A very pleasant afternoon was spent last week at the iconic Palace Hotel in Buxton, where we indulged in the Sparkling Afternoon Tea for two. Priced at a very reasonable £40 for both of us, it offered superb value – so what was it like? We were keen to find out having not tried the Afternoon Tea before here.
One of our party is something of an expert in the art of Afternoon Tea, having enjoyed this quintessentially English tradition at many of the London hotels as well as places locally; it was a tall order, could the Palace Hotel stand its ground?
Of course it could! What we can say with certainty is that this was one of the best Afternoon Teas we’ve experienced.
From the moment we arrived, the service was impeccable. Our waitress, Ellie Mae, greeted us warmly and escorted us to our table. With glasses of Prosecco in hand, we were seated in the airy, light-filled, newly refurbished Conservatory with beautiful views of the gardens at the front of the hotel. The setting felt just right – elegant yet relaxed, the perfect backdrop for a leisurely afternoon.
The Afternoon Tea was served on the traditional three-tier stand, with one stand Gluten-free. The savoury selection of finger sandwiches was delicious and included smoked salmon, roast beef, ham and wholegrain mustard, egg and spring onion mayonnaise, and cheese and pickle. Everything tasted fresh and was thoughtfully presented.
Following the sandwiches came the highlight for many – a warm scone served with good-quality strawberry jam and a generous helping of clotted cream. These were light, buttery, and perfectly complemented the tea. The gluten free scone was also really good, GF scones aren’t always, so, winner!
To finish, there was a lovely, dainty selection of cakes, which were as delicious as they were imaginative. Throughout we were served plenty of good English Breakfast tea (which was topped up). In addition, the team were trialling their ‘new’ Afternoon Tea while we were there (launching a few days after our visit), so they kindly asked if we’d like some additional cakes after they’d taken the photos for their social media – so (obv) we didn’t say no and we ended up taking a few home. The ‘new’ cakes were equally lovely!
It was a delicious Afternoon Tea enjoyed in the refurbished Palace Hotel; Buxton’s grand old lady with a chequered career is being beautifully brought back to life by owners Elite Venue Selection. The recent and continued refurbishments (currently the gym and spa/swimming pool is closed for a makeover) have made a huge difference and the Palace is enjoying a come-back.
We’ve a feeling that the hotel’s architect Henry Currey who completed this lovely building in 1866 would be very happy to see it now.
Read more about the Palace Hotel in our full page listing.
If you love this favourite English tradition – check out our pick of of the very best Afternoon Tea in Buxton and Peak District where we pick out 24 of the best places to enjoy this indulgent treat, with some new additions for 2024.
Palace Hotel Buxton & Spa, Palace Road, Buxton, SK17 6AG
T: 01298 22001 (Direct)
For Bedroom Reservations T: 0871 221 0253
theelitevenueselection.co.uk/Palace-hotel-buxton
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