For those based not too far from Leicestershire, Belvoir Castle is a historic gem in the crown of the Midlands, boasting centuries of stories, beautiful architecture and gardens, and a thriving portfolio of hospitality options.
Of course, when you have a special occasion coming up - be it a birthday, anniversary or perhaps Mother's Day - where better to treat someone you love than an actual castle? So, you'll be pleased to know that Belvoir Castle puts on a simply gorgeous afternoon tea in The Aviary Tea Room which benefits from glorious views out to the gardens and grounds.
The space itself is charming with plenty of quaint nods to the history of afternoon tea. Walls are hued in a soft, pastel blue and decorated with painted images of flamingos and swans. The windows are decorated with pretty flower installations and the chairs are topped with lacy inserts, for a classic feel.
What's more, this tea room comes with some very important history - did you know Afternoon Tea was actually invented at Belvoir Castle? Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford, came up with the idea of enjoying light refreshments between lunch and dinner while visiting the 5th Duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle in the mid-1840s. Fascinating, right?
Moving onto the menu, the team prides itself on using the best ingredients and home baking as much as possible, there at the castle. For example, all finger sandwiches are made with freshly-baked bread, scones are hot out of the oven and the oh-so-fancy pastrys and desserts are the creations of the in-house, talented pastry chefs. While there isn't a full menu online, you can expect all the classics like smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches, as well as sultana scones with lashings of clotted cream and jam.
Afternoon tea is available daily between 11am and 4pm, so you're welcome to enjoy whenever you like, all year round.