The Franklin is a five-star boutique hotel in Knightsbridge with a handsome facade and prime location, just seconds from the Victoria & Albert museum and Natural History Museum. While its surroundings and exterior are traditional, inside the vibe of the hotel is luxuriously modern and design-led.
The interiors are designed by Anouska Hempel featuring a rich, charcoal colour palette, sumptous fabrics and opulant materials such as marble. The Franklin restaurant follows suit with grey velvet seating, a stunning monochrome tiled floor and Art Deco-style mirrored bar. While the menu usually serves up Italian fare under the leadership of chef Alfredo Russo, every day from 2pm until 4pm diners can enjoy a special afternoon tea.
Inspired by the Victoria & Albert Museum's exhibition, Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser, The Franklin's afternoon tea reimagines what a modern day Alice would have enjoyed to eat herself for an afternoon snack, coming up with decadent, playful takes on the usual sandwiches and cakes.
To start with, enjoy the likes of a chocolate bread sandwich with spreadable cheese, liquorice, fennel and bitter orange, alongside a green spinach bun with homemade cured duck breast, pomegranate and rocket, and a red beetroot cracker with with homemade gravlax salmon, beetroot butter and red current.
Sweets take the form of an orange cake with chocolate and almonds, caramelised orange zest and merigue, a tiramisu with traditional Italian Panettone and chocolate carrot cake with caramel mousse. There's also a blood orange and mandarin juice in Alice's iconic drink me bottle. Of course, scones are also included, served with strawberry jam and clotted cream. All of this can be enjoyed with a large selection of teas or a glass of champagne.
You can reserve your sitting easily online through the website's booking platform, perfect for treating a loved one or a special occassion.