Afternoon Tea: A Traditional Concept In A Modern World

Is there a celebration more delightfully British than Afternoon Tea Week this year? It could be strongly argued that there isn’t as Afternoon Tea has been a staple of British dining for decades now with the concept being initially traced back to the early 1840s. Afternoon Tea was originally designed to stem the hunger that many would face between lunch and an evening meal that would often take place at 8pm. This idea of a mini meal of sorts quickly gained popularity throughout the upper echelons of society but only became a formal event when Queen Victoria engaged in the event. This year Afternoon Tea week will be taking place between 8^th – 14^th August and many customers will be flocking to their nearest dining establishment in hopes of celebrating. If you’re looking to incorporate Afternoon Tea into your restaurant experience, we have detailed some key areas that should be covered to accomplish this. Traditionalism Embrace the traditional nature of Afternoon Tea, this can be done through the tableware and banqueting choices you make all the way to the crockery and cups opted for. Remember this is a traditional affair that is steeped in class and elegance, so make sure you choose the right settings to match this theme. With the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee also taking place this year, it feels like it would be even more fitting than any other year to celebrate this event in traditional style and class. It is important to note that traditional doesn’t mean old-fashioned but rather delivering on a classic aesthetic that combines the important aspects of finding your own style whilst also integrating traditional features such as all-white dinnerware or floral patterning. The idea that traditional means boring and old-fashioned is a common misconception that will often leave a dining establishment looking dull and drab which is the opposite of the desired effect. Here at Alliance Online we understand the trials and tribulations that a commercial catering establishment often faces in the current climate, to combat these potential pitfalls we would strongly recommend the Swansoft Banqueting Roll, we will let you decide the colour that would best suit the theme of your establishment, but we would suggest the United Kingdom flag’s colours (red, blue and white). Investing In Modernity A stark contrast from the traditional setting previously mentioned, incorporating a fresh and modern colour scheme or tableware choice can be an excellent way of gently nudging the Afternoon Tea concept into the 21^st century. Whilst a very select few may think of this idea as being almost blasphemous that an establishment would want to combine a traditional Afternoon Tea event with the modern settings and environments that would be synonymous with contemporary restaurants of the present. So what would some suggestions be for a modern take on Afternoon Tea? Quite simple really, take a modern contemporary restaurant and visualise what you would expect, for me it would be a unique arrangement with dark toned walls and tableware to match, maybe vivacious patterns adorning the walls and vibrant tableware choices. One of the main trends for creating a modern look for a restaurant currently is through the usage of darker toned colours, now we aren’t saying to go all out and create a gothic Afternoon Tea environment but to seamlessly incorporate a varied mix of blacks, purples or navy. To create a modern look for the Afternoon Tea week we at Alliance Online would highly recommend using the black Swantex dinner napkins, these napkins will stand out amongst the crowd of lighter tones and will produce a striking balance necessary for a modern Afternoon Tea party. Plating Perfection When it comes to picking the appropriate plates and crockery for Afternoon Tea it is crucially important that the choices made matches the theme and atmosphere of the restaurant. Providing the suitable dinnerware for guests is a critical part of the process of celebrating Afternoon Tea Week. Essentially setting the tone of the event, dinnerware should be at the forefront of every catering establishments thinking for the upcoming week. This is the area of the meal where no mistakes can be afforded as the saucer and cup will spend the longest amount of time with the customer so it would be beneficial if the consumer adores the dinnerware. If this sounds daunting don’t fret, there are numerous suggestions that we will make which will please any customer that you see for Afternoon Tea Week.

1. Classic white – You can’t go wrong with simplistic white for your theme and atmosphere. A classic choice that will suit any style, the perfect choice for Afternoon Tea as the pure white theme offers a sense of traditionalism. We would recommend the Utopia pure white range to accomplish this look, due to the durability and sleek look of the dinnerware.
2. Vintage Prints – Visually perfect for an Afternoon Tea party, when we look back at history there are many examples of the earliest Afternoon Tea events featuring colourful and patterned saucers, plates and cups. Synonymous with the Afternoon Tea concept, we would recommend the Churchill Vintage Prints range for your events.
3. Beautiful and rustic, a potential choice that combines the traditional white aesthetic that is often seen in British Afternoon Tea parties with the modern rustic tones we often see commonplace in restaurants nowadays. The Craft White range by Steelite would be a great choice for an Afternoon Tea party.

Style Finding your own style should be a priority when it comes to creating an atmosphere for an Afternoon Tea party. Being too similar to competitors has long been an issue for many establishments looking to incorporate Afternoon Tea as they can often be led into the misconception that Afternoon Tea requires a uniform and formal setting to work which offers little to no differentiation possible. The issue with this notion is that it is incorrect, as mentioned before Afternoon Tea is something that can be modernised, or other potential features can be included. Go at your own pace and remember that it is still your establishment and should show that, whether this is through the colours and patterns incorporated or the atmosphere you are looking to set. We understand that Afternoon Tea can be a difficult topic to wrap your head around and can also provide endless headaches when it comes to deciding the best theme, aesthetic and crockery or dinnerware needed. Whether it be traditional or modern please remember that it is completely up to you what setting and atmosphere you want to create.