Tag: scones

The Scream Tea Hamper from The Cornish Company

Autumn, Children, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Halloween, Winter

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Cream on first, or jam? This is the age old question for anyone who has ever taken part in an afternoon tea.  The Cornish Company have launched a special Halloween Cream Tea for 2026, which also coincides with half term, to keep your little ones entertained and probably keep the sugar high this October too!

The Scream Tea contains 4 bat-shaped plain scones, 4 strawberry jams and 4 teabags. There’s also a pot of fresh clotted cream and a pumpkin iced biscuit. (I’m keeping this as a treat for Mum!) The fresh clotted cream means that the tea needs to be refrigerated as soon as it arrives, and it doesn’t hurt to keep the scones cold for freshness, and cold jam is a nice treat.  The Scream Tea is ordered online, where you can choose which day it arrives, and it turns up in a cardboard ‘hamper’ which is a bit thicker than the letterbox. It doesn’t fit through the letterbox though, which is why you get to choose which day it’s delivered.

We ate the afternoon tea the same day it arrived. The scones were perfectly fresh, even though it presumably took at least a day for the hamper to arrive. The ‘bat’ shape is good fun, and the scones are easy to cut so children will find the novelty of cutting the scones and putting on the jam and cream a lot of fun. There’s actually ample cream and jam for the amount of scones there are and I think the scones are chunky enough that one person will only need to eat one as they’re quite filling.

What a brilliant idea for an afternoon tea! An added treat for half term or an original way of making Halloween more fun as the children go out trick or treating on the weekend, this is a wholesome, entertaining way to spend the first of the autumn holidays.

Available from £22.95 at: https://thecornishcompany.com/collections/halloween-hampers/products/the-scream-tea-hamper

Afternoon Tea at The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Days Out, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Mother's Day, Restaurant, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

Disclaimer: We received the afternoon tea free of charge for this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Opened in 1867, The Imperial Hotel in Blackpool is a charming Victorian establishment steeped in history, having hosted notable guests such as Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Anne, and even the Beatles. This grand hotel, with its impressive entrance, sits proudly along the seafront, a true reminder of Blackpool’s Victorian heyday when visitors flocked to enjoy the therapeutic seawater and Turkish baths.

The moment you step into the Imperial Hotel’s magnificent foyer, you are transported away from the bustle of daily life. The wood panelling and grand staircase set a refined atmosphere, promising an experience of timeless elegance.

We enjoyed afternoon tea in the Palm Court Restaurant, where the restaurant manager warmly welcomed us and led us to a table with a stunning view of the sea. After introducing us to the menu, he brought us each a glass of prosecco and a pot of tea. Once the tea had brewed, a classic three-tier cake stand appeared alongside a savoury plate featuring a small cup of delicious soup, a mini tomato and mozzarella quiche with beautifully crisp pastry and a homemade sausage roll with cranberries and thyme, served warm with wonderfully flaky puff pastry which was absolutely delicious.

The bottom tier of the cake stand was arranged with a selection of finger sandwiches on white and brown bread, with fillings of maple-cured ham with grain mustard, egg mayonnaise with watercress, mature cheddar with spring onion and roast turkey with smoked bacon, red onion, and mayonnaise. The sandwiches, served on soft, fresh bread, were full of flavour and very tasty. They weren’t sparing with the fillings either, which always gets a tick in my book.

The middle tier presented freshly baked scones with an array of accompaniments -clotted cream and strawberry jam for the cherry scones, and onion jam and chive butter for the Lancashire cheese scone. This savoury twist was a welcome change, particularly enjoyed by my husband, who doesn’t have a sweet tooth and really enjoyed his cheese scone. The scones were excellent with the perfect mix of crisp outer shell and soft (but not dense) centre.

On the top tier, a beautifully arranged selection of bite-sized pastries and cakes awaited. We were treated to a lemon Madeira drizzle with raspberry gel, a banoffee tart garnished with crisp banana and chocolate shavings, a mixed berry mess topped with mini meringue, and a mini-Eccles cake with candied orange. Each was delightful, with the Eccles cake emerging as our favourite.

By the time we had sampled all three tiers, we were pleasantly full and content to linger and soak in the elegant surroundings. And, for those who can’t quite finish, the hotel thoughtfully offers to box up any remaining treats for you to enjoy later.

We really enjoyed our afternoon tea at The imperial Hotel and being in such lovely surroundings made this afternoon tea experience that little bit more special.

With Blackpool Illuminations in full swing, now is the perfect time to experience this iconic seaside resort. Treat yourself to a delightful afternoon tea, then stroll through the world-famous Illuminations – you won’t be disappointed! To add a festive touch, a Christmas-themed afternoon tea will be available starting November 25th. Or, make a weekend of it by booking a stay in one of The Imperial Hotel’s charming rooms.

Afternoon Tea is served daily from 14:00 – 16:30 and costs £20.50 for adults and £12.00 for children. If you are in the mood for something fizzy then a glass of prosecco can be added for an additional £5.00 per head.