Afternoon Tea Week: All You Need To Know To Get Involved

Last year around this time we highlighted the key aspects that should be considered for Afternoon Tea Week, a lot has changed in the last year, so we have decided to revisit the concept for 2023. It was over 180 years ago that the original concept of Afternoon Tea was formed and has been an essential part of British cuisine ever since.

When is Afternoon Tea?

The general consensus is between lunch and an evening meal which would take place at 8pm. Gaining traction through the upper echelons of society, the notion of a mini meal was attractive to many however it became a formal event when Queen Victoria engaged in the event. This year Afternoon Tea week will be taking place between 7^th – 13^th August and just like last year will see people from all walks of life celebrating the event. In this article we will be discussing the key ideals for Afternoon Tea and why a commercial establishment should be inclined to celebrate the event.

Conventional Creativity

The most important aspect to remember when celebrating Afternoon Tea is that it a traditional affair steeped in sophistication and prestige, so make sure you choose the right settings to match this theme. When people think of the word traditional it can often lead to negative connotations of old-fashioned and maybe outdated however it should be used to combine a classic aesthetic with the important aspects of finding your own style. 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 stock a wide range of tableware accessories, 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).

A Modern Approach

Giving Afternoon Tea a gentle nudge into the 21^st century is another way an establishment can incorporate the day into proceedings. 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. When it comes to modernity, it can be difficult to gauge what different choices can be adopted. An example of this being darker toned colours, obviously we aren’t saying to coat the walls and every facet to look like a gothic establishment but a seamless integration of blacks, purples and navy that will create a marvellous visual.

Prioritising Plating

Matching the theme and atmosphere of the restaurant with the crockery and tableware is crucial. For the upcoming week we believe that dinnerware should be at the forefront of every bar and restaurants thinking as the plating will essentially set the tone of the event. 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. The following are just a few of the suggestions we would make for any commercial establishment regarding the tableware:

1. Classic white – Churchill’s introduction of the Classic collection provides a simple solution to food presentation with streamlined and exceptionally resilient makeup. Perfect for presentation of starters, mains and desserts, the piece is a versatile and key addition to any crockery collection.
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. We would also recommend from our newest crockery ranges the Churchill Studio Prints Kintsugi collection, the reason for this is because the design itself is a modern interpretation on a traditional Japanese art which is the aim for many when it comes to Afternoon Tea.

Find Your Own Style

The first priority that should be finding the style that suits your establishment. Finding your own style is an imperative part of the process of incorporating Afternoon Tea into regular proceedings. Many believe that Afternoon Tea would require a uniform or formal setting that offers little to no differentiation which isn’t the case. 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. An important thing to remember though is that the establishment is still your establishment so go at your own pace, don’t overhaul all aspects of your bar or restaurant as it can alienate your existing customer base. So when integrating Afternoon Tea demonstrate the atmosphere you are trying to create through the use of patterns and colours. 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. Just like our last year article, we hope that our advice will be taken as we at Alliance Online feel that Afternoon Tea is an excellent choice for any commercial establishment.