Review: Afternoon Tea at The Library, London Marriott County Hall
Review: Afternoon Tea at The Library, London Marriott County Hall
A festive afternoon tea experience surrounded by gorgeous books and iconic views
Christmas is approaching at the speed of a freight train and it seems as though we’re being urged from all sides to ‘get into the spirit.’ Everyone, it seems, has different ideas on how we are expected to do so. Amidst all the frantic present-shopping and party-planning, I’ve found the most sure-fire way to dredge up the increasingly elusive ‘Christmas spirit’ is to find some precious time for you and a loved one to enjoy something that’s just for you.
The festive afternoon tea experience at The Library at London Marriott Hotel County Hall proved to be just the right thing. The hotel itself is decked out for the season, its gorgeous hall wreathed out with twinkling baubles and tasteful lights. There’s a sense of festive peace around, a far cry from the chaotic throngs and furore of Oxford Street.
The afternoon tea restaurant, The Library – named so for being, well, an old library – is a gorgeous room lined with elegant bookshelves spaced between cloth-covered tables. At the far end of the room an impressive Christmas tree stands in pride of place. My guest and I were seated at a window overlooking the views of the River Thames across from the Houses of Parliament; you couldn’t get more ‘London’ if you tried. There’s something special about Christmas in London, and this place knows it.
(Scroll to keep reading)
We began with a delightful glass of Champagne while we perused the tea collection. We settled on a black rose tea, wondrously aromatic. The savouries came out presented on plates: devilled prawn cocktail and spinach bread, spiced gravadlax of salmon with citrus crème fraiche and beetroot bread, turkey and cranberry on white bread, a caramelised onion camembert tartlet and a brioche bun with egg mayonnaise and chive. All were tasty, though we agreed the tartlet proved to be the exceptional standout.
Next, out came the scones and sweet delicacies on their cake stand. Two scones awaited us: a traditional scone to be eaten with plum conserve and cream, and a cranberry, cinnamon and buttermilk Christmas pudding scone to be taken with brandy butter. The second of which was truly divine, the brandy butter impossibly light and pairing so well with the flavours of the scone.
Each sweet treat was meticulously hand-crafted into a piece of art in its own right. There was a wonderfully fluffy mandarin and egg nog Swiss roll, a spiced mince pie tartlet, a chestnut éclair with walnut praline and a fondant fancy. The showstopper, however, was a divine Queen Elizabeth Tower made from mousse and ganache with salted caramel and orange, shaped to resemble Big Ben and sparkling with flakes. Everything was gloriously indulgent with the flavours of Christmas woven into every bite.
The team behind The Library clearly have afternoon tea down to an art form, and the festive experience is where they really get to flex their skills. Surrounded by books and baubles, with a stomach full of festive flavours and a view of London’s iconic sights across the river, it’s safe to say I had well and truly found the proverbial ‘Christmas spirit.’
The Library Festive Afternoon Tea is available from 14 November 2024- 5 January 2025 every day from 12-5pm and is priced at £70 per person, £90 with a glass of Pommery Champagne, and £120 including free-flowing English sparkling wine for one and a half hours. From 24-26 December 2024 and on 1 January 2025 from 12-5pm, the tea will be priced at £115 per person. For reservations, please visit thelibraryatcountyhall.com.
