and spinach. Seasonal eating choices can be found all year long, with an out of doors kitchen serving pizza throughout summer season and a pop-up Apres ski bar in December.
Eating on the Angel has fully modified my expectations for lodge eating places. Having skilled their distinctive menus and high quality wine record, I need greater than a mediocre primary course or a lukewarm buffet. Because the naked minimal, I require contemporary, seasonal dishes cooked creatively and bursting with flavour.
Named after champion present leaping horse ‘Foxhunter’ who was ridden by jockey Sir Harry Llewellyn, the Foxhunter Bar packs a punch for rigorously crafted cocktails, informal eating and a calming environment.
The pair received Britain’s solely gold medal in the summertime of 1952, and Foxhunter was later laid to relaxation on Blorenge Mountain between Abergavenny and Blaenavon.
The bar options photos of the profitable duo, and the Angel Ale is called ‘Sir Harry’ of their honour. One of the vital fashionable bars for Abergavenny locals, this bar incorporates a refreshing mixture of regulars and guests having fun with a cheeky drink and a catch-up.
After afternoon tea or dinner, why not keep the evening? The Angel has 31 bedrooms and 4 self-contained cottages with glossy up to date furnishings. The general public areas function bespoke furnishings and authentic native artwork.
For in a single day visitors, breakfast is certainly value getting up for. It is a relaxed affair with loads of choices, and it is accessible within the Oak Room, Foxhunter Bar, and Sitting Room. Start with selfmade granola and smoothies after which tuck right into a cooked breakfast comprising sausage, again bacon, black pudding, mushrooms and tomatoes, fried bread and your alternative of egg.
Smoked haddock and poached eggs, Benedict Eggs, and an Angel Bakery croissant with jam, marmalade, and honey are additionally accessible.
Examine charges and e book on-line right here.
